Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-12-01

from the village post Office, aud upon en-
terlng the house. went straight TO her room
in apparent agitation. Half an hour later
she Joined Miss Middleton on the piazza,
and presently said, "Ruth, want TO tell
you a story"
"Pray do answ cred the younger gentle
woman, "I haven't had story all TO my
self since 1 was a child"
"But mine is a sad story, and there are
other reasons why you may not like II, or
me for telling it. We shall see, however"
"There was a young man once, as grand
a man as God ever made. lie loved wo-
man who was worthy. Uf him, and who
loved him in return; but in lit OF unrea-
| sonable anger one day, she sent him away
discarded. The young woman was very
poor, although she had been rich, and her
necessities were sore. The man knew heI
needs and took great pains to provide for
them in such a way that she should never
know or suspect whence the help came.
He threw in her way tho only profitable
work she knew how to do. But this was
not all, nor half. When he parted from the
woman he loved, he forever surrendered
III ihSa VI iNhOhthS AhO OhBoBNhNhAs AAS
was convinced that he was unfit 10 make
such woman happy, and, like the hero he
was, he sacrificed his own life 10 hers.
There was a way in which he could restore
the woman's fortune; but it involved long
years Of toll and privation and suffering.
To accomplish it he must give his time and
his means, and risk his life itself in a eli
mate which at certain seasons is dangerous
ly unwholesome."
Mrs. Hepworth was looking over, not at
Miss Middleton as she told the story, but
she felt that the black eyes, full OF tears,
were gazing steadily al her.
Nevertheless, the great soul Of the man
bravely breasted the difficulties and the
dangers OF his task. 1t was his plan TO
work out the terrible problem under an as
sumed name, and then without her knowl-
edge, 10 convey the redeemed estate TO the
woman, record the deed, and disappear for
ever from her world, poor, friendless, and
a wauderer.
Year afler year he toiled and suffered.
He lived meagrely and worked unceasing-
ly. He was sick many times, and alone
always, with neither man nor woman TO
give him greeting, and no companions but
the negro laborers he employed.
FINALLY his work was done. The estate
was restored TO its former fruitfulness. The
rice fields were repaired and leased for a
term of years at a rental which would place
the woman he loved not only beyond want,
but in well nigh sffluent circumstances.
The deed TO her was made and recorded.
The agent was instructed 10 give copy of
1t 10 the woman, but TO conceal the Civ
er's real name always, and the man sailed
to-day for China. The agent was a woman
the sister of the hero-and after the man
ner of woman she failed 10 keep the Sc
cret of his heroism."
Mrs. Hepworth LEFT the piazza and retired
TO her room. Ruth sat still for half an hour,
and then went 10 her friend.
"Will the agent help the unworthy wo-
man to pursue purpose as relentlessly as
the man has pursued his ?' she asked.
What is the purpose7"
ITO spend every cent OF the income from
the estate in search for the hero; to bring
him back, and show him that he has tanned
the wild beast"
at woald be useless. He has hidden his
sister goodbye, and, upon sailing, changed
his name again, that search might he vain,
and the gill effective"