Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-03-18

light table, and tho crisp fresh newspaper
lay on the tray before her. Unfolding the
sheet, she cast her eyes over the columns,
and in a moment was arrested by this head.
ing in largo type Frozen and Starved.
And breathlessly she read the whole account
Of Nora Dennis's brief life tragedy
Surely some good angel stood by, for,
with sort Of paug, Miss Isabella Buck.
ingbam felt like fash, "That is the one
for me"
But the idea was absurd. She would
not entertain it, She read other things
she slipped her coffee. She took up book.
All in vain the fght went on 10 her soul
She was dressed and ordered the carriage
and went out
Even then she would not give up. She
ordered Thomas to drive up the avenue
and down the lakeshore. But at last,
wearied out by the contest. she ordered him
sharply
To the -- street police station
Thomas wondered, but obeyod, Of course,
and in a short time the dingy station house
received an unusual visitor.
Her rich garments looked strangely
enough there, and she instinctively shrank
back but the thought Of other innocent
women who had been there strengthed her
to 20 in.
She saw her at once, and knew her.
Tho child had never seen a beautiful,
happy-looking woman, and she could not
take her eyes from her face.
Miss Buckingham asked few questions
Who was going to take herl Who were
her friends Learned that she had none,
that her father had been arrested for va
graucy, aud would be sent to the Bridowell.
Where is the child to 90 at last she
asked.
"lndeed, ma'am | don't know, unless she
goes into the streets" said the policeman.
"I'll take her" said Miss Buckingham,
bringing the long fight to a hasty close.
"It'll be heavenly charity if you do,
ma'am, replied the man.
Miss Buckingham turned to the girl
"Nora, will you 90 with me ?"
"Yes'm," gasped Nora, with hungry soul
looking out Of her eyes.
"Come then said the lady, shortly,
leading the way out.
Thomas, holding the door OF the carriage,
was struck dumb with horror to see the
apparition, but the timid little figure kept
close to its mistress, and she wore such a
look that the old servant dared not speak
"To respectable bath-house" was Miss
Buckingham's order.
Thomas bowed reached his seat somehow,
and drove off,
"Not pretty, decidedly" thought Miss
Buckingham, looking steadily at the won.
derful face opposite her, but at least not
coarse. Dress will improve her."
1.-THE doors ofthe bathing-rooms Thomas
again threw open the carriage door. Miss
Buckingham went in with Nora, gave her
into the hands of the young woman in charge,
with directions TO have her thoroughly
bathed and combed, and otherwise made
ready for new clothes that she might bring.
The amazed young woman marched off
with the unresisting Nora, ard Miss Buck
ingham went shopping. She bought COM
plete outfit from hat to shoes, aud in an
hour returned to the bathrooms, to find
Nora waiting.
She was soon dressed, much to her own
surprise, for she hardly knew the names of
half the articles she had on, and they we're
once more in the carriage. As for Thomas,
he thought the wonders would never cease
that morning. As they rolled home, Miss
Buckingham said:
Now, Nora, you're to live with me and
be my girl. You're not Nora Dennis, you
are Nora Buckingham. You're to forget
your old life--at least as much as you can, "
she added, seeing shade come over Nora s
face. "And on no account are you to speak
of it to the servants in my house. Do you
understand"
"Yes'm," said Nora.
81 shall try to make your life happy
! Miss Buckingham went on, little more
tenderly, though her heart still reyolted
against the decision of her conscience. 81
shall educate you"
"Please ma'am, what's that?" asked
Nora, timidly.
\ Teach you to read and write" said Miss
Buckingham, wincing as she reflected how
much there was to do in this neglected field
"And, Nora, shall expect you to do as
tell you, and always to tell me the truth"
"Shar stay at your house aud be
warm 2" asked Nora.
always, poor child, if you try to dc
right" said Miss Buckingham, her heart
warming little.
"Are all these things mine2" was the
next question looking lovingly at the pretty
blue dress aud cloak.
"Yos, aud you shall have plenty oil
clothes, and always enough to eat, Nora
| hope you will never again be so miserable
as found you.
Nora could not comprehend what had
come to her. She sat there as though stupe-
fed, only now and then whispering to her.
self, "always enough to eat, always warm.
"Thomas, said Miss buckingham, in her
peremptory manner, as he held the carriage
door for her to alight, &c especially desire
that you should not mention to any one
where got this child want to make a
new life for her, and | trust to your honor
to keep her secret"
Thomas touched his hat
"Indeed, you may be sure of me, Mis-
Buckingham"
And faithfully he kept his word, though
all the household was in CONSERVATION wher
Miss Buckingham installed the child 10 hel
privileges as her adopted daughter, pro
cured goyerness for her, had complete
outfit ofsuitable clothes prepared, and abov'
all took unwearicd pains to teach her all
the little things indispensable to place hel
on level with the girls she would meet
when she went to school,
Meantime, society wondered. 1t saw lit
tie of Miss Buckingham. She seemed al
ways busy, yet she had never looked sC
happy or so beautiful as then.
As for Nora, if it seemed to her that sh'
/ had reached heaven, can you wonder2
: Nora soon learned the ways and manner
of lady, She seemed to be instinctiyel,
delicate and adylike. She was pretty, too
when the hungry look went out Of her eyes
| Miss Buckingham, though on the lookout
never discovered vice in her. Whateve
may have been her oaiginal faults, sh'
seemed to have shed them with her rags
. aud the great gratitude felt for her benefac
5 tress overwhelmed everything. She seemeC
to live but to do something for Miss Buck