Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-12-11

him there at noon, and the proprietor of
Somervlle & Sons frame factory was a
man of rigid punctuality.
Ten, fifteen, twenty minutes, Stephen
Holton waited in the office, watching Nell
lies busy hand as she folded, sealed and
directed lot Of circulars, and thinking
that never had he seen a face so fair, or
heard a voice 50 clear and musical as Nell
lie Somerville's. But as the clock struck
the half hour, Nellie looked up with
startled face.
something has happened, Stephen"
she said; "my father is never half an hour
late. Send some one to look for him."
"The men are all at dinner Miss Nellie.
l will 90 myself"
But even as he spoke, a messenger hur-
riedly entered the office, saying:
"Mr. Somerville was thrown from his
horse while on his way here from the viii
rage, and is badly injured"
"Where?" broke from Nellie's white
lids.
ave took him home, and he asked me
to come here for you"
Even in her sorrow and grief Nellie re-
tanned some presence of mind. Looking
into Stephen Holton's grave, sympathiz-
ing face, she said:
"You will take charge here, until you
hear from my father. / will he response
ble."
THANK you" he said, deeply moved by
her confidence in him at such time. II
will try to do my duty"
81 am sure of that" She answered, and
extended her hand.
Two minutes later she was hurryng
homeward. None too soon was her clear
head and quiet resolution brought TO bear
upon the excited ousehod. Her mother
was in Mysteries, the servants bustling
here and there purposeless and terrified,
and her father lying upon the bed in the
hands of a surgeon and two gentlemen who
had assisted IN bringing him home.
There was plenty to do. In less time
than would have seemed possible, the SER
wants were in their proper places, Mrs Som
ervilte quieted, and Nellie, white as a sheet,
but perfectly tranquil, actively engaged in
waiting upon the surgeon.
The weary hours that followed taxed ev-
cry nerve of the girls frame, but she bore
the strain bravely; aud when the doctor
led her to the drawing room, he felt deep
respect for the girl who so nobly crushed
back all selfish sorrow to aid her father in
her agony.
Giving her glass of water, and max ing
her rest quietly for a few minutes he watch
ed her face till the drawn rigdity of every
feature relaxed, and the strained eyes
looked piteously into his own.
THAT is BETTER" he said kindly, "you
may cry now"
Nellie's lip quivered.
"YOu have something 10 tell me T.
"Yes. Are you strong enough to hear
it?"
"That he will die? Oh, say he will not
die -
1.-The injuries are not fatal. Your father
may live for years"
Nellies tears fell fast, now.
But" the doctor continued, she will
never be able to walk again. The inj jlry
to the spine will keep him a cripple for
| lfe."
"Never walk again" While Nellie sob
bed out her anguish in the drawing room,
John Somerville, unconscious of the dread
fiat that had gone forth, slept under the in
fluence of powerful opiate.
| For many days the two women who low
ed him had no thought for Anything but the
strong man stricken down in the prime oil
his life, needing care like a little child.
Under the influence of a real sorrow, the
crust of selfishness melted from H. wife's
heart and she became devoted nurse, for
getting the fanced ailments she had nurs-
ed for years in minstering to her husband
as he lay helpless and suffering.
But there came day when John Somer-
vile was told kindly and cautiously, of the
doom before him. Ittook all the Christian
strength OF the mans nature to endure the
shock. Better death, he thought, than live
at such price. The first agony over, he
thought ef the factory, the bread winner
for wife and child-the business of his life
Must the old firm die at last, and the -four
ishing business be sold for want of mas
ter's care. Involuntarily he turned to Mel
lie, and talked long and earnestly.
1t was a surprise to him, in spite of wha
he had seen, when she replied:
"I knew tho factory would be your frs
anxiety, father, and Stephen has been her'
every evening TO report 10 me, bringing
me all the mail matter. day 1 wen
down myself. Every thing is going oI
well. The orders for this month are al
filled, and the new ones under way.
have put in some new material. Do yol
feel able TO go over what have done"
Closely she explained every detail of th
business in the four weeks that had passet
since the accident, and modestly showed
him the memoranda she had kept of ever,
business transaction.
"Nelle," said he, when she flushed, "i
Heaven denied me a son, it has given m
good daughter. With you to assist me
1 can still carry on my factory, though
lie crippled here"
There was buzz of comment in the vii
lage when Miss Ellen Somerville assumes
the charge of the frame factory her fathe
had owned so long. Some of the work
men refused to be "ordered about" by
, girl, and were promptly discharged bu
the majority worked better under the stim
ulus OF Nellie's judiclous praise. Peopl
f who sneered at "masculine women" weT
forced to confess that Nellie was womanly
, If not as helpless, as the finest lady of ther
, all, Patrons Of the factory who prophe