Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-03-10
A Story successfnIIy Told.

dear little Laura is greatly taken with a
tall, thin young man, with hooked nose
and thin lips, called Stuyvesant. 1t is
whispered about the hotel that he is a very
good match, and has the veritablo blue
blood Of the old Dutch Governor in his
veins. / must say 1t has a queer way OF
showing itself, for the young man is as pale
as a spectre; and dressed In that white
duck, with his sunken eyes and bilious
skin, Is enough TO frighten one. have
| grown 10 hate him, while Laura is growing
to do quite the contrary, I'm afraid. All
the evening lie leans up against tho wall,
never dancing or opening his mouth save
to give vent to some hateful sarcastic crili-
cism upon The scene around him, and yet
dear little Labra's eyes-as, indeed, all the
other pretty eyes about-are perpetually
boseechng him for attention. In the day
timo he is always with long black horse,
that covers more ground with its legs when
it Is going than any animal L ever saw.
When Laura goes out to drive behind it,
and vanishes out OF the sight " ith the bony
creature, tremb!e TO think how dreadful
ii would be If our dear little girl would ev-
CIR become part and parcel of this wretched
man aud his wicked beast. So l think
John had better come down at once; quite
long TO see his handsome face and hear bis
honest voice, and think it is about time
John should tell his little story 10 Laura,
and have things settled comfortably"
Mr.. Archibald Steele smiled when he put
the letter OF his wife in his waistcoat pock-
ct, and picking up the morning paper scan
ned through his gold-rimmed spoctacles
the news Of the day. Finding nothing
therein TO ruf1le the exceedingly satisfacto-
ry condition Of his affairs, he put ii down
and smiled again as only n prosperous,
contonted, downtown merchant can smile.
He was one OF those happy exceptions to
the ordinary rule of morlals, with whom
every thing went well. HIS whole appear
ance was an exclamation point to that ef-
feet. If lie ventured little bazardously
in trade, Fortune trimmed her sails TO IA
vor him. If ho set his heart upon any
thing relating to domestic felicity, all the
elements OF art and nature conspired to
bring it about. So when he stepped 10 the
door Of the Office and beckoned to a young
man with strip OF commercial paper in
his hand and pencil behind his ear, with
that general air of briskness and shrewd-
ness about him that bctokened a successful
downtown merchant in embryo, Mr.
Steele smiled the third time, with the air of
one who was not at all afraid OF any bilious,
blue blooded obstacle that might be thrown
in the path Of a domestic happiness which
he firmly believed had been arranged by
an omnipotent hand.
"John," said Mr.. Steele, closing the door
of his private Office, and looking upon his
young clerk beneyolently, ave got an or
der here from Mrs. Steele, which wish
You would attend to-
Certainly, sir" said John. ''Shall go
out and get the articles mysolfp"
"Why the fact is, John" said the mcr-
chant, ejoying his joke more aud moro,
sits only one arlicle-a rather bulky one.
1t was barsa'ned for long ago. think you
will have to 90 with it, John"
"Down to the sea-shore ~ said John, get
ting little hot and Hustered. as it very
valuable rarcel, sirP"
"Well, perhaps your natural modosiy
may depreciate its worth. Mrs. Steele and
think good deal Of 1t, and Laura too
I'm sure she does. The commodity is
yourself, John. Mrs. Steele wants you TO
go down and take n little holiday there"
When the name of Laura was mentioned,
the young mans face grew more hustercd
and hot than before.
"You are very kind, sir" he said, "and
Mrs. Steele is always moro like an angel
than a woman"
"Rather solid and plump for that" inter-
posed Mr.. Steele, but liking the phrase new
theless.
"But it is simple Madness" pursued
John, ITO dream of further happiness than
1 enjoy now-your affection and that Of
your wife, my position here don't dare,
can't hope for any thing more. oh, Mr..
Steele, can't tell her my story, sir. She
would shrink from me with horror aud
aversion, she is SO young, SO beautiful.
Let me at least enjoy the present."
"And in the mean time some cadsverous,
bilious, blue-blooded scoundrel will carry
her or from us ALL"
Thon Johns face grew pale and stern.
"If there is the slightest feeling upon her
part for-for any one else, then, indeed,
Mr.. Steele, my case is hopeless"
The commercial paper nuttered from his
hand, the pencil fell from his car he lean
ed his head against the desk, and trembled.
"Wby, who would suppose you could
be such a cowardH" said Mr.. Steele, impet-
uously. "You shall go down with me this
very day."
All the way TO the sea-shore Johns face
wore the look of one who had resolved to
storm a deadly breach, but who did not
hope to survive the attempt.
Even the ocean, when il confronted them,
wore threatening look. Upon the horl-
zon pile of clouds formed background
wan aud gloomy, a great black mist lay in
the zenith, dense red vapor almost touch
ed the water.
"a very nasty sea-" said Mr.. Steele.
John snuffed it in, his eyes dilatlnG, his
broad shoulders expanding, his head high
in The sea-scented air.
A tramp on the hard wet sand, and like
a meteor a long black horse shot by, disap-
pearing in the mist, leaving for John the
memory of charming head crowned with
blonde curling hair, two kind eyes bent up
on his own, a waving hand extended in
salutation.
"John," said Mr.. Steele, 'did you see
the face Of that manf count upon your
saving Laura. Did you see his thin, cruel
lips, his treacherous eyes2"
81 only saw Laura, sir" said John, sim
ply.
Later on, Mr.. Archibald Steele and his
plump, pretty wife were alone together in
their private parlor. Her dimpled hand
lay lovingly in his, her shspely head fresh