Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-03-19

The evening following her arrival, as she
was sitting alone with her niece, in their
cozy parlor, she said
"Della, do you remember Fannie Ellsly2"
" Certainly, auntie, was grealy attach
ed to her when we we're children and lived
10 the city Of p but had not heard
from her for year or two previous to her
death, which occurred nearly year ago,
think. As | remember her, she was exceed
ingly beau,iiul-iairy.lik used TO fancy
but what OF her, auntie 2"
Listen, and will tell you.
"Of family of four children, she was
the only one who lived beyond the period
Of childhood, and hence, as is generally the
case, she became the pet and idol of her
parents. They clung to her as The only
tie that bound them TO earth, and their sole
joy seemed to consist 10 seeing her happy
She possessed a rarely amiable disposition,
and repaid their soicitude with the tenler.
est devotion. They carefully shielded her
from ali contact with the world, never per-
hitting her to attend the public schools,
or allowing her to mingle at all with the
commoner class Of girls, lest the purity Of
her character might become contaminated
by associating with her interiors. They
little dreamed that in keeping her SO utter.
ly ignorant Of the evil ways of society they
were fitting her to be an easy prey to the
arts of the desiguipg
About two years ago, she met. at the
house Of friend, young medical student,
who was spending the winter in the city
where she resided, for the purpose Of at
tending course Of lectures His parents
were deceased, she learned, aud be was
poor; the means Tor defraying his expenses
while acquiring his profession being pro-
yded by an uncle 10 the South. This fact
increased rather than diminished her inter-
est 10 her new acquaintance, who, as the
weeks went by, became very devoted in his
attentions. He was not only her constant
escort to places Of amusement, but visited
her regularly at her own home. Pleasing
10 bis address, aud being possessed Of rath-
er superior talents, he succeeded in ingra-
tiating himself into the favor Of her
parents, and for a time there seemed to be
no obstacle to the happiness Of the young
girl, who. in the innocence Of her heart,
! adored her handsome lover Mr.. Ellsy
! had suffered from i'll health for several
years, aud hence had been unable to accu.
mulate much property-not sufficient, at
least to excite the cupidity of any one to
; become the husband Of his daughter for
the purpose of obtaining her inheritance.
: AS the winter months passed away, the
young man appeared to be all that the most
: exacting could desire; and as the spring
} advanced, it was understood that they were
to be married the ensuing autumn. If a
day passed that Fannie did not meet her
afianced, she was sure to receive note
from him filed with the most endearing
. expressions Of attachment and referring to
their approaching marriage in the fondest
d. terms When summer came, he pleaded
! the necessity Of being absent few weeks
in order to attend to business that required
e his attention in his native city.
I AT first letters came to his betrothcd
J daiy--then a little later, semi-weekly
Q and ipally--not at all. For long while
: she would not suffer even an insinuation
that he was false, to be made in her pres
I ence but the rose gradually faded from
her cheek, the light from her eye.
!, At length when Mr.. Ellsly saw that hi.
t child was slowly but surely dying, he did
r what it is so hard for parent to do,-wenI
e in search Of the destroyer of his peace
q resolved that she must be saved at the cost
}. of his own pride, and sellrespect even, il
5 necessary.
y He had no difficulty in finding the OBJ.
| ject Of his search, and in answer to his in.
= quiries regarding his strange conduct, he
: received the reply that he had changed
!. his mind; he could not afford TO marry a
y poor girl
y "Agonized aln,ost beyond the power Of
: endurance now, Mr.. Ellsly whispered some.
$ thing in the young mans ear, hoping he
b would not, at least, disregard that last ap.
peal but to his horror he left him with
| out a word, aud he never saw him after
: ward.
u He made no attempt, however, to pur'
a sue him further, but returned to his home
!, an utterly broken-hearted man. He never
a related to his daughter the result Of his in.
i tervew with the villain but she read it 10
: his hopeless conntenance; and, from that
y day, a smile never lighted up the lovely
| face, nor glad word escaped the pale lips
y There were no recriminations, no complain
u ings in that despairing household; nothing
but an almost death-like silence. She lin.
| gered only few short weeks, and then a
a mercifu Father took her from the life oi
{ grief and shame that awaited her on earth
/ 1.-THE world is generally lenient towards
: the dead, however unforgiviug il may be to
5 the living hence there we're no dark whis-
a. l.. L. IL IL C,l
y child, and which rendered even death wei.
e come blessing.
u Scarcely was she laid to rest, ere Mr.
{ Elsly, too passed into the Great Hereafter !;
:. aud thus, the autumn, that was TO have
n witnessed joyous bridal, cast its withered
4 leaves on two new-made graves. The
= stricken mother, alone was left Of that once
h happy family, and it was from her own lip.
e | heard the story Of Albert Warren's per
| 6dy for Della, it was none other than that
u man who has dared to assume toward you
I the role of lover, who wrought all that ter.
i rible woe.
- You demanded proofs Of his being ,
o villain, my child, and if anything more il
d needed than the story have just related
as il was told to me by my sister (for the
u unfortunate girl was my own niece,) here
o is package of letters she entrusted to heI
t mothers keeping, from whom | obtained
e them in order to convince you, beyond the
shadow OF doubt, of Albert Warren,
y true character. The penmanship is familiar
is it not ?"
al Oh, aunt, it is almost impossible to be
y leve him guilty Of such fearful crime =
J. +" Then wait, and you shall see it stamp
n ed upon his countenauce shall read tn,
II acknowledgement of his treachery 10 biz
d cowardy face, for have summoned bin
t. here this evening" hear the door-bel
9. ringing now-perhaps it is he.'
la few moments, servant announced
/ al Mr.. Warren"
$ Mrs. Elton rose as be entered, aud, bow
,e ing coldly, said have sent for you
Mr., Warren, in order to ascertain If 70,
4 recognize these letters" and she held to
', ward him two or three of the open letters
Ie at the same time gazing him steadily in thu
,f face.
As be glanced at them, every vestige ol
ie color forsook his counteuance, and th'
At hand he stretched forth to grasp them
. tramhlad M 10 Ind haen suddenlv strick ef