Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-07-02

compound interest the handsome fortune
of fifteen years before had gathered and
increased Till Elise was heiress to wealth
that dazzled her guardian. She, poor girl,
in her bereavement, took little note of it.
But If the heiress was unimpressed,
there were others who fully appreciated
the importance such riches give in this
worlds circles. Col Huntington and Le-
on were two of them. Leon let drop a
word that he should like to become the
wooer for the hand that would grasp this
wealth upon her coming of age, or mar
riage; and his uncle who thought there was
nobody equal TO Leon in the world, fully
approved.
DO not do Leon Huntington the injus-
tice of supposing him mere fortune
hunter. He was not so. Had this oppor-
tunity presented itself with an heiress in
herself unattractive, he would have passed
it by; but he felt a tender sympathy for
the sorrow Elise bore stamped upon her
face; he saw that she was gentle, re-
fined, and graceful, and he believed she
was in all ways the most desirable wife he
could have chosen. So he set himself to
WOO just as he bad set himself to do other
things in his life-because the opportunity
lay before him, and it was an easy path TO
tread.
And the desolate girl, finding always a
kind face watching for her, hearing low
words of sympathy whenever she would
listen, believing every compliment heart
offering, young, impassloned, and craving
some new love TO fill the void in her heart,
turned TO this new comforter with faith
and trust-beieved him, watched fer him,
Low ed him. During the first sad time of
mourning, when her piano stood unopen-
ed, her books lost their charm, Leon Hunt
ingdon crept into every thought of her life.
His voice became her music, his conversa-
ton her books, his caress her heaven.
One year after her fathers death, Elise
Radnor became a bride. Full of earnest
desire 10 be TO Leon all she had hoped TO be
to the father 'gone BEFORE" she stood at
the altar with him, and spoke the VOWS that
made her his wife. He had not of course,
spent the year at Leahold, but came to it
from time TO time, always showing him
self a devoted suitor.
house in town was taken for them, and
was fitted up and furnished with much lux
ury; but previous TO entering on its pos
session Mr.. Huntingdon carried his wife
about to various places and some months
went on 10 the beginning Of the season.
Col. Hu untngdon bad gone back 10 India.
Leon Huntingdon was fond of society.
With ali the graces 10 make him a star in
any srcle, he liked the flattery and the
courting that he met in fashions world, and
he threw open his house with the desire TO
make it one of the most attractive in town.
Friends soon gathered round, and Elise
was tossed at once into the vortex of gay
season.
1t was new world, dazzling, bewil-
dering world, and ii confused and stunned
her. Dressed with faultless taste, she
would enter the crowded saloons and sit
there embarrassed and longing to get home
again. The extreme seclusion of her train
ing had untitled her for all this. Feeling
in tensely shy and strange, she grew to dis
like II, TO believe she was not fitted for il.
Her pale face showed no pleasure; and
Leon would become angry and at last
dSuuHltu vi HIS Nllc 81 lnClC SIGN
up an arrangement between them.
Still there was no open quarrel, only
gradual separation in pursuits; Leon
would be in the world Elise alone in the
great, grand house. Mrs. Courtney came
up and found them thus. Her heart sank
within her when she marked the weary,
listless look in her niece's eyes, the lam
Of ata Il l,o Na1a fa1nI int
of her former brilliant beauty.
Cards came for a large dinner-party at
the house Of some old friends of Col. Hunt
ingdon's. Elise very much wished 10 re-
fuse for herself, as usual but she scarcely
liked TO do so in this instance; and be-
sides, she wanted 10 keep up semblance
of smoothness while Mrs. Courtney was
with her. So on the appointed evening
she entered the carriage with her husband.
twas late when they returned home. Le-
on went TO the library 10 smoke his cigar,
and Elise 10 her own little boudoir. Un-
conscious that she was not alone, the young
wife bolted the door, and then, sinking on
her knees before a low chair, heavy sobs
broke from her lips, with broken words of
prayer that she might die.
Loving hands raised her head, and she
found it pillowed on Mrs. Courtney's bo-
som.
"Eli Sc, dear child, what on earth can this
meanH"
She was child yet in her craving for
sympathy and comfort, and she lay there
and wept Historically. A few tender ques-
tions drew from her all the miseries of the
past year, all the failure that her marriage
had proved.
"I thought lie loved me, auntie. never
dr. canned that was married because was
rich. Let me Tell you all II was a large
party tonight, for there was a reception
after dinner. My head ached with the
noise and the music, and I found myself
in little place off the conservatory and
stayed there. Leon and another came in.
They had no idea anybody was there the
shrubs hid me, and II heard"
"Be calm my love-" said Mrs. Courtney,
as emotion imEeded Elise's utterance. go
on"
II learned that he was disappointed,
weary-he must have married me for my
money-and he--he loves another"
Mrs. Courtney gave an ineredulous cry.
"Loves another whom does he lover"
emily Lewis-he knew her, you know,
before he knew me she was with 'him at
the Nile. 1t was she who came into the
conservatory with him, auntie. She is
brilliant, accomplished, witty, and L
what am. We will go back TO Leahold,
aunlle, aud shall die and leave him free.
It is my fathers story over again, and the
money is still our curse"
1--WE will,not so back TO Leahold, my
darling. You are Leon Huntinglon's