Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-08-05

and that was a genuine wood fire.
He had bought fender and all the
other accessories at auction; small cor
ner under the roof held his wood. He
always made the fire himself, and when
it was lighted, and sang old songs-as
such dear old-fashioned fires invariably
do-Jack's poor, meagrely finished room
was rather prettier and brighter than the
stiff parlor below, with its circular wheel
in the wall, radiating hot. unwholesome
air.
Jack was exceedingly glad to occupy
his thoughts with the fire, for, April
though it was, the day had been raw and
chilly, and when the lovely flames leaped
and the wood cracked with sound like
bursting apples and trickle of sweet cl-
der in it, his depression wore off just
little. He had been the victim of jokes
innumerable all that day, inflicted by
junior clerks and silly little girls who
claimed passing acquaintance with the
handsome Jack, and his spirit was sore
and his heart detected.
"How could she do it ?" he asked him.
self, referring again and again to Anne's
letter. Seventy five dollars slap out of
my salary and new clothes out of the
question. How sad and sympathetic
that little thing looked Atty Brown, l
think, her name is. By Jove she had
beautiful eyes, though. ! never quite
caught their expression before. | would
not have believed it of Anne. She
made fool of me to be sure, but she
may rue it yet. don't think l shall for
give her." And he settled his foot on the
fender, while his fine face took up an ex-
preston of the sternest determination.
Little she cares for my forgiveness, per-
haps. There's Het Rogers. She's pret-
ty, rather, and rich, and twenty-five
She likes me, l think and, by Jove
I'll be even with Anne Rathburn yet.
There came a knock at the door
April FOOLS day was not yet over, and
Jack was on his guard. As he called
out ''come in !" an imp's face was dis
cernable just on the inside of the bril-
liantly lighted room, for the wood-frt
was doing its best.
"Pleathe, thir," lisped the tenor o
the house, the landlady's bright boy;
boy so exceedingly smart that everybod,
hated him-"did you thee the leetertl
that come here to-day! p
mo, and don't want too; so yol
march down stairs" said Jack.
But pleathe, thir, aint a pril-fool
ing. The gentleman gave me quartz
to thee that you thurely got it.
'Oh, he did, did he ?' growled Jacl
vigorously. "Well, you hurry down, o
I'll see that YOU surely get it, An
rising as he spoke, the indignant young
ster fled, shrieking with terror and laugh
ter. IT.
Notwithstanding, Jack felt considera
BILE curiosity about the letters, and be
gan peering round. Yes, they were
three of them, in the letter-rack. Their
was nobody to spy, and he was unde
no particular obligation to inform hin
self, so he took one down, the bulkie.
and tore off the wrapper. At the thir
cover he paused and bit his lip; at th
fourth he threw them into the fire :
Then he took down the other two, smi
ing grimly. One was superscribed "Ca
cutta, India" and bore every appearanc
of being genuine the other was in
delicate lady's hand, the penmanship I
which very much resembled Anne's.
'.Forgeries !" he muttered; and tt
fellows who tried to DO me, will sure
be here. I'll fix up another bulky e.
velope, and then I'll let 'em stay ther
just as / found them. | think one bi
|
ter experience is enough"
So he arranged the rack, and by tn
time the bell called him to tea.
Meantime, Miss Hetty and Miss A
ne had their little conference. All hf
gone off triumphantly. Het's cousin,
describing the matter, had dwelt only I
| its ludicrous side, and when she in tul
!, detailed it to Anne, all the rough
edges were smoothed down. Anne W
half glad, half sorry. After the excit
ment of the fun was over, she wonder,
i if Jack-clever, handsome Jack-wou
be very angry with her. Anyhow, VIII
did it matter? She had never intend
f to marry him-though, if he were on
better off, only rich-he was SO Fl
+ looking SO interesting and tell-ta
: bushes Redeemed the girls cheek.
e Het secretely hoped to turn the ,thil
: to her own advantage. She had alwa
liked Jack, and would have given hi
her fortune and herself any time, if
a had asked. So Hetty, kitten-like, pl
red only of encouragement to Anne,
5 cretly desiring the cream for herself.
e A week passed and Jack still resel
e full, had not called upon Anne. 0
day dark, hollow-cheeked man, with
4 parchment face, and eyes of a remarl
d BILE brilliancy, walked into Dorset
a Drew's, and inquired for Mr.. Walters