Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-06-19

was seldom noticed at all, was preposterous.
cit fattered him to SEQ her so absorbed by
his picture" I said; ''only praise him and
I'm not sure but Beelzebub himself might
hold him in the chains Of eternal friendship.
Harry Lonsdale is the vainost man ever
saw for man who really is n great genius"
"Well, wen seen said my wife, with that
confident little nod Of hers. at will DO suffi-
cent punishment for your unbelief ii only
have the chance to say some time 4 told you
So"
To my great astonishmOnt Harry called ut
our house three evenings out of the week,
after that, and under the influence of his
presence that little grey cousin grow positive
ly beautiful. noticed a change in her de-
pertinent. She seemed Mt times more pre-
occupied Mt others elated, mirthful, almost
wildly happy; particularly on those days
when It seemed probable Harry would come.
l began to share in my wife's anticipations
began to watch Harry He did seem exact
ly like IN imprisoned lover
About this time, my wife said to me one
day that Susy was receiving letters from
some far off friend.
81 notice when they come; sometimes
hand them to her, but she never mentions
them again. Shouldn't you think she would
speak about themP" asked my wife.
Susy's movements were now of Importance
in my eyes. How had that plain little girl
contrived to captivate handsome, popular
Harry Lonsdale, the most exacting fellow in
his relations with women ever knew The
thing certainly was done.
Susy came out in new character. Hel
grey dresses were frightened with exquisite
bits of color. She spoke to my wife Of need
ing new dresses. and TO Ncllie's astonish
mcnt bought herself several. Then cam.
ornaments, few. but choice and costly.
where do you suppose she gets the mon
ey?" asked Nellie.
GLOW do we know but she may be ricl
and eocentricT was my response. "YoI
pitied her and thought her poor lone girl
but her father may have possessed property
to u large amount for all we can tell"
Nellie shook her wise head.
81 don't believe he left n cent-indeed
what am sayingP it is a matter of certain
ty that he did not. for Susy told me SO her
self. Besides, she would have got fine things
fast enoughHcores of times. I've seen the
look in her eye when l have been shopping
at Stewards, suggestive of emptiness o
pocket and anguish Of spirit-for you see
now what lovely taste she has. But l wsl
she wasn't such secret thing, that's wha
torments me; do like to be confded in
What followed made that conversatiQ'
memorable. Some months previ(
l had received the sum Of thrs
thousand dollars for small piece of land
This money, or a part of it. had occasioht
use. went up to the closet in my room
one side Of which served rs II safe. To m
utter establishment, the money was no
there l searched the closet through, an
then called my wife for consultation.
Together We looked in every avnilabl
place-cleared the shelves of the library
searched through all the closets. bureaus
boxes, trunks and hooks that the house al
forded, but in vain, the money was gone
no signs of bank bills anywhere.
"Where could you have put them?" aske
my wife, tired and discouraged.
81 put them in that closet; my key In
been in that little box on the end OF tn
mantle-piece; have never been to tn
closet since left the money there, but som
one else has. il seems"
None of the servants but old Hester eve
comes into this room," murmured Nellie
land would stake my life on her honesty,
"Of course, and so would l."
Three thousand dollars! why John, that
large sum to lose."
Large or small, it's gone"
"But where?" my wife queried, perplexe
and anxious. "Who could have known
was there? Have you ever spoken of MOI
ey before anybody? People will do sue
miserably strange things sometimes"
Eyes, | have spoken of having thi
amount by me, two or three times, but 4
one was present but you and Susy. 1t W;
an abominable careless thing to do, leavin
it lying loose instead of putting it into tn
bank, as l should" Day after day "
: looked for the money, speaking Of our su
picions to no one. until finally we gave it 4
: for lost. A week AFTER this, Nellie came
; my room with a pale face.
Its SO strange" she murmurcd, land
do hate to have such thoughts; but job
where could Susy have got that spend
solitaire?" she half-whispcred.
"What solitare?" asked.
"You have not seen it? she wore it tod
for the first time"
~ suppose she's engagcd--Harry gave
to her." suggested.
"But Harry didn't give 1t to her. ask
:, her. and she said no."
1.-THE deuce!' was all could say.
Sand John, it really looks alarming, I
number of costly things she has been buyi
of late. Thirty dollars for parasol, or
think! and mine didn't cost twenty; b.
= of the daintiest gloves, everything by t
u Dozen"
We looked ut each other in silence.
"About the richest black silk you ever 81
better than mine. The material mi
> have cost hundred dollars; what will I
0 dress come to when it is made upP'
7 "What can it all moanP" queriod.
"Don't ask me: I'm heart-sick at
: thought of it. It's a miserable business, c
), it be possibleP-but no, won't say it. G.
y tain it is that she has some business relate
- with some one in this city. Half the lett,
she posts are not Hariy's."
. 81 wonder If the fellow loves her?"
Loves her. he worships her."
sand he will make hcr his wifePn
. "Of course he will"
"What is our duty in that case, do J
= think, NellieP"
. For heavens sake say nothing about
y John" Remember she is my cousin. a
it isn't rs if VIC were poor. I'd rather |,
y five thousand than to have amy trouble
- that kind"
- ats terribly unpleasant" said I.
~, "Of course it is--horrible. And she's
:. happy. so thoroughly happy, that it would