Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-01-26

love that renewed his hopes. After all,
they said, something might happen that
year. The something, however, did not
come; the time expired, and the young
doctor waited upon Mr.. Fulton, praying
for an extension of his probation.
81 will give you until Christmas" was
the short reply-"no longer"
And for the next six months Allan Carl
ton toiled rather than worked. lie saw
the justice of Mr.. Fulton's intentions, No
man should ask for wife until he can sup
port hor. He would have grievod at the
thought of bringing his beautiful Laura to
home of privation and penury. But in
proportion as lie pursued il, fortune seemed
to fly from him. lie had fewer patients
during these last six months than ever,
and all his riches, calculated to the utmost
farthing, did not exceed three hundred
pounds. 1t was useless, he knew, to ask
Mr.. Fulton TO give him longer time, or to
go back from his word. So in silence and
sadness tho young lovers watched the COM
ing Of the new year.
81 win see you some time about New
Years day." Mr.. Fulton had said to Allan.
must have some kind OF settlement"
The Doctor knew what that meant; his
time was ended. lie had tried and failed.
He had worked, saved. deprived himself
even Of comforts, but all in vain. Happi-
ness and love had been within his grasp,
yet he must see them escape him. The on
| ly treasure in life he had ever coveted or
longed for had been placed as it were, in
| his hand, and he must renounce ii. All
this without any fault of his own.
As the time drew near he had been oblig-
ed to tell Laura, aud to his other troubles
was added the bitter one of seeing that
sweet face grow pale and sad, the bright
smile vanish and the deep blue eye lose its
| light. He know how much she loved him;
| but he knew, too, how thoroughly good
and high prnciped she was. If her father
forbade their engagement and marriage
she would obey him at any price, even
though her heart broke in the effort. There
would be no clandestine love ailar-no
| elopcment with Laura Fulton.
Two days before the new year he had
gone as usual to spend an hour in the eve
ming with her. Then he told her what he
feared was coming ON them, and she had
chung to him saying:
so, Allan! can nothing be done ?-can
no one help us?'
lie saw no hope, although he had tried to
give her some. To increase their distress
Laura had had the misfortune some few
months back to attract the attention of John
Elton, the banker, reported the richest man
| in all the country side. He admired her
very much and knowing nothing of the
| young DOCTORS love-or if he knew, ignor-
ing it--he went to her father and asked for
! his daughters hand. 1t went to Mr.. Full
| toms heart to refuse, even for time, such
a munficent offer as the banker made
| such settlements and jewels but he told
! him if at he now year he stil cared about
| the matter, and renewed his offer he would
undertake to give him more favorable re-
| ply.
=. Front that moment Mr.. Fulton Iever
ceased TO impress upon his daughter the
folly of preierring a penniless doctor to
wealthy banker.
There might have been some little hope
of her fathers relenting, Laura thought,
but for this: John Elton had just purchas-
ed la pretty little estate called ''The Lines"
two miles from Strutton, and Mr.. Fulton,
even in his ambition, wished for no better
fate for his daughter than to see her mis-
tress of "Thc Lines"
Everything was against them-there did
not appear to he the least hope. No Won
der the young doctor looked sad and gave
~, 1
wishes of "a happy new year"
Mr.. Fulton had written to appoint six
o'clock on New Years day, in the evening,
for their interview, and when that was end
ed Allan knew that the door of that house
would be, for some time at least, closed
against him.
"What a sorrowful face for New Years
ever cried ono friend whom he met "arc
you going to the party this EVENING"
eyes" Allan replied.
He was going to the party-that might be
his last chance for seeing Laura. He would
not neglect it, although his heart was sad
and heavy within him.
This party always given on New Years
eve, was great event in Strutton. 1t was
u
widow lady, and was a custom she had
held inviolate for more than thirty years.
| 1t was always pleasant party-plenty of
music and dancing for the young, whist
and chess for the elders, abundance of
good cheer for all.
One of Mrs. Edmonds' "institutions'
was that when the clang of the church bells
announced the death of the old year and
the birth of the new one, her guests should
pledge each other and drink welcome and
success, peace, health and prosperity dur
ing the coming year. 1t was a pretty sight
and sometimes more to see the guests stand
round, each with brimming wine cup,
waiting the last throes of the expiring gi-
! ant, to greet each other with hearty and
| loving good wishes.
No parties were so popular as Mrs. Ed
monds'. No one refused her invitations.
| The only drawback on this New Years
Eve was that the weather had grown so
piercingly cold, and the snow fell so thick
and fast it was positively dangerous for
one to stir ont of doors.
Notwithstanding this everybody vas go
| ing; John Elton was riding over from
"Thc Limes;" Mr.. Fulton had promised to
take Laura, and had presented her with a
new and valuable white lace dress for the
occasion. The young doctor, more popu-
lar than any one else in Strutton, was oblg-
ed to be there.
He looked forward with mingled dread
and pleasure. lie should be with Laura,
but it might be for the last time.
Mrs. Edmonds' rooms We're as usual,
quite full. It was rather late when Allan
arrived The first object that drew Allans
attention was Laura. lie had never seen
her looking, so he thought, half so beauu-
ful the white lace dress showed her SEN
der figure to such advantage, and a wreath
of starry iassnmine bound the fair ripping
hair.
But Laura's face had lost its brightness,