Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-06-17
The Web of Deceptions.
ny FRANKLIN n oAoE.



are not desirable In fact. | keep a quiet,
u1ostentatious home for plain, honest peo-
pie, who like to be well served and treated
with ciyility. One Spring day the mail
brought me o letter. IL ran as follows
BosroS, May l., ls72.
D,ar Cousin II am sick Of being ricn am heart
fy tired Of being hoiress. am disguised with the
heartlcssnoss Of fashionable society," ! nave beeh
longing for n little peace and quiet. have come 10
hate myself for leading such thoughtless, frivolous
life With such round Of senseeas pleasures ~ there
is Ia this city. To tell you the truth, cousin Frank
am determined TO reform. know The people here
solved to become poor Yes cousin, am determined
10 he pennies.
am going to spend the summer with you one
condition. You shall give out that am poor, very
poor relation Of yours and that am coming 70 live
with YOU When come shall have the privilege Of
going into the kitchen and working when please.
am resolved to become useful. And, perhaps, shall
ina thcre some youne man who viii be willing 10
marry me for myself instead Of my money.
Now, cousin, will you ontor into my little plot, and
keep my sccretl If So write me by return mail, for
nm all Impotence. But remember and keep my Sc
eret, cousin. DO not forget to write Immediately.
Yours sincerely and impatcntly,
| could appreciate Bells feelings. had
seen enough of city life myself to be dis.
gusted with it. Moreover, knew Bell to
be nobe-hearted, sensible girl, and | did
not hesitate | wrote her by return mail
that would keep her secret. In my house
she should have the privilege Of being just
as poor as she pleased, and l would give
her full liberty in the kicthen,
After had mailed the letter | sat down
on the piazza and fell to imagining what
funny or curious adventures might grow
out Of Bells plot. Not having brilliant
imagination, my progress was slow. But
while thus engaged | was startled by the
post-boy calling
Letter, sir !"
went forward to the door, and he
handed me a letter. | opened it and read
CHICAGO April %, 1872.
Ny DeD Friend J have seated myseifio write you
but / don't know how to begin. The fact U.s. Tn
tired, I'm sick, I'm disguised such rumble an'
such wear and tear such senseless going and coming
1t is enough to make mad In fact, believe The
whole city Is mad with fashion and folly, and wan
10 get out Of ii so have been thinking will CONF
and spend the summer with you. shall start IL
and to say that really dIsgusted with wearing
Sidney poor man from the West mncy | shall
have a rich time escaping the aattery Of those whC
worship only money and position. And then, per
bars Gan 9nd some sensible nr Srl NH who WI a,, !!
But will tell you more about 1t when larrive. Burr
this letter as soon rs you read IT, and keep my secret
Your friend. CHARLES SIDNEY.
| fancy there was a broad smile on M
face when | finished reading this con6den
tial epistle. 1t struck me that it PLACED
me in a novel position, where | might SCI
and enjoy some fun. But | did not bur-
the letter. | priced it too highly. | pu
it with Bells, and locked them up for fu
ture reference.
Something like a week after this hear
the depot coach rumble up to the door.
hastened to the entrance, when who shoul
see but my two secret correspondents JUS
alightipg from the coach and coming up tn
walk together They had arrived on tn
same train. | felt like laying down on til
floor and screaming with laughter. But
managed to restrain myself, and gave thel
an awkward introduction
Miss Wyman, Mr.. Sidney" Aud SO II
little drama commenced.
Frank, who is this Miss Wyman I
said Mr.. Sidney, an hour after, when ga,
him n chance to talk with me.
"Well, Charley, she is poor relation
mine from the city. Her father was vel
rich u; but you know that ships loaded vii
merchandise sometimes 20 to sea and a
never heard Of again; stores burn dow
and insurance companies fail. la this wa
the richest men, through no fault of the
own, may be stripped Of their wealth in
single day. So she has. come to live wi
me and work in the kitchen. She is We
bred, highly educated and refined. But
must be very hard for one like her to b
come penniess in a single day. She bea
up brayely under it, and says she ID goir
into the kitchen. She is brave girl, al
as good as she is brave"
"She is certainly very intellectual loo
ing and all the better for being poor.
shall be glad to become better acquaintt
with her."
But, Charley, must caution you abo
one thing She is exceedingly high spirite
She is very sensitive II anything is sa
about her fathers loss Of fortune So don
mention the subject, or anything that wou
be likely to remind her of it,"
." will be very guarded, Frank,
must be a hard blow for her TO come fro
the highest circles Of city life down to d
ing housework in country kitchen"
"That is true, Charley. But | thin
you will find her society very pleasant"
Ten minutes after, | walked into the pa
lor, where Bell was sitting.
90 Cousin Frank, you don't know ho
happy | am am so glad to get out
the city, with its dreadful brick walls Il
air is so sweet out here 10 the country; b
sides, | can do just as | please. But
was afraid, cousin, you would not sanctit
my little plot, and help me play it out; b
now you have promised to do 80, it is 1
right. Won't it be so nice, cousin 2"
"Of course it will be, Bell /; but he
could you doubt that l would help you
You know | like good time, even If a
so much older than you"
IL know it, cousin Father says "
always was full Of roguery and mischi,
lie has told me enough Of your rogui
scrapes to ill library, and | might ha
known you would help me out with the plt
But, cousin, tell me about this gcntlemi
you introduced me to. Who is he, al
what is he 2"
He is a very intimate friend Of min
Bell he is here from the West, to spel
the summer. He was once well of but
has been unfortunate, and now he is 10 We
poor circumstances. He is here TO recrea
for few weeks. Poor fellow Ipity BIZ
tor he is one Of the finest young men
know"
" lie is real handsome, aud be looks int,
ligeut. / think he will be good compap
cousin, won't he?"
Yes; but be careful you don't becon
fascinated With him, for be is as poor as
Is proud"
Trust me for that, cousin. imagi
there Is no danger"
But there is Bell, aud be is territ
sensitive on the subject Of the fortune
has lost. If you were TO make tine LEI
allusion lit. or to his being poor, be wou
take great offence"