Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-11-20
ought horselr well dressed in patched


sea-shore solitude.
But there came change over the quiet OF
Rushtown. There were whispers in the
air of an approaching invasion. A big
speculator, in big gold chain, with n big
voice, and big company at his back, had
found his way along the sea-shore. There
was II talk of villa sites aud villa plots and
ocean views, and there were flaming pls-
cards up at the village inn, and there was
big tent down along the sands, with a
gay streamer atop OF ii, and crowds OF bu-
sy, beer drinking people about it, invading
the ocean quiet, and vulgarizing the place,
as Mrs. Lymph declared.
And finally, il appeared, the willy auc-
tioneei threw a covetous eye on that slight
ed two-acre lot which was generally shifted
at by the village as "Deb's property" And
the speculative Mr.. Jones courted Deb and
cOaxed Deb, and endeavured to bring her
to reason and to making sale at his own
price-a good price for = few bushels OF
sand, as he observed, worth nothing, ex-
cept that they stood in his way. But Deb
was sbrewd once for the sake Of Jerry.
When Jerry came back it would not do to
have cheated him out of what was justly
bis due. So she barpaned and put of and
haggled with the eloquent auctioneer, for
Jerry's sake, until finally, as you never
can bring woman to reason, he was fain
to give her her price. And he touched his
hat respectfully when they closed the bar
gain, for he respected money, did Mr..
Jones, and Deb was far richer woman
than when he first met her, and proved TO
be sharper than he was, after all.
That was a proud day for Deb when she
deposi ed the proceeds Of that one business
transaction Of her life in the snug little
bank of neighboring town. She still
owned the shaky old house and bit of
land about it, and she had bank book be-
sides There was a small sum coming to
her yet, and, happy, as a princess, she
walked along the sands, In her sun-bonnet,
to meet the gallant auctioneer at the big
tent, for, seeing that Deb was a landed pro-
prietUr, and mistress OF q small fortune,
that gentleman had invited her down to the
great clam bake and sale, to see, as he said,
chow the thing was DONE" aud to settle
up. II was all a wonderful scene TO poor
simple Dcborah-the feasting, the crowued
tables, the rushing, jostling, good humor-
ed people who bid high prices and drank
beer, and hankered to get out by the ocean 4.
In her interest and excitement she linger-
ed with the rest till nearly sunset.
"Yuu had better be careful ofthat money"
said the auctioneer, kindly, as she put the
purse in her pocket whom they "settled up"
There are ill-loolSing fellows hanging
about here. It's bad for lone woman to
have much money about her."
IL shan't always be a lone woman" said
Deb, in the fullness OF her heart, thinking
Of the time when Jerry would be back, as
big and brave and fearless as any body.
That night there came new moon over
| the water the wide dim stretch OF lining
waves was family silvered, the wralth-lke ke
mist lying beyond glimmered like Milk Y
Way. But Deb was not lingering out
doors to- night, dreaming and brooding, as
was her wont at this hour. She sat in tn g
great-shadow- haunted kitchen, her sun
bonnet still on her head, candle naring
| beside her-a candle which fiickeIed un-
steadily over a tumbled heap Of bills, in
terspersed with few odd pieces OF silver,
the hoardings of years.
Deb was counting her treasure, gloating
over it like a miser. Window and door
were open ; the sea-breeze came floating in.
Eager, happy, intent, she heard nothing,
feared nothing. The wind was always
making racket about the disjoinled old
place, and Deb had got used to it. It sound.
ed like a sinister football now on the thresh-
old, but Deb never looked up. She did not
see dark face bending over her shoulder
| she did not see the shadow of brawny
hand crawling stealthily over the heap she
was counting. 1t might be one Of the grim
shadows haunting the raflers had got dow n
to play prank with her, so unconscious
sits the woman, absorbed in her unaccus-
TONED mathematics, Till the brawny hand
comes down with sudden swoop, clutch
| ing her treasure-a living, sinewy hand
with a sailors anchor pricked In faded blue
on the back.
But Deb was quick she caught at the
closed fist sharply, holding it in a vigor.
Gus grip, treasure and all, as she turned
upon the robber-a woman with flashing
| SFS7i iuAi VI htiNo anu olICuttut uOt W Dt
lightly quelled, transformed by sudden
peril into herolsm.
But as she turned cry broke from heI
lips-a wild, strange cry, uttering all the
passion and loneliness of her lifetime.
"Jerry r. she cried. 40 God 1t was al
for you!'
Was II so indeed that Jerry had come
home? Was it Jerry who shrauk from
her extended arms, and falling abjectly OF
the floor, groveled at her feetf Jerry he
knight, her returning hero, for whom she
had cOveled all things, for whom her worlC
was all too small TO afford largess for biz
welcomed
a divine mother-light shone in Debor
avs eyes. Al. things were for him, frs
of all, forgiveness.
Disaraced, degraded, Jerry fallen upoI
evil ways. Jerry; so much the more will
the great mother-heart comfort and wei
come thee
81 never meant II, mother" he cried
"nO, 1 never meant thisi I've been bat
enough and wrelched enough and starve,
enough, but l never meant this. II wa
the money he gave you down at the lonI
tent that done il. l never see your face
not once, oh, not once, mother, only tb
jingling, hateful purse tuat lured me oil
like devill Let me away out o. this" h
cried, breaking from her grasp, land III
never trouble you more. swear it-nev
erv'
But his mother set her back against th
door; she drew with trembling fingers th
great rusty bolt. Listen TO the lad r. sh
said, smiling, as she smoothed his roug
hair with her tender hand. "Does he thin
that after waiting all these years he's goln
10 get nnit of hia old moi her In this faa hinn