Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-19
FOR the VERMONT fARhEh.
The Path to Fame, or Lura Ellis
Second Love.
BY MRS. L. A. JOHNSON.
Chapter I. An Unknown Friend.


Chapter I. An Unknown Friend.
The afternoon of chill November day
drew 10 y close. The clouds, which had all
clay been mastering their forces for a storm,
were beginning to send their fleecy flakes
carthward, and everything fOretokened q
dark and stormy night.
Among the many who sought shelter in
the street car on its upward course from the
business portion Of the city was Lura Ellis
lIcr dress told her sad story-shc was a wild
ow. Her mourning garb was certainly be-
coming TO her, as. indeed, almost anything
might have been, for, although not beautiful,
there was something singularly interesting
in her fair, open countenance. Her clear,
grey eyes, though subdued by sorrow, were
still brilliant with the light of genius, and
the expansive yet not too broad forehead
gave ample evidence of intellectual strength
and superior culture.
Altogether hers was a pleasant face to
look upon, and Lura had not been long in
the car ere she discovered that she was close
~ observed by two gentlemen who sat oppo-
site her. One of them q fine, noble-looking
man of perhaps thirty years, withdrew
his attention rs soon as he perceived he
was noticed by the lady, but the other.
whose face gave evidence of sensuality and
dissipation, made no attempt to conceal his
admiration, but continued to gaze ut her in "a
manner that caused her to draw her veil
closely about her face, while she waited anx-
iously for the car to reach the street corner
whence she must walk the remaining dis
lance to her lodgings.
The corner was soon reached, but the fast
increasing storm had brought darkness be-
fore its wonted time, and Lura's heart sank
as she saw the repulsivc stranger was also
about to leave the car. The other gentle.
man, too, left it, and slipping card into Lu-
rn's hand, he stepped quickly across the
street and addressed policeman whom he
found there; then, the car having passed on,
he walked rapidly up the street in the same
direction the car had taken, having left the
car especially to ask the protection of the
policeman for the lady, who, he feared
might be annoyed by her impairment nd.
mirer.
Lura saw nothing Of this, however. but
clasplng the card closely in her hand she
hurried down a cross street, frightened to
observe that the stranger who had so rude
ly stared at her and afterward followed her
from the car was pursuing the same course
She breathed more freely; however, when she
observed by the light of a friendly lamp, (thC
last she would pass, for the street grew mar.
rover and was unlighted for some distance
before she reached her humble lodgings
that policeman was following though on
the opposite side OF the street, but soon after
they passed the lamp he crossed over and
continued during the rest of the walk imme.
dately behind her.
Thankful for the protection of this guard
an of the public. though it was not until lonE
afterward that sho knew to whom she was
indebted for such defense, she hurried or
and soon reached plain frame house, evi
IDENTIFY occupied by families of limited means
but. in most instances, of respectable habits
Ascending flight of stairs Lura tapped at {
door opening on the landing. and entered the
room Of kind lady in whose care she haC
left her treasure, n beautiful, golden-haireC
girl Of three years. Little Cora bounded t.
meet her mother. who received her with q
smile and caress.
Lingering few moments by Mrs. Mar
tyn's fire, ut that lady's kind invitation, Lurs
clasped little Cora's hand, and with kline
good night to her friendly neighbor, she as
cended another flight of somewhat dilapidat
ed stairs and entered her own room.
Soon the rays of her little lamp revealed
small and plainly though neatly furnished
room, and STOPPING, by the same fiokerin,
light, Lura read the name on the card sh
still clasped In her hand" Hugh TyndalI
NJ. D., 1856 Summer Street."
A low cry escaped her lips, and for few
moments she seemed lost in thought, the
recollecting herself and thoughtful of tn
comfort Of her darling, she carefully deposit
ed tho card in little writing desk who
stood on the table, and soon had rekindle
tho fro and commenced to prepare thei
simple evening repast.
Little Cora 1uttered about the room, ash
ing many childish question, which til
mother was hardly able to answer, so at
sorbed was she in her own thoughts.
Chapter II. RstrOsPsetIon.
And now we will go back few years, an
tell the reader something of Lura Fills pa
history. The only child of poor farmer
n remote part Of the state, Lura on accoul
of her uncommon abilities and great fon'
moss for study had been assisted to u liberi
education by wealthy relative, who ais
gave her reason to believe that she shou