Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-08-27

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ems then pausing on the landing of board
ing house to laugh and chat with half doz-
en- young men, but this one had a Mentor
in the little delormed brother Henry, for
whom she toiled all day in the store of
Drudge & Co. When the laughter became
hilarious, a thin hand plucked at Loltie's
dress.
"Come and see my last doll, sister. l
don't like you when you speak so loud.'
ladies speak softly, like Mrs. CALM
ipper," Lottie would retort, dehantly,
smarling under some slight from the first
floor "rm not lady, you know" Then
she would 20 quietly TO admire the doll,
but all the same Mrs. Gallinipper was the
Mordecai in Lottes gate.
Robert brought balm to wounded vani-
ty in unvarying devotion. lie was young
man Of hopeful temperament and large
nose, prone 20 excessively gay cravats.
With true feminine coquetry, Lottie now
smiled on herlover bewitchingly, aud then
scorncd his humble offerings.
"Where are you going?" inquired the
fourth floor that evening" for the most part
with pipe in its mouth.
Lottie's response was by no means choice,
yet the lips that framed ii were rosy and
soft:
"Od Toly has invited Us down stairs"
~ think he's going TO marry Miss Walk
er; he's always whispering to her with
such queer look, - said Henry.
The tarnished chandelier shed all its ra-
diance down on the llower pyramid before
which the two young visitors paused in
speechless delight, the boy with tightly
clasped hands.
As for Mr. Toly, he seemed to have sud
denly gone mad. He skipped wildly about
his dominons in flutter Of agitation he
presented the two ladies with boxes of bon
bons he insisted on having his health
drunk in a glass Of sherry all around and
when he placed the largest pot of hello
trope in Ientys arms, he tecame a hero
in LOttie's eyes.
"Oh, how good you are" cried ardent,
impulsive sislerhood, resting one pedchy
check, with a nesting movement, on the
yellow hand Of the host.
This tritling incident occasioned deliri-
um on the pant of our worthy vegetarian.
When hi, guests had departed, and the dia-
mond ceased to scintillatc before his daz
zled eyes, he paced the floor with light, un-
equal footsteps. Love may kindle as pure
aud exalted a flame at No. 10 -- Place
as in more favored localities. The man
hood Of Mr.. Toly had been undisturbed by
a thrub of passion; he had devoted himself
to the sale of steel pens and the study OF
his own constitution. And now a merry,
dmp!cd face having once been mirrored in
his soul, the depths were stirred and troub-
led forever. His senses had been taken
captive in sudden overwhelming rush oi
emotion, and oatmeal porridge, douche
baths, brushes, and the water-curC
treatment became as dross. Nature resent
ed the interference Of a shop-girl who act
c d as a drag ON the wheels Of very com
plicaied machinery, and the reaction was
the mole alarming from the fact of Mr.. To-
ly's having treated himself as If made q
glass for so many years.
The soft cheek had touched his hand, tho
bright eyes beamed on him kindly; fol
two hours had he been permitted to glod
on the golden hair, delicate little nose, and
shell-like ear. So Mr.. Toly worshippeo
his divinity through the midnight hours
after his own fancy, and built air castles O
surprising spendor, such as had never be
ioie haunted his brain.
"IIe is a real good old thng!' was .aii
Lotlie's comment as she carried IIenry''
gin upstairs.
Robert, who was not included in Mr.. To
ly's select invitation, sat on a trunk in tho
hall reading newspaper beneath tlaring
gas jet. There was not much fun in hi;
| evening, but Robert made the best of it,
| The hcliotrope was received by the iOurtl
floor with admiration, partly because o
its fragrance, but chiefly to crafty Henry
| Robert alone was dubious. Was Mr.. Toy
growing sweet on Lotlie2 What did it al
mean? The belle of the fourth floor wa,
In Il perverse mood she even sailed of
without saying goodnight. Once alone
she drew from her pocket letter already
perused many times that day. The pape
was scented, the handw riling easy anC
graceful, and totally unlike Roberts round
clerky hand. Long amer Henry slept sh,
sat gazing with wde-open eyes into thu
| gulf before her.
Miss Walker retired with pensive smile
She was disposed TO regard Mr.. Toly's va
| garies of the evening lenienty.
"Poor man I" she said, with a gentl,
| sigh. "I am sure that be needs some on
to take care of him." Then she peeped in
to her bonbon box, and was not surprised
to find a verse of poetry written in spid
cry hand with one OF Mr.. Toly's paten
pens, dwelling with ungrammatical raptur
on her eyes and complexion.
"He never did ii before, evidently re
tlected this wise young woman, who hac
ner own way to make in the world. Sh
received the poetry none the less compla
Gently that it was intended for Lotlie, anc
the hapless Mr.. Toly had given her tn
wrong box, in his bewilderment.
The tall Prussian was holding converse
W th Bridget in this wise at his chambe
door;
"You har no vine dis house-hein?"
swine, is it9 Indade no, thin not eyeI
sup o. beer"
"Vere sail haf my shoes to polishH" af
ter much difficulty.
"Boots blacked?" Faith It's to The stree
corner ye must go. It's not us gurls tina
can be alther clann' thin, wild all on
wurk."
"Oh," assented the German, evidently
considering this one of the customs of
strange land. "Attend. l must wish 70
someling. l want a box light"
"a what?" Bridgers voice acquired
rising infection.
"Auend. l sail wish a wax-candle."
"Holy mother! Yell only find thin il
the churches, I'm thinkin'. Here's th'
nice, purity gas. lie smell. Bah ~
L.