Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-08-06

last few hours had forced upon him.
Amid the distractonsof foreign travel,
however, the incident was soon forgotten,
but before year was passed he was re.
minded Of il in receiving a note, dated
from large western city, enclosing draft
for the amount that he had given away on
that night.
The style Of this missive was curt and
busness-like:
DEAR SR.-Tbough personally unknown to
you, | am under great obligations for your
kindness to my sister and niece Mt a time when
they were in much need. Without wearying
you with my personal affairs, | will merely ex-
plain that the lady whom you attended for
hemorrhage one night last spring was my sis
ter. She married against my wishes a man
who gradually squandered the little fortune she
possessed. All intercourse between US had
ceased, and knew neither of her husbands
death, nor the destitutiOn which followed, un.
I'll the dread Of leaving her daughter without
any protector Ovcrcame her pride and resent
ment, and she wrote 10 me. reached her
only a few hours before her DEATH and il il
only within week that | have learned through
my niece that il was tu your charity she was in.
deb,ed for her last earthly comforts. A card,
which was found upon the Ajor after You lolt,
to remit TO you the amount OF pecuniary in.
debtedness, as well as TO express my gratitude
for the services you rendered to members Of
my family,
s. Respectfully yours,
"JonN j. RHODES"
Rather a romantic ending to that lit
tie episode" musod Hal. "Well," | am
glad that lovely girl found home, and
some one to care for her after her mother
died wonder if shall ever see her
again. The uncle is evidently well of,
since he discharges his pecuniary indebt-
edness," as he calls it, 50 promptly. Judg-
ing from the note, it wounded his pride, and
| wish ! had not been so careless as to drop
that provoking card. What the deuce am
to do with that money any way7
He would not have asked that question
two years later, when the news of great
FIRE in his native city swept across the cable,
aud he learned that the riches he enjoyed
so thoughtlessly had vanished on the swim
wings of fame.
Tie returned at once, self.reliant and
hopeful the change in his circumstances
developing all the latent energy of his char
acter The necessity Of gaining liveli-
hood from the profession which he had for
merly looked upon as the outlet of certain
philanthropic ambition, was Just the stimu-
lus he needed, though even in his prosperi.
ty, he had never been an idler with no ear.
nest purpose or endeavor. But, knowing
as he did from experience, the butterfly life
of club aud ball room. he realized that it
would be incompatible with the practic-
al work that lay before him, and he felt
that it would be easer to sever the old So
cia ties at once and to seek his fortune
among strangers.
lie went to a western city. but even
there, to his surprise be found some old
friends in an agreeable family he had
met while travelling abroad. They were
gay people, who entertained handsomely,
but he persistently declined all their invi-
tations, until be was persuaded to attend
debut ball Of Que Of the youngest daugh-
ters.
lie did not repent his concession when
he found himself in the brilliant scene, but
yielded frankly to his exhilaration. The
fair debutant showed him much favor, but in
the midst Of her lively chatter his eyes
wandered to the door through which tall,
graceful girl was entering.
She was indeed very lovely; form, col
oring and movement, were all exquisitely
perfect The shiney ripplos of golden hair,
the dewy violet eyes, the roseeaf COM
plexion, the arch, smiling mouth, the sup.
pie, rounded figure, rivalled each other as
being the chief charms Of her fair presence.
Halls genuine admiration was very ev-
ident as he asked abruptly:
"Who is that lady?"
IF you we're not such recluse you
would not ask" replied his companion.
THAT is Laura Gresham, the belle Of the |
season. Isn't she lovely2"
Yes, very" answered Hal; " she has
that rare beauty that reminds one ola How-
er, delicate and perfect, yet living. think
| have seen her before"
THAT is hardly possible, for she has been
in convent school all her life until this
winter. Let me introduce you; know her
we'll"
Hal assented eagerly, but was surprised
to see n blush suffuse Miss Greshan's face
when his name was mentioned, and he fan
cied her manner nervous and dstrait. She !
had no dance left to give him, but they
chatted few moments on ordinary topics,
and chance allusion elected from her the /
question,
4" Is it long since you returned from Eu-
rope2"
"Only about six months should have
remained year longer, but all my worldly
goods bein converted into dust and ashes,
one night, it behooved me to exchange the
life Of vagabond for the practice of my
profession, which begun here in prefer
ence to my navite city"
The lightly spoken words seemed to aston
ish her. What msfortune" She ex-
claimed.
=" trust it will not prove so in the end"
he answered thoughtiully; but the next
dance had already begun, and the tete-a.tete
was interrupted.
Later in the evening his hostess said to
him playfully--" You should be much
flattered Miss Gresham has been asking
me all about you. and it is not often she
condescends to take so much trouble. -
OF course you have fallen in love at first
sight"
{" Perhaps | should if had not long
since outgrown such possibility" Hal
answered carelessy.
Nevertheless, as he sat next morning in
his modest little office, Laura's beautiful face
came between bis eyes and the dry reports
of the medical work he was reading, with
such foolish persistency, that it was a relief
when the bell rang aud he was interrupted
by message desiring his attendance upon
MIR. Rhodes as soon as possible.
Rhodes !" thought Hal, as he prepared
to obey the summons, "surely have heard
that name. Why. il is the same as that Of
my crusty old correspondent, aud this is the
city he lived in. Strange | never thought
of it befbre! should like to sec his little
niece once again."
But when he reached the handsome house
to which he had been directed, he found
only an irascible, dyspeptic old gentleman,
who made no allusion to any previous in.
tercourse, and proved most exactiug and
exasperating patient. 1t was not until bis
third visit that he found young lady 10
the room, who was introduced as +" My
niece, Miss Gresham"
So this was the poor, needy girl he had