The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1877-12-26
THE CRIPPLE.

Two young girls were standing by the
crossing waiting for an equipage to pass
drawn by span of greys, who pranced
along as though proud of their mounted
harness and liveried coachman.
"Isn't it an elegant turnout? And
to think that all that style is wasted on
cripple"
The speaker was bright-looking but
evidently thoughtless girl, whose fancy
was taken by show and glitter more than
by more solid qualities. .....
Lucretia Armstrong; eyes had been
fixed dreamily on a poor child who had
been sweeping the pavement, and whose
thin hand was reaching ont for o pit
tance. She put a coin into it, as she
answered ...
" was not looking; but why do you
aay wasted on q cripple! Has ho no
mind or faculties to appreciate his bless
ngs ?" -s
"What girl you are to catch one up
80! OF course he has as good an intel
lect as any one, and, by all accounts, bet
ter than most but having everything
so elegant makes his infrmity the more
conspicuous"
"I don't see why -.
The speaker paused abruptly, for
here, at the very booksellers where she
was about to enter, carriage was drawn
up, AMI gentleman was allghting from
It, helped by the footman, who gave him
his crutches, upon which he made his
way into the shop.
As he passed the friends he raised his
hat to Kitty and smiled pleasantly.
Lucretias checks we're burning at the
thought that they had been discussing
his infrmities, and she selected her
paper in silence and hastened away.
AS soon as she was we'll out of the place
she said, earnestly:
"I think that gentleman has the
most interesting face ] have ever seen.
His eyes are superb-great luminous
wells of thought. wouldn't mind 60.
ing on crutches to own such face as
that"
Kitty laughed.
"Well, Cree, you always were an odd
little thing. I see you haven't outlived
your little peculiarities. Have you still
your collection of manned and exacting
pets? 1 declare, if it had been anybody
but dear, lovable Gree Armstrong who
had turned herself into nurse for ami
mails, we schoolgirls would have cut
you in the old days. I suppose, how
ever, the child is father of the man, or
rather Tin this case) woman, and no
doubt you've kept up your practices
since left Gorton."
Lucretia smiled as her friend ratified
on, but merely said !:
"I see you are the same Kitty-as
much given to exaggeration as ever. But
who is the gentleman / see you know
him."
"His name is Gale Bertram. Brother
Charlie is very fond of him, although q
mere boy compared to him. Charlie has
hobbies, you know, and Mr.. Bertram is
so learned on almost everything under
the sun, that, if Charlie gets puzzled,
all he has to do is to go to his old gentle
man friend, and he's put straight in no
time"
"Kitty, how you run on! Ii every one
we're like you, poor Mr.. Bertram would
be laid upon the shelf for society, I
fear" Eb8.g
"He doesn't care for. society, so he'd
be no loser."
"He's to be envied for his indiffer-
ence, then, as he values it in it's true
light"
Kitty turned and looked at Lucretia
in a quizzical way from head to feet.
"Well, my dear, if ] did not see a
pretty, stylish young girl with my very
own eyes, I should rather say | was
talking with an aged philosopher, who
had outlived his youth. lucretia -
this was said with great impressiveness
ovo, shall have an introduction.