Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-08-06
Bread Scattered on the Waters.
A CHARMING STORY.

A CHARMING STORY.
8" II is one o'clock, gentlemen" said tn,
fobsequious aud weary waiter, entering
lugubrious, brilliantly-lighted room in I
fashionable clubhouse, where jovial littl,
party of young gentlemen we're assembled
"Whst a bore you are, Dennis, J." answered
Hal Burgess. "Why didn't you stop the
clock Are you aware, my good fellow
that this is my last night here for long
time to comel Give US fresh pack Of
cards to change the luck. We must have
one more game while you are bringing US
another bottle Of Carte Blanche for fare
well bumper Just think" he continued
appealing to his companions around the
table, tomorrow night at this hour
shall be playing lively game of pitch aud
toss with old Neptune, and getting badly
worsted in the encounter. Console your.
selves with that thought, for my extra.
ordinary good fortune this evening"
Don't speak it, Hal. We hate to think
Of your going" cried several voices, in
tones of genuine regret, that proved what
a favorite he was in the coterie of gay young
bachelors.
The card party which had just been n-
terrupted was the sequel Of farewell din
ner given on the occasion of his departure
for Europe, where he intended to pass sew
eral years before entering upon the practice
of his profession. 1t was the last Of many
similar festivities in which he had been a
leading spirit, and, reluctant as they were
that it should come 10 an end, 1.-THE wee
small hours ayont the twa refused to tarry
at their bidding; the last round was finally
played, and the last merry toast proposed.
Hal had won largely, and rose, examining a
roll of bills carelessly into bis pocket, and
promising his opponents their revenge when
he returned. Then cordial adeus were
spoken, and leaving his friends at the door
Of the clubhouse, he walked brisky up the
avenue. At that late holr of the night it
was silent and deserted, but, turning a
corner, he saw a young girl coming hastil y
from the opposite direction. The bewil-
dered, frightened expression of her wan but
beautiful face, revealed by the gas-ligbt,
near which they met, caused him to stop,
duh tAClaNin W uil Is tue Auu
| do anything for your"
II must find doctor do you know
where there is one2" she answered hurridly,
with a quick, questioning glance, and re-
assured by his respectful manner.
There is none very near here" Hal
said, after moments reflection, and added,
from what the young men he had just left
would have deemed most Quixotic i'm
pulse, "but | am almost physician my
self; unless the case is very serious, per.
haps, think | can attend to it."
"Oh! Please come quickly, then" re-
piled the girl, and she led the way rapidly
past several blocks of stately houses to one
of those poor neighborhoods which are
sometimes found crouching at the back
doors Of an aristocratic quarter.
"Who is it?" asked Hal, as, reaching q
small house, she held open the door for him
to pass, aud taking Pickering candle from
the floor, lighted his way up two flights of
narrow, rickety stairs.
my mother" she answered, in a trem-
bling voice,
"And there was no one in that you could
call upon to help your" be continued
mo; the people who have the lower
room go away at night; | was obliged to
leave her quite alone"
On the bed in the room they entered lay
woman apparently insensible, with sicken-
ing marks OF blood about her, and crimson
drops still oozing from her lips. The girl
FASTENED to the bedside, in mute terror at
what might have happened during her alb
sence, but Halls practiced eye saw that she
had had dangerous but not fatal hem
orrhage, and could soon be restored to
consciousness With few consoliDg words
to the daughter, which enabled her to assist
him, he proceeded to treat the case as well
as circumstances would permit, noting as he
did so that, ghastly as was the pallor Of the
thin, care-worn face, it still showed traces
of former beauty and of uumistakable re-
fnement.
At last the sufferer opened her eyes with
the vague, indifferent look of complete
physical exhaustion, but closed them again
YEARLY.
"Do not speak to her." said Hal, in a
whisper; "she must be kept perfectly
quiet, but think she will do well now"
As he proceeded to give the necessary
directions for further treatment, his eyes
wandered around the room, which was
neat, though meagerly furnished, and bore
witness to that struggling destitution SO
much more pitiable than thriftless, squalid
poverty.
Under the lamp on table lay several
pieces Of fine needle-work, in confusion
which showed how recently the labor upon
them had beed interrupted. Ostensibly
searching for something in his letter case,
Hal bent over the delicate embroideries
with wondering pity for the patient toll
by which they were produced. He had
been among poor people before, but never
when his sympathy was 80 deeply elected
as in this instance. Both mother and
daughter seemed so wholly unified for this
hard life-so helpless and forsaken!
The girl came toward him, trying to ex-
press her gratitude.
"Haye you no relatives or friends ?" he
asked her.
She shook her head sadly.
"Your father2"
"He died two years ago, just after we
came here to live. We have no money
just now," she continued misunderstanding
the motive of his questions; bat shall
get some as soon as this work is done, and
If you will give me your address | will"
al did not mean that" he interrupted,
hastily; but he did not add that he was
really thinking how soon she might be
alone in the world, for her mother was evil
dently victim of quick consumption. al
am going to Europe tomorrow, he went on,
" SO | shall not be able to call again but
l will leave prescription for your mother,
which trust will do her some good"
He wrote few lines on scrap of pa
per then, availing himself Of moment
when he was unobserved, he slipped the
money he had recently won into an envelope
and left II on the table. Fortunately, it
was considerable amount, although he re-
gretted it was not in his power to give