Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-08-19
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less, with the clammy dampuess OF COM
ing snowstorm in the air. The strips Of
blue sky, upon which even the poorest beg
gar Of the street may sometimes look with
a faint glimpse Of the heaven beyond, were
quite hidden by dark masses of cloud, that
reflected their own sombcr hues on the faces
of the hurrying passers-by.
Ralph Field ran down the steps Of his
boarding house, and hailed passing car
The downtown rush had just begun, and an
involuntary shiver of discomfort ran be-
meath his wrappings, as be saw, on stepping
in, that all the seats we're taken. Ding
ding went the conductors bell, and one
after another dropped in, till even standing
room was limited. Another stop; aud this
time the new arrival was IN elderly woman,
very poorly and tbiuly clad, staggering
under the weight Of huge laundry basket.
Her thin features were unnaturally pinched
with cold, and her whole frame trembled as
she shifted her beDumbed hands painfully,
still holding up the heavy burden, unable to
find room for it on the floor Of the car.
Such a weary, pitiful look, in the worn
face, shaded by its thin grey hair-such a
patient endurance in the eyes, meekly cast
down. The comfortably seated gentlemen
sbrauk closer into their gay scarfs and
mufilers; but ifany one thought, " 1t might
have been my mother" the gentle charity
was stiaed in its FIRST up-springing, and
there was no outward sign.
A little rustic Of silk, as lady rose in
one corner, made Ralph look round, and
voice, clear aud sweet as silver bell, said
" Take this seat, my good woman" A
glance Of quick, grateful surprise shot up
from the woman's eyes as she murmured
4" Thank you, Miss, kindly" and sank, with
sigh OF exhaustion, into the place just
vacated.
Three or four gentlemen sprang up with
simultaneous offer Of their seats, but
glow of indignant color famed into the
lady's cheeks, as she answered, with a
slight bow Thank you-l will stand" I"
And stand she did, her little goved hand
holding the strap firmly, and her face turned
little aside, so that Ralph dared study her
with admiring eyes.
"No ordinary girl" His artist sense
would have told him that at glance. even
though his heart had not come in TO aid his
Judgment, with its quick response to her
generous action. Ralph Field had too
tender memories of his dead mother aud
sisters, not to feel kind of proprietorship
in all that Is DoDIest ana truest ia
4 And be fell into a half dream, waking
only as the lady signaled the conductor and
stepped lightly down. Then he saw, with
T a start, that he was quite beyond Flint 4
Chattertons, and must walk up the street
again two squares at least. Hurrying out
he caught sight of lace handkerchief, lying
on the floor, just where the lady had stood
He picked it up hastily, but its fair owner
had disappeared in the crowded street. A
faint perfume Aoated up as he shook il
from the dust, and there, on one corner
} was name, Eta Stuart"
Eta Stuart, Eta Stuart" said Ralpt
e to himself, as he walked up the street, draw
ing his brows together in puzzled frown
/ =" have surely heard the name before"
Just then Frank Evans bore down upoI
a him, with a hearty morning greeting.
/, "Halo, Ralph, my boy! What are yol
pondering, that you look like judge, al
- but the wig? You must get off that face
}. and come up to the house this evening
Sister Lou is just home from Springfield
and cousin Eta Stuart the peerless, ha
come home with her for the winter"
"Ahw
r Frank was hardly prepared for the sud
IS den illumination Of Ralph's face. lie stare
Q n minute, aud then went on:
IS "You know told you about Eta be
l. fore, and promised you an introduction"
= "Yes, yes, | remember. Thank yor
d Frank. I'll come"
# What an interminable long day it was
4; Ralph caught himself once skstching pal
q of dark eyes on the margin Of bushes
d note. What ails me" he said to hin
Ie self, energeticslly, ms he thrust the offend
d ing sheet into the waste basket, and dashe
$. of q fresh order.
ID But, If the day was long, the eveDin
4. hours we're winged. He found in Frank
n. " Eta, the peerless" none other than b
T. fair companion Of the morn. She did NJ
ID recognize him-how should she, from anon
i. score Of fellow passengers but he woul
ct have know her among 4 thousand. III
n. dainty moucAior was in his breast pocke
ID but before the evening was half over he ha
IS, decided upon his frst theft-he would NJ
ge give it back. Perhaps its owner had a
OF ready exacted more than a fair equivalel
10 from its finder but Of that we can on
ty guess.
Of That was Ralph Fields neyer-to'be 10
10. gotten winter. 1t was the old, old stor.
&c so we need not linger over u. No matt
ur what visions Of love and honor came
r. him in his bachelor den' othersh have dream
so before him. in all ages; no matter how Ia
'e- and stately were the Spanish castles
to built, in the dusk and dimness Of the cour
he ing room Love has had its own school
he architecture since the world began.
Did Eta love himY lie had never ask
her in words but the heart has more th
one avenue Of expression and there is