Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-10-20

sleul fOuuu my neck, lenuef cheek lalu
10 mine, aud l found my poor tear .dewed
face drawn down upon the bosom of Mary
Sanders, who had stolen on; of the work.
room, and come up to try and comfort me
"Pray, pray don't fret my darling" she
whispered, MADAME will be so cross.
Those wedding things must be in by 10.
night, and they want you 10 help try them
on"
don't know how got through that day
and night, but 1 believe 1 did such duties
as we're expected from me mechanically
or as If had been in dream, and at night
lay wakeful and weary, with aching eyes
and heart, thinking OF that dreadful idea
that was trying TO force itself upon me.
waited until the three years had ex-
pired, and then, with what anguish of heart
no words could tell, wrote 10 Jack again
my fourth letter-begging him, implor-
ing him TO answer me, if but to tell me he
T was weary of his promise, and wished Ia
be set free; and then, making a superhn-
man effort over myself, waited, waited
month by month, for an answer, though
knew it must be at least six months be-
fore one could come.
1 had given up expecting one in this in
terim, and 1 was too proud to send to his
relatives-distant ones, whom had never
seen, and who had probably never heard OF
me. The thought had taken root now, and
grown to feeling Of certainty but wait
ed for my answer.
Three months-six months-nine months
passed away, and hope was dead within
my helrt. They said had grown much
older and more careworn. Madame said
work ed too hard, and the sharp business
woman became quite motherly in her at
tentions 10 me. But would not take any
change, for work was like balm TO me, il
blunted my thoughts; and knowing that
was daily growing pale and thin, still
waited.
knew tue girls used 10 whisper togeth-
er about me, and think me strange, but no
one knew my seCret-not even Madame,
who had more than once sought my conf
dence and so twelve months passed away
-four years since Jack had lefl mo.
1t was not to day, but very nearly 10 the
time when he had parted from me, and II
was almost two years since I had heard
from him. was trying hard TO grow pa
tient and contented with my lot, for Mad
anne Granger had gradually taken TO me,
and trusted me, making me more and more
her right hand, when one glorious spring
NOR ming, as was coming out of the break
fast room TO go upstairs TO work, she call
ed me into her little snuggery, where she
sat as a rule and attended to her customers
letters, for she had an extensive clientele,
aud carried on business in large private
mansion in Welbeck Street.
"Grace, my dear" she said, taking me
in her arms, and kissing me, "it worries
me TO see you look so i'll. Now what dn
you say 10 fortnight in the country2"
4 fortnight in the country and at her
busiest time, with the London season COM
ing on.
thought of that, and then, as 1 glanced
round at the flowers aud inhaled their
scents, the bright fields near Templemore
Grange foated before my dimining eyes, a
feeling of suffocation came upon me, aud
the room seemed 10 swing round. / be-
lieve that for the first time in my life I
should have tainted, so painful we're the
memories evoked by her words, when a
sharp knock and ring at the door echoed
through the house, following instantly up
on the dull fall of letter, and the sharp
click of the letter-box.
1t was like an electric shock TO me, and
without a word l darted into the hall,
painting with excitement, and my hand at
my throat TO tear away the stiAing sensa-
tiOn.
But il was letter. l could see it through
the glass in the letter box, and seized it
with trembling hands, inspired as it were
by some strange power.
'Jack dear Jack at last I" gasped as
turned it over, and saw II was a strange,
blue, official looking letter, formally di-
rected TO me.
Even that did not surprise me. 1t was
from Jack, l knew, and tore open The
blue envelope.
Yes, l knew il The inner envelope
was covered with Australian post marks,
and, ignorant as might be of it, contents,
was raising it 10 my lips 10 cover it with
passionate kisses, when saw it was open.
Then a mist came over my mental Wis.,
ion for a moment, but only TO clear away
as, half stupefied, 1 turned the missive over
and over, held II straight for a moment
and then, with sigh of misery and de.
spair, l stood mute, and as if turned tO
stone.
"Grace, my child In mercy's name tell
me-"
1t was Madame, who passed her arm
round me, and looked horror-stricken al
my white face and lips. The next mo-
| ment dimly remember she had caught
the letter-his letter-my letter-from my
hand, and read it aloud: "Mr. John Bray
wood, Marlboro, r. County, Melbourne
and then, in her excitement, the great Off
cial sentence.like brand upon it-"Dead =
That was the beginning of my first and
only illness, during which Madame tended
me like a mother even TO giving up hel
business afterwards, and retiring to live
with me here in this quiet street, wher'
she died, and left me well-to-do, as you
see. 1 have grown old since then, but
am not unhappy, great as was the trial
and it has led me into what has, hope
been a useful life. And, besides, why
should sorrow, knowing as 1 do tina
which came 10 me years and years afler-
that Jack died with my name upon his lip
died true TO her he loved2 and am bu
waiting till we shall meet again CdsseW
Magazine.
1t is said that the grandson of the kinl
of Italy, Prince Humbert's son, now abou
six years of age, is brought up in a mos