Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-07-11
VOL. 72.-3601. NO. 80.

could be happy with miserly wife"
Poor Ellen, how little she deserves that
reproach ]" said Mr.. Rodman. al shall yio.
late confidence reposed in me, Walter,
when tell you how you misjudge her, but
think can trust you"
Has she told you her secret 7"
mo; heard the story from the clergy
man OF Lenwood, her native village, who
wrote to me before she came here. He is an
old friend of mine and knew he could con.
ilde IN me. J will tell you what he wrote
TO me. Six years ago Ellens mother died.
leaving her in care of sickly step-brother,
then eleven years old, Her own father had
lett Ellen pretty cottage, and small in
come from the fruit and poultry on the
place, while she made sufficient living by
teaching music and playing the organ in the
church. When her mother died, leaving
Stephen Grady her step-brother, an orphan
and penniless, Oor her step-father, before
his DEATH squandered all her mothers little
iortuneD Ellen promised TO care for the boy.
Remember, she but was sixteen herself,
thong hearty care had matured her far be.
yond her actual years.
"The boy grew up like his father reckless
OF expenditure, loose in principle vet tender
to his sister-mother. aud one Of those loving
scapegraces who always win some good
| woman's devotion. lie won Ellen's She
thought herself bound by her promise TO her
mother TO make every sacrifice for Stephen
aud she faithfully tried to lead him away
from the companions and evil influences that
were running his life. Three years ago a
friend of Mrs. Gradys took Stephen into his
counting-house Here he was to learn book.
keeping, and for a time he worked steadily.
Then the bad company that had ruined his
boyhood again exerted an evil influence, and
he learned to gamble. Remember, Walter.
he was but fourteen, and Ellen but five years
older
"One of his accomplishments was the
power of initiating handwriting, and by the
persuasion of some older heads he forged a
check for two thousand dollars on the firm
he was with The check passed the bank
undetected, for the cashier was in the habit
OF paying over large sums TO Grady. But
when 1t was returned to the firm the forgery
was discovered and traced to Stephen.
Then the truth came out that he had gainbled
away the entire amount, and the two men
that had urged the crime and pocketed the
money had fled, leaving the lad to bear the
consequences. He was arrested and repent
ince came when he saw the full consequences
Of his acts.
at was then that Ellen proved herself the
noble woman | believe her TO be. She was
Ya unI,lS a',eauy lor ner oioIher crime nav
Jug ios. nei P'ace as orga'isI' ana most OF her
~. Lao'D p'Pli' n"'iuS 'oi. ne'' DesplCe an oi
', - uo"' " WV nun oiu Pic"ueu ior
the lad. Her eloquence gained him some
thing. They agreed not to prosecute, but
allowed the boy to leave the town, and go to
an uncle who was willing to give him another
trial in a Western city, if--mark that IT,
Walter-if Ellen would pay the two thou
sand dollars, and the interest, within two
yeaiS;
one u,'''el.ooh .!ie eaSh aS,h.olePnen was TO
anu se'iy " us la'neI pro1ner' where
ne - uo,ns Mei' anu rlel, lei1 iier ho'iie auu
am no.e' noPins ioi his ilei "aSIs Viiaii sue
cU',u ~ ,.'1 e''n !" NC; o"n oMn. M - hnUwins
's,, e.. @is"''e' '.t her inceiese enely way Moh.n
~ ,no.'n' uenying nelseii e'ely'Iine ou.
t 'ae neoeoaelies "a ny, sn1 nas s1n'
ue. m.., eaii'ines 70 wipe out ner oro'ne, uep''
mien M ane 'eh. eh u .,ie np9se n anu A.. VIVA. sue
'aVus aN, "e.e, sue mas pau ~ an 'ne ias' i'
s.all,iisn' oeins achn9wieugeu III iet'er
',a'.,eu ~ I loi ys1s yea.siuay ou can ,hm ui,ue
'o"n. WY S"e oo'uu no' 'aAe loM uTiia'S al
W supso.ioe ~ lor present. W l'ie, when sen
yJu I 'uI oTo y1a,s eAPreI 1Ni, on sne ne'y uay
wneh we W, insv "unuieu uoiiais mds ieoeiVeu
Hom "aiIel, you Hno" Eiel secre'
'uuse ~! Sou'seil IL sue Is 'iiisei.
t.. pne rs as noole 1, anu seil.sa'tihcing az
,ny nea'' a'w"yo to'u tH sue was ~ sPi.e Vi
, appsa, aiTe ~, 'a'u " a''e', ""'' ~
, ,norro" :, VIII see Il sue e'e' eau 'e'url my
'o'e ;, =, NJ
-. No' VoInorro", saiu VT nouiiial'
sin'iIhS a % %n,ien wen. noiife I''iS aioeInoo,'
her TASK ih,sneu' ouI Vi 1"e SUN pau
ner lot the iaso week oi ner Uoii mere She
oeggeu my accepta,'e ol ,ne copy 3l Long
leiiow upon 1ne taoie oesiue you ashl"g me
70 oeneye she was gratelui iIi an my kihu.
ness 10 her' Ley her resi- l''.'e iroIi ,I her
lohg straih OF seil-sacrlilce anu t1ll, waiter,
',iu ."e',, you can WIZ sei ioVe' WIN
slauiy; give her uaug"'er piaoe III my
"eaTt. arr
winter nad come ana gone anu spring
sunshine was masking al lla.uie siau, w''en
one prignt morning ohe 1rain thIouSh Len
wood ieit single passenger at the village
Statloh lie was taii' hanusohe man.
dressed well without ioppisnhess' ana ne
inquired o, man M at tn1 STATION ior ''e res
idence Oh MISS Shurchih'
me hrst whioe cottage as you turl l'e