Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-05-04


Gus night, and Immediately obeyed Miner
vas summons.
In the mean while the landlady had
talked volubly in German, Minerva had
replied in FreHch, and the maidsorvant
had stared at both Of them silently. When
Herbert Wilson appeared, Minerva ran out
to The gate, aud suffered him TO take both
of her cold little hands in his own reassur-
ingly whilo she communicated the dread
intelligence of James disappearance.
"Oh, what can become of woman alone
in place like this at night ?" she cried.
Every beer garden and shadowy path
had become a pitfall OF robbery and VIC.
lence TO Miuerva's excited imagination.
ave shall find her soon, am confident"
replied the artist, II must be confessed ra-
ther vaguely.
"But she never came home," sobbed Mi
nsrva, not daring TO frame her own fears,
yet believing the worst.
Jane was scarcely the sort of person TO
be Willing away the midnight hours in a
taproom, or in solitary ramble through
deserted avenues. The landlady, still in
her night. cap, waddled down the garden
BaAh WIN a shEbO9hiOh - W hOAi'g
ing the police, which made her bearers
grow cold with apprehension.
At this critical moment OF suspense the
voice of Jane reached them, apparently
from mid.a
"Where do live, did you inquire New
er you mind that, but Try to obey the doc
tors ORDERS"
The group at the gate glanced up invol-
UNFAIRLY at the next house, where lights
were moving about, and two forms passed
near the window thus Illuminated. One
was Jane, nodding her head energeticslly,
and the other tall man, who shrugged bis
shoulders deprecatingly.
"Perbaps the doctor will be so kind as to
say that the gentleman came to this apart
ment month ago." observed the tall man.
II have been here a month myself" said
Jane, decisvely. II don't know .he laws
OF Germany, though"
"She has gone madr exclaimed Mi.
nerva. "Oh, my poor Jane, what has hap
pened TO your
She has misla ken the house." lid Her
bert Wilson, smotbering a laugh.
When Jane had identified the sick man
and Instantly attempted to revive him, OBJ
livous Of her surroundings. She held own
vinai gretle 10 his nUstrls, and dashed the
remainder Of The wafer in the carafe over
his face. Then she rang the bell violently
and when it was answered by chubby
servant whom she had never before seen,
Jane managed very well to frighlen her in
to immediate simmons OF the doctor. The
aar ming impropliety of the situation new
er occ urred TO her. Had ii been a stranger
who thus invaded her territory, Jane could
not have done tLerwise than revive him
but it was actually the Rev. Mr.. Powerton
in the flesh, aud Jane trembled as she con-
templated his he!plessne,s.
The Rev. Mr.. Powerton was a clerical
star of the first magnitude in the ornament
of home where Jane dwell, eloquent, gen.
ial, and popular TO the extent that might
hav turned the head Of less wise man.
An adoripg public had persisted in invest
ing his personal history with charm OF
sentiment, for he had never married, and
was the idol of the feminine portion OF his
congregation accordingly. Jane, in her in
most heart, had for years considered him
noble among mankind, but she had with
dra wn from all public manifestations, al
though she had in secret wrought one of
the innumerable Tair of slippers sent him
anonymously. She always blushed when
she thought OF such temerity, while hoping
that the weary feet of The great clergyman
might seek her gift after the days labor
had been accomplished.
All these things rushed through her mind
while she held her vinaigrelte TO his nose,
and She had the satisfaction of beholding
reviying cons scOusness as the doctor enter
ed. The doctor was a brisk, abrupt little
man, intent only on his business. The
presence of Jane seemed TO surprise him
ir anything could surprise him in his pro-
fessional career-and be demanded 10 know
where the servant had gone. Receiving no
satisfactory response from the chubby girl,
he made such use of James services that
she had no leisure, for that swim hour, 10
think of any person save the sick man.
The servant had LEFT him at critical Stage
of fever. Jane could only think Of all
those devoted female parishioners at home
in contrast with the pitiable condition OF
the Rev. Mr.. PowerIon, abroad, stricken
with dangerous illness and left 10 the ten
der mercies of a careless servant. She had
found him just at a critical moment, when
life was ebbing away to Inconsistencies.
Then lights had tiickered about, and the
doctor had pressed Jane into active service
during all this interval and the tall SER
want had only just returned from his stroll
when sobbing Minerva, looking up at the
window of the next house, discovered her
lost sister. Jane recognized In the servant
the person on The curb-stone, smoking and
chatting with the maid servant, and instant
sntsgonism swoke between them. He had
inquired as 10 her residence, and been an
swered in the terms overheard by the anx-
ious listeners outside.
Herbert Wilson led Jane down stairs
later, protesting against his assurance that
she was in the wrong house, and it was on
ly when she beheld the fat landlady in the
adjoining garden that she was stricken
dumb by her own blunder.
Herbert Wilson was Installed chief nurse,
the insolent servant dismissed, and the la
dies lowered about the door of the sick
chamber, ready with sympathy and active
service.
There came day when they waited on
their own threshold for Herbert Wilson 10
lead the convalescent slowly through the
yellow gale into their presence. The Rev.
Mr.. Powerton was a tall, dignifed man.
He advanced to Jane and took her hand
with emotion.
"The doctor tells me that you saved my
life when l was dying" he said.
"Ab, how grateful l am that 1 mistook
your green gate for our yellow one that
night ~ returned Jane, with fervor.
Herbert Wilson looked at Minerva sig