Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-01-21


wife, In the same hushed voice, yet earn
estly. "This innocent sleepr
While these whispers were passing, the
sleeper's heart did not throb nor his breath
become agitated, nor his features betray the
least token of interest. Yet fortune was
bending over him, just ready TO let fall
burden of gold. The old merchant had lost
his only son. and had no heir TO his wealth,
except distant relative, with whose con-
duct he was dissatisfied. In such cases
people sometimes do stranger things than
to act the magician, and awaken a young
man to splendor who fell to sleep in pow
erty.
"Shal we not waken him ?" repeated the
lady, persuaslvely.
1.-THE coach is ready, SIR" said the ser
want, behind.
The old couple started, Redeemed, and
turned away, mutually wondering that
they should ever have dreamed of doing
anything so very ridiculous. The mer-
chant threw himself back 10 the carriage,
and occupied his mind with the plan OF a
magnificent asylum for unfortunate men
in business. Meanwhile, David Swan en-
joyed his nap.
The carriage could not have gone above
mile or two, when a pretty young girl
came along, with tripping pace, which
showed precisely how her little heart was
dancing in her bosom. Perhaps it was this
merry kind of motion that caused-is there
any harm in saying itf-her garter to slip
the knot. Conscious that the silken girth
If silk it were-was relaxing its hold, she
turned aside into the shelter OF the maple
trees, and there found young man asleep
by the spring Bushing as red as any
rose, that she should have intruded into a
gentleman's bedctamber, and for such a
purpose, too, she was about to make her
escape on tiptoe. But there was peril near
the sleeper. A monster of a bee had been
wandering overhead-buzz, buzz, buzz
now among the leaves, now flashing
through the strips OF sunshine and now
lost ia the dark shade, till finally be ap-
pelred to be settling on the eyelid Of David
Swan. The sting Of bee is sometimes
deadly. As free-hearted as she was inno-
cent, tho girl attacked the intruder with
her handkerchief, brushed him souudly,
and drove him from beneath the maple
shade. How sweet a picture! This good
deed accomplished, with quickened breath
and a deeper blush, she stole a glance at
the youthful stranger for whom she had
been battling with dragon in the air.
ale is handsomep thought she, and
blushed redder yet.
How could ii be that no dream OF bliss
grew SO strong within him, that, shattered
by its very strength, it should part asun-
der, aud allow him to perceive The girl
among. his phantoms3 Why, at least, did
no smile of welcome brighten upon his
face7 She was come, the maid whose soul,
according to tho old aud beautiful idea, had
been severed from his own, and whom, in
all his vague but passionate desires, he
yearned TO meet. Her, only, could he love
with perfect love-hini, only, could she
receive into the depths OF her heart-and
now her image was family blushing in the
fountain by his side; should ii pass away,
its happy lustrc would never gleam upon
his life again.
"How soundly he sleeps" murmured
the girl.
She departed, but did not trip along the
road so lightly as when she came.
Now, this girls father was IA thriving
country merchant in IT. ne;ghborhood,
aud happened, at that identical time to be
look ing out for just such young man as
David Swan. Had David formed a way
side acquaintance with the deaughter, he
would have become the fathers clerk, and
all elsO in natural succession. So here
again had good fortune-the best OF for
tunes-stolen 80 near that her garments
brushed against him; and he knew nothing
Of the matter.
The girl was hardly out of sight when
two men turned aside beneath the maple
shade. Both had dark faces, set off by
cloth caps, which were drawn down aslant
over their brows. Their dresses were shah
by, yet had certain smartness. These
were a couple Of rascals, who got their liv-
ing by whatever the Devil sent them, and
now, in the interim of other business, had
staked the joint profits OF their next piece
of villainy ON game OF cards, which was
TO have been decided here under the troes.
But, finding David asleep by the spring,
one of the rogues whispered to his fellow
"Hlst! Do you see that bundle under
his headS"
The other villain nodded, winked and
leered.
"Tll bet you horn of brandy" said the
first, That the chap has either a pocket
book or a snug little hoard OF small change
slowed away amongst his shirts. And if
not there we shall find it in his pantaloons
pocket"
"But how If he wakes ?" said the other.
His companion thrust aside bis waistcoat,
pointed TO tho handle of Il dirk, and nod
ded.
$50 be itW muttered the second villain.
SO they approached the unconscious DA-
vid, and while one pointed the dagger to-
ward his heart the other began to search
the bundle beneath his head. Their two
faces, grim, wrinkled, ard ghsstly with
guilt and fear, bent over their victim, look
ing horrible enough TO be mistaken for
fends, should he suddenly awake. Nay,
had the villains glanced aside into the
spring, even they would hardly have
known themselves as reflected there. But
David Swan had never worn more tran
gull aspect, even when asleep on his moth
er's breast.
81 must take away the bundle" whis-
pered one.
"If he stirs, I'll STRIKE" muitered the
other.
But at this moment dog, scenting along
the ground, came in beneath the maple
trees, and gazed alternately at each of these
wicked men, and then at the sleeper. He
then Tapped out of the fountain.
oaid ona yillai, aGNUa oa,, ,ln