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

who, although his practice was rapidly en-
larging, somehow always managed 10 hav
considerable time to devote to this specia
case. Seeing Laura thus frequently an,
intimately, Hal became more and more in
terested in her, and consequently this per
sistcnt reserve, which apparently rose ei
ther from false shame Of the past or shol
low pride in the present, vexed and puzzle,
him 1: was the one blemsh he found il
her character, and he could not understan,
nor excuse IL.
1t kept him, if not from falling in love
at least from ever avowing his affection
one who attached such undue importance !,
wealth and position would hardly tolerat,
the address Of poor physician, he rca
soned, although Laura's manner certainly
gave him cause TO entertain a CONTRARY
opinion.
One morning he met her 10 the hall
Can ! speak with you a moment, befor,
you 90 to my uncle2' she asked.
Certainly" he replied, following hel
into the reception room. Closing its door
she came toward him saying, with a smile
Have you quite forgotten me2"
Surely, Miss Gresham need never ask
such question" be said gallantly. =" BE.
sides, saw you yesterday"
She made a slight movement Of impa.
patience. "I do not mean that want
to know whether you have never guessed
that | was the poor girl you met on tn,
street that dreadful night when my mother
was so i'll, and you befriended us Am
so much changed that you did not know
me ?"
"No," he answered, "but | Thought
Thought that had such foolish false
pride that | shrank from acknowledging
my Indebtedness to you, and recalling my
former poverty and wretchedness she
interrupted, her soft eyes filling with tears
and her lips quiyering with suppressed
emotion. I'll am sorry, but you have had
good reason. My uncle is always so an.
noyed by any alIusion to that miserable
timc-it wounds his pride, aud, besides
that, he reproaches himself so bitterly for
having ignorantly allowed my mother to
struggle and suffer as she did, and have
never dared to speak Of it before him. ln
fact, | resorted to a ruse to induce him to
have you attend him, telling him that
though the names were the same, the DR..
Burgess he remembered was rich, and
probably still abroad"
Then you recognized me at once2"
Certainly, and | am not so ungrateful
as | have seemed. | have so loaged to
thank you, although words never can for
all you did for u.s."
"Do not say anything more about il, Miss
Gresham" said Hal, much embarrassed.
" 1t was a trifling service | was so FORUM
ate as to render you, and you may be sure
| should never have reminded you of it,"
"Bdt | feel under such weight of un-
acknow wlededged Obligation" she protested
earnestly, "and besides think may ven
ture to tell my uncle now. You have be.
come such general favorite with him that
| think he will be able to forgive you even
for your charity towards u.s."
Hal WINGED at the word half payfully,
yet with genuine humility. 81 assure you,
Miss Laura, there is no such debt of grati-
tude between us as you assume. Any bene-
fit | was to you at that time has already
been more than repaid by the patronage
which has been secured for me through
your uncle's influence since | came to your
city, a poor unknown physician"
She shook her head incredulously.
THAT is nothing Your own talent
would have secured it all without any aid
from us. | do much wish there were any
way in which could repay you"
There is one" he said, yielding to a
sudden impulse as he looked down into her
eager eyes, " but, not would suppose the
original debt increased by such enormous
nsury, that | do not dare to propose it."
"0ur estimate might be different" she
the long lashes dropping shyly,
md the tell-tale color flushing her cheeks.
"All debts are more than cancelled by
The gift of love-" was his reply.
A few mornings later Laura leaned over
the back of her uncle's chair. and said
"Dr. Burgess has done you a great deal
1f good, uncle; aud | should think you
would like to make him q present"
$50 would. Laura so | would. What
shall it BET You may select it."
"Well, uncle, it is strange fancy, but
he thinks he would like me-"
"You!" cried Mr.. Rhodes, in utter aston
shment. you! Even as well AS | like
the fellow, that is little too much"
Oh! don't say that, uucle;" answered
Laura, blushing. think of all his SER
vices and kind attentions to you, and | am
sure | owe him everythng-tor he proves
% be the very Burgess who beiriended me
when was in such sore trouble.
The old gentleman sat speechless for
'ome moments, engrossed in conflicting emo
ions.
"You said | might choose the present
ior him." urged Laura timidly, land it
will not really be giving me away, for we
shall both belong to you"
Her uncle kissed her fondly, and Hal
appearing at that instant in the doorway,
he called to him; "This little woman has
pleaded your case so well, that all that is
eft for me to say is as they do on the stage
md in the story books. Take her and be
iappy"