Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-05-09
Tie Leisure Hour.
ECO.N.N R.N'RRD.

"And so you are going to answer that ah
surd letter."
"Of course am going 20 answer il. Do
you think l would throw away so rare
chance for fun of the first water? Recon-
mended lIa, ha ! that is glorious! Now.
for young lady of twenty five. not kill
ingly handsome, think my ch"nccs are
looking up, don't your
"I wish my chances were half aS good"
said Lima, with slight pique.
The fact is, Lima was little jealous Of
her friend-as jealous as was consistent
with sworn friendship-on account of one
Ralph Chester.
"But Amelia, you must not do this. The
gentlcman-foolish as his action isis evil
dentiy in earnest. and you might excite
hopes in him that you never meant TO full
Ill. Besides, it is dangerous you will com
nit yourself, and
'Pshaw what a tinorous creature you
are, Lima. It's fun, I tell yon. And, oh,
now l think of it, am to send my photo
graph in response TO this !" taking up the
"lalse presentment" of a fine looking gem
tleman of about thiity years of age.
"Let me see that, Amelia said Lima,
eagerly. "You didn't tell me about that"
"Didn'tI? Well, here il is. Not bad
looking face after all. More character in il
than / should have given him credit for
judging by his inbecle act of seeking n
wife solely on another's recommendation"
"Upon my word, Amelia, he's a splen-
did fellow. Not exactly handsome-but-
what fine, earnest eyes and what mouth
so firm, and yet so gentle in its express
sion! Were ii not for Ralph, should re-
ally expect you to fall in love with him.
am half in love with him myself, and al
most inclined to take him off your hands,"
"Capital, Lima, capital I have it ~ ex
claimed Amelia clapping the prettiest inn
aginable pair of hands. "You shall sen
him your photograph, and l will answer
his lette,-and thus puzzle his conscious
ness by making two Impressions instead of
one. What lark it will ber and her
merry blue eyes fairly danced with delight
al the thought.
"And what will Ralph Chester say?"
asked Lima demurely, yet with the iaintest
shadow of blush on her face.
Amelia regarded her quizzically for a
moment, and then answered, "Oh shall
tell Ralph you know. He will enjoy the
joke as well as you or l. The only fear l
have is, that you may fall in love with this
paragon yourself"
"Well, and why shouldn't I?' asked
Lima saucily.
"Why, indeed-of course !" said Ame-
| liza, with a slight tinge of railery in her
tone.
Frederick Upton was IL physician, who,
having taken his degree at twenty five, had
ever since beon established in the thriving
town of Auburn, and by dint of fine tai
ents and solid requirements In his proies
sion, had been steadily rising in public es-
tination ever since. Dignified and gentle
| in his manner, yet cheerful wilhal, he was
a favorite everywhere; and the only bar
10 his complete success as physician was
that he was bachelor. There Is great
prejudice in the minds of many, against
employing an unmarried physician.
Now, DIR. Upton had many lady friends
any of whom would have been only toe
happy 10 help him in his search after this
great desideratum some of them, indeed
would no doubt have been willing to sac.
rifce themselves to him on the strength o
their good wishes in his behalf. But his
time was so much occupied with his pro-
fession, that he really could not visit peo,
pie except in the exercise of that profes
sion. SO that when Mrs. Smith invited
her pretty niece, Aurora, to visit her house
for the express purpose of making her ac-
nj ah 90 IN hOctnr xub 70
Brown sent for her own daughter, prcma
turely from boarding school, Tor the sam,
charitable purpose, the fates arranged /
that both the Smiths and Browns shoul,
he so remarkably healthy that there wa
no occasion for the doctors visits, and 81
both plans, like the demonstrations OF Eu
clld's iflh proposition, fell through. An,
when the blooming wi dow, Mrs. Vance
suddenly left off her mourning, and came
to church in a perfect love of hat, wit
her faxen ringlets flowing temptngl
about her piquant little face, she was muc
disappointed to find that DR.. Upton's pc,
was empty, in consequence of his bavin
been called that morning TO very urger
case.
Now, DR.. Upton bad one friend, Mr.
Grant, on whose sound judgment he wa
much In the habit of relying. This lad
, said to him one day:
0 "Fred, am not generally In favor
8 recommending marriages but TO one sitr
ated as you are, think the experiment a
lowable, especially as have thought of
n lady In every way calculated to make 70
r a pearl of a wife, If you can persuade HI
y to accept the situation. In addition to h,
other charms and virtues, she, as the onl
daughter OF well-to.do lawyer, will OF