Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-02-05

ume, several leaves OF which were covered
with ink.spots. "Did you ever sec any.
thing SO provoking ?" she exclaimed "You
know how | valued this book, and sec the
state have just found it in"
"It is indeed pity" answered "but
who could have done it2"
81 must ask the servants" she said,
ringing the bell violently. whatsoever
has done it, has acted in a very deceitful
manner, for found it hidden under pile
Of books. jane" for the servant now
entered the room, "do you know anything
about tbi book p
The girl colored, aud stammered as she
answered, Ycs---no, ma'am."
Don't attempt to deceive" said the
mistress, percciviDg her embarrassment
" Did you do it2"
"No, ma'am, I'm sure did not"
"Then do you know who did ? Speak
out, girl"
Why, ma'am, you know nobody goes
into the library before break fast but Miss
Kate, and this morning when was sweep
Jog the hall, saw her come out, aud she
oosed so pale that | thought sure she must
be i'll, but when she caught sight of me
she turned as red as your ribbon, ma'am
and ran up stairs"
Well, that will do, Jane, shall speak
TO Miss Kate. Now" said Mrs. Clifton,
turning to me, al always thought Kate was
a little decetCul child, aud this proves it,"
" But perhaps there may be some mis-
al kn. q.
ly."
Oh there is no doubt at all about il !;
| shall punish her most severely"
The next morning, when breakfast was
over, Ms Clifton desired the children to
remain in the room, and rang the bell for
the servants As she placed the damaged
book upon the table, | observed both Rosa
aud Kate charge color, the latter looked
mploringly Al her cousin, who quickly
turned away Ter head. Mrs. Clifton now
spoke
You all know" she said, how |
value this book, and that do not allow
any one to touch it. found it in this
state in the library, concealed beneath a
pile Of things, 10 such way as to con-
vince me that the person who damaged it
intended also to hide her fault however,
falsehood will be Of no avail, for | am
determined to discover who has done it /;
therefore, speak out plainly"
The servants all denied it, and Mrs
Clifton then turned to her daughter
F" Rosa did you ink this book 2" The lit
tie girl was silent. Do you hear me
Did you lux this book p
No, mamma"
Do you know who did p
No, mamma"
Happening just then to glance at Kate,
saw with surprise that her face aud neck
were completely crimson, while she vainly
strove to check the tears which were rolling
down her cheeks. My conviction of her
innocence was shaken, aud began to fear
that, having perhaps accidentally upset the
ink upon the book, she had allowed the
dread Of her aunt's displeasure to overcome
her sense Of right. Mrs Clifton then asked
her if she had injured the book.
" No, aunt"
Z" DO you know anything about it, then ?"
4" Please, dear aunt, would rather not
say
" But you must ray, child, insist upon
lu--
kate was Silent.
d" You have done it yourself, you deceit.
.ul little thing But tell me, did you see
Jane this morning when you came out of
tho library 2"
Kate with many tears confessed that she
had, but added Indeed, dear aunt, |
did not touch the book"
My friend looked at me as much as to
say, " You see was right"
4" You may all leave the room," said she
to the servants. al am convinced Miss
Kate is the guilty person, and | shall ac-
cordingly punish her severely
80 dear aunt" said the poor child, ado
believe me never told story in my
life"
"Then you tell one now Go immedi-
stely to your own room, aud remain there
until you are inclined to tell the truth
Rosa, stay here; you need not follow your
eousiu--she is no longer fit companion
for you.
| went up to Kate in the course of the
day, but the only answer l could get from
her was, Indeed would not tell a story"
knew not what to think, and soon left
her Saying, A" Remember. Kate, there is One
who is now looking into your heart, and
He knows whether the truth is in you you
can hide nothing from him, though you
may from us.
After she had been in the room couple
Of days, Rosa begged her mamma to re-
lease her, which she consented to do on
condition that she spoke to no one. She
therefore went into the schoolroom as usu-
al.
One morning | noticed her looking very
pale, and asked if she felt unwell.
"Aly head aches sadly" she said "but
dare say it will soon be better"
:" think you should leave the lessons
| will ask Miss Chambers to excuse you,
to-day"
On mentioning the circumstance to Mrs.
Clifton, she said the child was always pale
and ailing; there was nothing particular
ihc matlet WIN nef. iiiuc however, prov
ed that she was really III, and before night
We judged it proper to send for the doctor,
who Immediately had her put 10 bed. BY
morning she was in high fever, and
trembled as | felt her burning hand, and
marked her short, uneasy breathing. She
was delirious many days, and it was then,
as we listened to her expressions, that we
learned the secret OF the book /: 90 Rosa,
why did you not say you spoiled itf Why
did you let aunt punish me? 1t was 50
unkind Of you" And then her restless
fancy would wander to her mother, aud
once | heard her repeat several times,
" When my father and mother forsake me,
then the Lord will take me up"
Mrs. Clifton was sadly grieyed when
she learned the truth, and deeply reproach.
ed herself for her injustice, for she felt
that in many thugs she had not acted
mothers part to the poor orphan intrusted
to her care.
Meanwhile the physicians gave little hope
OF kate's recovery for should the fever
subside, they said, it would leave her sys.
TEN too much exhausted ever to rally again. |
Tue fever did leave her, and she lay pale
as stricken lily; she could not live above
a.. than aasl