Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-01-01

his sisters who was a guest In the house,
and, a. they faucied themselves very much
In love with each other, they had agreed to
meet in tho parlor an hour before that APP
pointed for tho ceremony that they might
enjoy quiet tctc q tetc before the asSemb-
ling of the guests. Having finished his
toilet he accordingly went down, aud was
soon joined by The lady
They pronenaded up and down the par
lors, and again and again her eyes rested
curiou-ly on the pin, Int she made no al
lusion to it til her feelings had become en-
tirely irfcpi essible, when she interrupted
him in the middle OF y sentence to inquire
what on earth ii was, and where he got it,
aud why he wore It.
Then he sat down by her side, with lace
curtains shimmeriug in the twilight, and
long mirrors rejecting aabasier vases and
oil paintings, and the air heavy with the
perfume Of flowers, and told her about
Little Joe-Uf his shapeless feet and for
lorn life, his empty pocket and grateful
heart. And she agreed that ii must be
dreadful TO he so poor and def1rned, and
all that, and Of course he ought to be grate-
ful, bnt really She thought Mr.. Wise ralh-
er morbid in his philauthrophy when he
could welr that brass moon before Eve
hundred people only to please a little de-
formed negro.
"PerhaEs you do not understand" said
Tom, gently, "ihat have given Joe per-
mission to witness the ceremony Il believe
I told you that he was the personal proper
ty of my mother, aud n favorite with herr,
aud he will certainly know whether | wear
this pin that he has worked for, and gone
in debt for, and probably starved himself
for. Will there lie anyone here--save
yourself-whose laugh dread enough TO
induce me to mortfy and disappolnt hlmH'
at will make us both ridiculous" said
she haughtily.
Tom quietly unfastened the pin and
placed 1t In his vest pocket, and with 1t
disappeared Miss Annan's prospect Of be
coming Mrs. Wise, enVlab.e as she deem
ed the position.
II have no right TO incl ude you in my
sacrifice, It ,acrifce there be-" said he,
with grave courtesy. aud referred no more
to the matter; but as soon as he could
leave her he sought his sister and request
ed that the honor Of standing with Miss
Amman night he conferred ON Mr. Mar
sbal, and himself allowed to take Mr.. Mar
shali's partner, she being little girl on
whose pluck and good nature he could
alike rely. His sister had no time to enter
into particulars, bnt made the desired
change, and Mr.. Wise said to Miss Emily,
~ could not sacrifice you, so have sacri-
feed myself, and am volunteer in the
! noble army Of martyrs
! When. however, as the bridal corlege
| passed through the hall, he saw Joe nudge
! a fellow servant with his elbow and point
out the pin, he felt repaid. though Miss
Amman was holding her head very high
indeed.
The next morning Little Joe came by the
office: "What did de folks say bout yo'
bres'pln, Mas Tom!"
Say? Why. they did not know what to
say, Joe. They could not lake their eyes
off me. That pin knocked the black out
Of everything there. The bridegroom
couldn't hold candle TO me-" said Mr.
Wise; and Joe laughed aloud with de.
light. did they give you your supper -
Ibid dat, Mas Tom and l tux home
snow ball an a.orange to Kiah, said Littlt
Joe.
Late on the evening Of the same day Mr.
Mii"c was aDout leaving his ofiice, wheI