Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-08-01

N"ilOl' Nhth tCll Sou uoW yOu HllSJuuSe
her, but l think can trust you"
" Has she told you her secret"
" No, | neard the story from the clcr-
gyman of Lenwood, her native village,
who wrote me before she came here. lie
is an old friend of mine and knew he
could coniide in me. l will tell you what
he wrote to me. Six years ago Ellen't
mother died, leaving her to care for
sickly step brother, then eleven years old.
Her own father had left Ellen pretty cot
tlge, and a small income from the fruit
and poultry on the place. while she made
n sufficient living by teaching music and
playing the organ at the church. When
her mother died, leaving Stephen Grady,
her step-brother, an orphan penniless, (for
her step-father, before his death, squander-
ed all her mothers little fortune,) Ellen
promised to care for the boy. Remember
she was but sixteen herself though early
care had matured her far beyond her ac-
tual years.
The boy grew up like his father, reck-
less of expenditure, loose in principle, yet
tender to his sister mother, and one of
those loving scapegraces who always win
SOlllO SuOt WOlllbu uNNOllbus llJ WOu
Ellen's. She thought herself bound by her
promise to her mother to make every
sacrifice for Stephen, and she faithfully
tried to lead him away from the compan-
ions and influences that were running his
life. Three years ago IL friend of Mrs,
Grady's took Stephen into his counting
house. Here he was to learn book-keep-
ing and for time he worked steadily.
Then the bad companions that had ruined
his boyhood again exerted I'M evil influence.
and he learned to gamble Remember,
Walter, he was 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 lie
| forged II check of two thousand dollars on
the firm he was with. The check passed
! the bank undetected for the cashier was in
the habit of paying large sums to Grady,
But when it was returned to the firm the
forgey was discovered and traced to Steph-
en-. Then the truth came out that he had
gambled away the entire amount, and the
two men that urged the crime and pocket
ed the money had fled, leaving the lad to
+ bear the consequences. He was arrested
and repentance came when he saw the full
consequences Of his acts.
1t was then that Ellen proved herself TO
be the noble woman l believe her to be.
She was suffering already for her brothers
crime, having lost her position as organ
ist and most of her music pupils having
left her. Despite of all this she went to
the firm and plead for the lad Her elo-
qutnce gained her something. They
agreed not to prosecute, but allowed the
boy to leave town and 90 to an uncle
who was willing to give him another trial
in u western city, if-mark that If, Walter
if Ellen would pay the two thousand
dollars and the interest within two years.
She undertook the task-Stephen was
released and sent to his fathers brother
where he is doing well, and Ellen left her
home and came here, hoping for higher
wages than she could earn in her owl
town. |, knowing all, advanced her in
teress every way. Month after month
denying herself everything but the bares
necessaries of life, and has sent her earn
ings to wipe out her brothers. debt, Will
, the rent of the house and what she save!
here she has paid it all, the last install
ment being acknowledged in Il letter whicl
| handed to her yesterday. You can un
dGrsand why she could not take IL few
dollars to subscribe for II present TO me
when tell you that the two years expired
, on The very day when the last hundred
) dollars was received. Now, Walter, yol
know EIen's secret, Judge for yoursel
if she is II miser."
She is us noble and self-sacrifcing Il
my heart always told me she was in spit
of appearances" said Walter warmly
) "To-moTow | will see if she can eve
return my love"
7 mot tomorrow" said Mr.. Rodman
smiling "Ellen went home this after
t noon, her task finished. Out of the sum
paid her for her last weeks toll here, sh
begged me to accept the copy of Longlel
> low on the table beside you, asking me I,
believe she was grateful for all my kind
: ness to her. Let her rest from her Ions
: strain of self-sacrtlce and toll, Walter, ant
! then if you can win her love, will gladl
9 give her II daughters place in my heart. p"
Winter had come and gone, and sprinI
t sunshine was making all nature glad
0 when one bright morning the train through
5 Lenwood left single passenger at tn
} village station. He was tall, handsome
man, dressed well, without foppshncss
t and he inquired ut the station for the resi-
7 dence of Miss Churchill.
The first white cottage rs you turn tin
second street from here" was The
answer.
| 1t was soon found and at the gate tn
: traveller halted. The windows, shaded b.
Q ii wide veranda, We're open and he coult
see the tasteful parlor. Near the windoy
G stood II beautiful woman, trailing Il vim
e over IL network of string. Her face wa
partly averted, but the stranger could Sc
X that the pallor and sadness Of the pas
= were gone.
e Upon the graceful figure was u dress q
: tleGry muslin. tastefully made, and trim
Il med with soft lace rutllas ut the throat an
wrist, and II few well chosen ornaments
t Suddenly, some inner sense seemed to te
If Ellen she was watched She turned an
k saw Walter Rodman looking earnestly
e wistIully at her. A quick flash swep
j. across her cheek, and her eyes lighte
g gladly as she came forward to meet him.
g MAY como in?" he asked, openin
d the little gate.
. Il am very glad to welcome you" sh'
d answered, and then extended her hand a
e he sprang lightly upthe steps.
1t 1t is not fair to repeat lovers talk. Su
n flee it that before Walter left the little co
V tage TO take the return train, he had wo
v the dearest wish Of his heart, and whe
y summer roses bloomed, Ellen became til
% bride of the Junior partner of Meredit
=. Co., the new firm of the factory where ST
n had worked SO faithfully.
2 USE OF FLIEs.-Although flies are,
N summer, the pest of our lives, and W
J. wonder why they were ever made at al
Ie it should be remembered that they ha,
!" an infancy as maggotS and the the
loathsome life they lead us scavengel
IL cleanses and puriies the Augu.t air, an
u lowers the death rates of our cities an
l. towns. Thus, while stables and piggorie
/ and filth are tolerated by city and tow
y authorities, the young OF the house-ilv an
l. the flesh and blow-ny, with their thousan
II allies, are doing something toward purif,
ing the pesticntial and nvertng the sun
{ mer brood of cholera, dysentary, an
Is typhoid fever, which descend like harpit
t, upon the devoted towns and cities
s. may be regarded as an axiom that who
IS ever flies most abound, there filth, dc I'll
st denlinT and banefnl il most ahnndnn