Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-09-02

Won't II be nice to have our Alice a rich
lady, living in big house in Boston,"
Mr.. Farley stared stoadfastly at the fire.
"Who is he, any way2" he asked, in a
troubled voice. "She's all the child we've
got, wife. We can't give her to man,
without knowing who and what he is"
" You needn't worry" said his wife, with
the superior calmness Of one who is posted
" He's as steady.going as you be yourself
at least, so Mrs. Carter writes-and he's an
inventor, whatever that may be- Any way,
be made great fortune ont Of patent
he's sold to the government. Alice won't
have to work all her days as hard as have
done, and that's one comfort"
And when Alce's shy letter, which i'm.
piled far more than II told, intimated that
she was coming home under Mr.. Clinion's
escort, the old farmhouse was duly swept
and garnished for the reception Of the hon
orcd guest Mrs. Farley put on her best
black silk and the farmer donned his but.
ternut suit, which seemed to him as gorgeous
as il had been on the day he bought It.
twenty good years ago.
4" wonder which train they will come
in ~ said Mrs Farley, reHectively. 81
should hate the worst way to have that tur.
key spoiled"
But such catastrophe was happily
averted, for the travellers arrived as the
stormy twilight made the glow Of the great
wood fire doubly grateful. There was the
crunch Of wheels 10 the deep snow without,
the opening Of the door, and then Alice was
in her mothers arms.
In the background tall figure stood
stately, and digni6ed, and self.contaned,
with jet black hair and grave, violet-gray
eyes, and the farmer made his best bow as
Alice introduced Mr.. Clinton" with a
deep red flush upon her cheek.
You must like him very much, father,
for my sake" she said, " because have
promised TO be his wife"
When the hospitable meal was over and
Mrs. Farley came in from the kitchen, pull
ing down the sleeves that had been rolled
up above her elbow, and trying on a clean
oheckered apron, Alice sprang to her feet.
Mother she said, her face all smiles
and dimples, Mr.. Clinton has brought you
present"
A present cried Mrs. Farley.
And father must get a hammer anc
screwdriver and open it very carefully, fol
it's china
"China 2"
Yes, real china, imported from Canton
so transparent that you can look through i
in the col0rs Of life, Oh, it is so beautiful
She stood by, gleeIully clopping her hand
as the treasures were unpacked, and enjoy
ing her mothers delight as the beautiful
fragile things, Que by one, made their ap
pearanco from countless wrappings Of silve
paper.
How kind it is Of you, Mr. Clinton,
said Mrs. Farley, looking up with beamr
eyes +" always did set store by china"
Not kind at all, said the young man
quietly. F" 1t is simply the settlement of
very old debt"
, "A debt" repeated the farmers wifi,
with puzzled eyes. don't think | fairl
understand you Mr.. Clinton"
He smiled 1t is to replace the Sc
which broke, trying experiments, twelv
years ago"
Mrs. Farley started, beginning to hav
uncomfortable doubts as to the entire SAINT
of her daughters lover. And then, as b
smiled again, sudden light broke in upo
her brain.
at amt never she began, and the
stopped short.
| Yes, it is mother !" cried Alice, rad
antly. Its Juius-your julius"
Whose ears you have boxed deserved
so many times" laughed the young man.
:" And he has made his fortune, mother
and he is great man now and Away
knew 1t would be So" Alice went OF
flushed and excited. And it all cam
from the experiments he was always trying.
well / never :" cried Mrs. Parlel
while the farmer rubbed his spectacles an
laughed low chuckling laugh, which G,
pressed his perfect contcntment better tina
all the adectives in Webster's Dictionar
could have done.
) And the chill December moon shinin
through the far.of window, beyond the orb
Of the frs, beamed upon no happier bous
hold in all the land than gathered that nigl
f around Farmer Parley's hcarthstone