Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-03-28

And they touched hands and parted.
Evert went up to his own room, where
his friend, Dick Bush, was sitting in the
dark. Dick was boy of nineteen. He
had been trying to work his way through
college, and bad worn himself out in the
effort, and.Mr. Millburn had brought him
made hero of Evert; and bo had been
mortally jealous of Emily May.
"Dick," said Mr.. Millburn, after little,
we all go over to the Glen tomorrow"
And then Dick understood the case, and
mentally abused Miss May as n "cold-
hearted fiirt," which epilhet she did not in
the least deserve.
Evert and Dick went away early in the
morning. Emily heard the stage drive a
way, and turned her face to the pillow, and
thought bitterly of the horrible pervcrse-
ness of things in this world.
She knew that Evert was good, and man.
ly, and sensible. He was in fair way TO
win reputation at the bar, and, if not Just
handsome, was attractive and gentleman
ly.
"There are dozens that would be proud
and happy to accept bis love; and nothing
would do hut he must throw it away on
me-" thought Emily, impatiently. "But
It's never worth while TO pity men very
much. They mostly get over their troub-
les very easily, if there is no money lost"
From which 1t may be inferred that Miss
May was something of cynic.
Emily May lived with her mother. in an
inl and town in New York. She had lit
lie property of her own, and, with what
she could earn by her pen, she managed TO
dress herself, pay for a summers journey
now and then, and keep her own house
over her head.
1t was her way to look after her sick
neighbors, poor or not; 10 visit, now and
then, at the hospital and the county house,
and do what her hand found TO do. She
made no fuss, and laid down no rules, and
was under no ecclesiastical Correction" in
particular; but am inclined to think she
was as useful, and far more agreeable, than
II she had made herself hideous in poke
bonnet, and committed mental suicide.
When her holiday was over that summer,
she came home, and settled quietly down
to her work.
She was busy at her desk, one day in
October, when carriage drove rapidly up
the street, and stopped at the door, and
Dick Bush jumped hurriedy out, and rang
the bell. Emily went to the door herself,
upon which Dicks hurry seemed sudden
ly to subside; and when he came into the
parlor, he appeared TO find great difficulty
in expressing himself, and Emily, greatly
wondering, asked after his friend. Mr.
MiIlburn.
Dicks tongue was loosed.
"Oh, Miss Nav" he said with shaking
voice, "Evert is dying"
"where? How?" said Emily, startle !,
and sincerely sorry.
Now Dick had been rather melodramat-
tically inclined. He had meant to act like
the hero of a lady's novel, and administer
severely inflexible reproof TO the woman
who had trifled with Evert; but in Miss
Mays presence he found this plan imprac-
ticable, and wisely rerraineu.
"He went out shooting with fool of
boy, and he, the boy, fired wild, and Evert
was badly hurt and fever set in; and, oh
Miss May, he keeps asking for you, and
he won't be quiet; and the doctor said, if
you could you ought to come, for it might
make difference. There's his note, and
Mrs. Milburn's."
The doctor wrote, succintly, that, consid-
ering the state of the case, Miss Mays
presence might possibly keep the patient
quieter, which was all important. Mrs.
Mllburn's note was.an incoherent, blotted
epistle, begging this unknown young lady
to come and save her boy.
Emily could not refuse; her mother hur
red her of, and in two hours she was seat
ed beside Dick, on her way to Springfield.
Her reflections were not pleasant. Every
one would talk, and suppose there was
romance. ELY st. John would be sure to
know about it, and ELY was such a little
chatter box and to try to make mystery
of the matter would be still worse.
Then she had "nothing to wear" And
how should she get along with Evert's
| mother and sister? And who would take
her Bible class on Sunday? And what was
''the spring trader"
IT dare say it's all nonsense his wanting
me-" she thought. "People never mean
what they say in fever. 1 remember Pat
Murphy insisting that he would have
hippopotamus handy in the house and if
Mr.. Millburn comes 10 himself, how hor-
rlbly embarrassing 1t will ber'
On the whole, Miss Nays feelings were
rather those of vexation than of romance.
| They rode all night, and when Emily
reached the door of the handsome old
fashioned house in Springfield, she was
conscious of "looking like fright" and
wished herself anywhere else.
The door was no sooner opened than she
was embraced by a little old lady in black,
and pretty girl in an elegant morning
dress. Both were in tears, and evidently
had been for some time on the verge of hy-
sterics and Emily at once set them down
as "the sort Of women who are never Of
any use."
"Oh, my dear! 1t Is so good of you
So very good of you - said Mrs. Millburn.
az am sure you will be his guardian an
GEL" said sentimental Hatty.
"Not at all. Mr.. Millburn and l were
very good friends, and I shall be very glad
If can do him any good" said Emily. in
a very matter-of course tone; and the doc
tor made his appearance, and begged her
TO come up stairs.
"If he could be kept quiet, there might
be chance for him." said the doctor; "but
so much depends on nursing''-and the
doctor ended with an expressive silence.
Evert was moaning and sobbing, and beg
ging that some one would send Emily May
with Zone drop OF water"
The nurse, who to Emily's critical eyes,
looked anything but capable, was fussing
over him in way that was enough in It.