Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-09-04
The Story Of a Life.

| Inc Story OF Lille.
Miss Cameron.
Leonie Cameron. lazily looking out of Z
bow window upon garden flaming with
autumn tnts and sunset glow. lifted pail
Of soft, dark eyes to Mrs. Tollman's face
1t was AN anxious face just at that mo.
ment, and, being unusually full of happy
content, the anxiety was very apparent Il
Leonie. So, after the first careless glance
,he Strengthened herself in her low chair
md said quietly, yet with every appear.
ance of interest:
What is the matter?
An awkward pause followed this ques.
| ion.
Mrs. Tolmrn fidgeted under the inquir.
| Ing glance of the dark eyes, cleared hel
hroat twice, and finally said with nerv-
rus emphasis:
John Furher.
Miss Lameron's face seemed to freeze.
1t was very beautiful face, with pride for
| leading expression. Sweetness lurked
n the mouth. intellect beamed from the
radiant dark eyes. but pride shadowed all.
1t carried the small head gracefully erect.
1t swept The folds of the rich dresses with
I regal motion. 1t touched the small pa.
tlirian hands, and was evident in the we'll
mo iuaLed zones of the refined voice.
There, Mrs. Tolman said, pairingly,
I've made you mrd already, and | have
not ID nythng.
am not mad, Leonie answered, and
there certainly lurked a smile in her
mouth at the good woman consternation,
But You have not told me what troubles
you.
Its-t's-John, Miss Cameron. and
| then rapidly, Us if the word, were forced
! ny Il fear of her own inability TO finish her
,elf-apppinted task. she hurried on He's
my nephew, miss, as you know, though
his father Is II rica man, very rich, anI
John Is above his mothers place in hel
life. She's dead, and John was spoiled
between the year she died and two wears
ago. don't know how he took to bad
ways. He was brought up an idler upon
! his faher's money, and from id eness 10
drinking gambling and bad ways is in
easy road. His father is hard MN and
thrust him out nearly a year ago and dis.
inherited him. He came here, for | love
him. I've nothing else to love; husband
John.
There WIS a pteous pleading in the
womtns face, but Leonie's WAS blank save
for an air Of polite interest.
lie was most desperate when he came
| t1ge, but I've cOaXed him up little. But
-but-O, Miss Cameron, you know what
want to say. You are beautiful rich
a lady far above me in education and DO
sllon, and only staying here for IL country
quiet I've no right to find fault, but-bu
don't fl RI with JOHN He is in trouble
desponlent, dlsnherited, and he is falling
in love with you us fast rs he can. be
iieve if you play with him he will xii
himself, body and soul.
Ftirly ont of breath with her own utter
anre, Mrs. Tolman paused, looking plead
iugly in Leonie Cameron's face. The ex
| preston of polite interest never wavered
rs that young lady said
II | understand You Alright. you wisf
me TO ignore your nephew. 1t is not 81
easy, H. he is in your house, so | had bet
ter leave it.
Goodness! cried the widow, aghast al
this Interpretation of her words. nevel
meant that Where can you find another
boarding place near here?
| can return 10 London.
I've put my foot in it. John will never
forgive me, said Mrs. Tollm,n.
But there WAS no sympathy in Leonie':
face. and she turned away ut last, perplex
ed and more anxious than ever. And Leo
ME, sinking back in her chair again, looked
ut the sunset clouds and variegated foliage
and thought perhaps it was time TO return
To London.
She had come to S., weary with q
round of fashionable lite. tired of fattery
Iancng and flirting. and she had found
rest and quiet under Mrs. Tollman's moth
erly care. She was rich, richer far thar
the landlady had any idea Of but she hac
no near relatives, only a second cousin tc
keep her lonely home, and play propriety
Society constituted itself her amateur
guardian, and lying back in her cushioned
chair in the sunset glow, she wondered
indolen.ly what society would say abou
John Furber 1t would grant him u rar,
perfection Of manly beauty of face anC
form, and forgive the evident traces o.
dissipation. if it was only known that ht
was the son of II rich mn, and had beer
educated in idler by profession. But in
what holy horror it would turn away witt
uplifted bands when it was known he was
disinheriteI. with no home but room r
the house of widowed aunt eking ou
her narrow income by taking boarders
1t would smile at his biting sarcasms, his
brilliant conversations. his cumical sneers
il he was reinstaled in his fatneI's favor
but how rude these would be in pool
man.
Leonie, from thinking of society's opin
ion. quite unconsciou-ly glded into con
sidering her own. The dark browed mar
had made Il fair portion of her summer
pleasure for three months, had been hel
cavalier in many country walks. drive:
and sails, had quoted poetry under trees
sung in II superb bari one upon the mur
muriDg waters, looked into her eyes on :
moonit porcn and whispered delcaLely
worded hatlery. No more than many An
other man had done. A beauty and rich
Miss Cameron had looked upon moro thar
one Ianguishing suitor, and forgotten hin
when his amusements wearied her
Scarcely tiirt-fur she encouraged NJ
downright love making, but beautiful
fascinating woman who wounded hearu
with merely careless grace.
Musing in the sunset it impressed upor
the proud heart that unconsciously she ha,
poisoned life that was already sinking
There were capabilities for better thing,
than dissipation and suicide in John Fur
Der, and She shivered as she thought b,
might be upon some dangerous precipice
waiting for the clasp of hand 10 draw
him back, or its repulse to thrust hin
over She passed in review her host o
male friends, and found none who hat
awakened her heart to hours of such keer
pleasure as John Furber had given her
She tried to recall one mind whose grasl
of intellect had dwarfed her own as hi
had dohe, who had met her fairly in 81
many arguments and worsted her, an,
she could only remember soft fattery O
her " wonderful mind" =.
Finally lifting her eyes with q soh sigh