Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-02-09

| buA W nNu nb was ldll ihoiNb Aub hbpis
and saw her wasted form envelopcd In
warm shawls before the lire, he could not
retreat with diguity without speaking.
Just al that moment cook remembered that
there we're some fowls TO I've dressed for
dinner, and that she must see about them
without delay; so giving Mr.. Perks a
hearty grip of the hand, and informing him
that he knew his way out when he wanted
to go, this artrul cook beat hasty retreat,
and closing the door behind her, len the
young people alone.
1t was very awkward, and in their inner
most thoughts both considered cook stu
pid, blundering thlng.
The topic Of the weather is soon exhaust
ed, aud Perks's jelicacy would not allow
him to converse much about Susan's ILL
ness, knowing the causes that had led TO II.
So they sat silently looking into the fire,
until Susan, with her face suifused with
bushes, said:
"I have for long time been wanting 10
confess 10 you that | was in the wrong
when we quarreled, but have not had the
courage 10 do SO. My illness has taught
me much-among other things, that ought
to acknowledge a wrong when committed,
and that l ought never TO Intentionally
wound an honest trusting heart. Mr..
Perks"
mo, Susan, call me Tom, as you used 10
do" interrupted Mr.. Perks, his face glow
| ing " ilh as much color as the flaming Goals
into which he gazed.
"Well, then, Tom, if you wish it. I feel
that did you wrong, aud I know l caus-
ed You distress of mind at the time but 1
am heartily sorry now, and want you 10
forgive me. VIII your"
She raised her face as she concluded, and
looked so pleadlngly at him that Tom
Perks felt a big lump rise in his throat,
which rendered hin speechless; but he
seized her hand, and gave il 50 hearty
shake that his feryor proved almost too
much for her weak condition.
"Tom," she added, when she had recov-
cred a little, "you warned me once against
making mistake. 1 was foolish girl
then, and disdained your adv 'ce had l
been wise 1 should have needed your
words, for they have proved only loo true."
"But," gasped Mr.. Perks, "mistakes
may he corrected, and il is never too late
10 mend. Let us suppose the past eighteen
months have passed in dream. In short,
Susan, let US be TO each other as We were
once. My heart beats as warmly as ever
for you. Will it take me long, do you
think, 10 regain your love"
A smile OF happiness passed over Susan's
face as she held forth her hand and as he
eagerly grasped it, it really seemed as
though the past had been but dream for
even when <iddini's influence was strong
est upon her, there had always been lin
gerng thought of Tom Perks in her mem
ory; and now that he WAS again by her
side, she experienced sense of peace 10
which she had long been a stranger.
How pleasant was the story told in Mr..
Jobbins's kitchen that autumn morning
Aud yet twas an old tale. But whether
whispered under shady trees, in drawing
room, attic, or cellar, il has the same in
| terest as of yore, and, until time itself shall
cease, will remain ever fresh and dear.
The following year, when spring was
lapsing into summer, another wedding par
ly sci ont for the parish church, and this
time there was no interruption to the SER
'iNO hCi OI'IcSA4Ou va part vi MIS-.
JoLbns aud her daughters, who persist
emily expressed their opinion that in mar
rying Mr.. Perks Susan had indeed done
wisely. The $40 in the savings bank was
not required, and in that secure depository
the money remained for MANY year aller-
ward.
As for Kddini, he is about The country
pursuing his profession, but Susan has
never seen him since the memorable occa-
sion at the ciurch porch, and save at Christ
mas-time, when her husbaud-now the
owner Of three grocery establishments in
the opolis-take herself and tue chill
dren 10 see pantomine, her thoughts new
er revert 10 Harlequins or their associa-
tious.
Amidst her prosperity Susan does not
forget her old acquantances, and there is
always hearty welcome for cook when
ever she likes 10 call. Susans sympathet-
| ic heart often bleeds for her friend, who has
married a house-painter, earning in his
best times stwenty-eigEt siillings per week,
and who is given TO spending his wages in
| drink, and then ill-treallng his wife. Per-
haps the time is shortly at hand when cook
will leave her husband and take up her
| abode permanently with the Perkses.
Thus Susan, aller nearly committing an
act which would have wrecked her future,
| has become transformed from the trimmest
| house-maid 10 the happiest wife in the dis
| trict of Bloomsbury