Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-01-22
Literary Department.
MISS ERLSlr.S CODICIL.

Miss Rebecca Erlsm, n valetudnalian of
sixty, lay dying at her house in town. She
had held so tenacious grip upon life that
1t was difficult for the two young people 10
realize the end was so near. These two
young people were Gerald Erism, her
nephew, and Miss Luane Williams, her
companion aud nurse.
Gerald had seen the young woman every
day for the three years she had lived with
his aunt, but never until that moment be-
slowed serious thought upon her. He
did not even know the color Of her eyes,
til his aunt gasped out a sentence that
caused him to look at her attontively.
Then he found them shining luminously
in the sombre gloom OF the sick chamber,
and something therein forbade him TO hate
her, although the sentence his aunt had
uttered was 10 the effect that she had LEFT
Miss Williams all her money.
"If you expect TO pay for that horse for
Emily Thorpe 10 ride, with the money you
get by my DEATH" said the dying woman,
you're mistaken"
You don't understand" began Gerald.
81 WIS an Infamous Transaction" said
the old lady, land what call post-obit.
! found ont enough about il 10 make me
put codici to my will. That rascally
horse-deaer'll lose his money agter all,
aud Emily Thorpe shall naunt none of her
fnery at my expense. rveleil every PEN
ny 10 Luane Williams! !!
1t was then that Gerald looked ut Luane;
but his aunt suddenly stretched out her
hands to him pleadlnglv, and finding a
gray palor spreading over her face, he
knelt down by the bedside and took her
cold withered hand in his own.
'If the horse had been for any one but
that Emily Thorpor' latered the poor old
lady.
"oh, aunt" satd uera!d, III you'd let
me explain"
81 would if had Iime,' she said; "but
l must die now"
In ten minutes It was all over and Ger
aid went out Of the house with great ache
at his heart. He was very sorry for his
aunt; she had been very kind 10 him-tco
| kind, for she had reared him for the useless
life Of a drene, when now it appeared he
must work for r living like all the rest of
the bees. 1t had hitherto been something
of bore to him merely 10 spend money,
and the fact began 10 dawn unpleasantly
upon his mind that 10 earn 1t must be in
6nitely more wearisome.
Walking aimlessly on, his feet took lne-
chanically n familiar direction, and he
found himself pausing before a fine house
In fashionable quarter of the city, from
whence shambled a somewhat bent and
awkward figure that presently disappeared
In brougham before the door.
Gerald recognized the man as Mr.. Badg-
er, the millionaire, and involuntarily con-
trasted his condition with that Of the for
tunate soap dealer. He was, however so
absorbed with the direful news he had to
tell Emily that before she came into the
| parlor he had forgotten Badgers existence.
1t was singular that her remarkable
beauty aud brilliant toilet did not appal
Gerald at that moment, that the fact OF his
no longer Being able 10 grace that lovely
hand with betting gems did not prevent
him from seizing it in both his own and
kissing it rapturously. But for that en-
chanting moment he was allowed to forget
the gloomy chamber where his aunt lay dead
and the woman that waited there for the
money he had been taught to consider his
own.
sit tseems 10 me that you are very beauti-
full this morning" was all that he could
say.
Emily drew her hand geatly away from
his caress.
"Gerald," sho said. ~ have something to
tell you"
Her accent was cold. There was some-
thing.in her manner that caused him 10
step back and look at her with din pre-
monition OF what was to come.
"You know" she continued, show bit
lerly opposed is your aunt TO your atfec-
ton for me. She has told me herself that
she will never consent to our happiness.
Gerald, I am too fond of you 10 wreck your
whole life. There was but one way to end
1t all"
She paused. He leaned forward, and
still kept his eyes, now wan and haggard,
upon her face. Then she sank pale and
trembling into a chair, and covered her
eyes with her hand. She was moved with
pity, perhaps, or a vague regret. AT last
she spoke.
~ have just accepted an offer Of mar
riage."
"From Badger" cried Gerald, and walk
ed TO the door. "Your prudence" he ad-
ded, standing upon the threshold, "has
served you we'll. You have just got rid oi
me in time. Ny aunt died this morning,
and has left everything she had to her
nurse and companion"
Then he got out into the street, and
walked along with a falterlng, staggering
step. His eyes were wild, his face livldly
pale. People turned to look at him as he