Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-08-07
The Story Of a Life.

DOW-WlndoW upon garden naming with
autumn tints and sunset glow, lifted pair
of soft, dark eyes to Mr.. Tolman's face. It
was an anxious face Just at that moment,
and, being usually full of happy content, the
anxiety was very apparent to Leonie. SO,
after her first careless glance, she straight
ened herself in her low chair, and said
quietly, yet with every appearance of interest
"What is the matter 2"
An awkward pause followed that question.
Mrs. Tollman fdgeted under the inquir-
ing glance of the dark eyes, cleared her
throat twice, and finally said with nervous
emphasis:
"John Furber."
Miss Camerons face seemed to freeze. 1t
was very beautiful face, with pride for
leading expression. Sweetness lurked in the
mouth, intellect beamed from the radiant
dark eyes, but pride shadowed all. 1t car
ried the small head gracefully erect, it swept
the folds of the rich dresses with a regal
motion. 1t touched the small patrcian
hands, and was evident in the well-modu-
lated tones of the refined voice.
"There," Mrs. Tolman said, despairingly,
:" I've made you mad already, and have not
said anything"
" ] am not mad" Leonio answered, and
there certainly lurked smile in her mouth
at the good woman's CONSERVATION "But
you have not told me what troubles you"
" 1t's--it's-John, Miss Cameron, and -
then rapidly, as if the words were forced by
fear of her own inability to finish her self
appointed task, she hurried on. " He's my
nephew, miss, as you know, though his
father is rich man, very rich, and John is
above his mothers place in her life. She's
dead, and John was spoiled somewhere be-
tween the year she died and two years ago.
| don't know where he took to bad ways.
lie was brought up an idler upon his fathers
money, and from ideness to drinking, gam.
bling and bad ways is an easy road. His
father is hard man and he thrust him out
nearly year ago and disinherited him. He
came here, for love him. I've nothing else
to love husband and children in the grave.
yard, so love John"
There was a piteous pleading in the
woman's face, but Leonie's was blank, save
for an air of polite interest.
ale was most desperate when he came here,
but I've coaxed him up little. But-but
%, Miss Cameron, you know what | want
to say. You are beautiful rich-a lady far
above me in education and position, and
only staying here for country quiet. I've
no right to find fault, butr-but don't tlirt
with John. He is in trouble, despondent,
disinherited, and he is falling in love with
you as fast as he can. | believe if you play
with him he will kill himself, body and soul"
Fairly out of breath with her own earnest
utterance, Mrs. Tollman paused, looking
pleadingy in Leonie Cameron's face. The
expression of polite interest never wavered,
as that young lady said
"If | understand you Alright, you wish
me to ignore your nephew. 1t is not so
easy, as he is in your house, so had better
leave it."
Goodness " cried the widow, aghast at
this Interpretation of her words. 81 never
meant that. Where can you find another
boarding-place near here ?"
% can return to London"
"Ive put my foot in it, John will never
forgive me-" said Mrs. Tollman.
But there was no sympathy in Leonies
face, and she turned away at last, perplexed
and more anxious than ever. And Leonie,
sinking back in her chair again, looked at
the sunset clouds and variegated foliage,
and thought perhaps it was time to return
TO London.
She had come to s., weary with a
round of fashionable life, tired of fattery
dancing and flirting, and she had found rest
and quiet under Mrs. Tollman's motherly
care. She was rich, richer far than the
landlady had any idea of, but she had nc
near relatives, only second cousin to keeI
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 in
dolently what society would say about John
Furber. 1t would grant him rare perfec
tion of manly beauty of face and form, and
forgive the evident traces of dissipation, il
it was only known that he was the son of a
rich man, and had been educated an idlei
by profession. But in what holy horror il
would turn away with uplifted hands wher
| it was known he was disinherted, with ne
home but room in the house of widowed
aunt seeking out her narrow income by
taking boarders. 1t would smile at hi
biting sarcasms, his brilliant conversations
| his conical sneers, if he was reiustated il
his fathers favor, but how rude these woulC
be in poor man.
| Leonie, from thinking of society's opinion
quite unconsciously glided into considering
| her own. This dark-browed man had mad,
a fair portion of her summer pleasure fo
three months, had been her cavalier in man,
country walks, drives and sails, had quoted
poetry under trees, sung in superb bari
tone upon the murmuring waters, looke'
into her eyes on moonlit porch, and whis
pered delcately-worded fattery. No NOR
than many another man had done. A beaut
aud rich, Miss Cameron had looked upol
more than one languishing suitor, and fol
gotten him when his amusement wearie,
her. Scarcely hirt--for she encourage,
no downright love-making, but beautiful
fascinating woman who wounded heart
with merely careless grace.
Musing in the sunset it impressed upo
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 Furbel
and she shivered as she thought he nigh
be upon some dangerous preclpice, waitin
for the clasp of the hand TO draw him bach
or its repulse to thrust him over. She passe
in review her host of male friends and foun
none who had awaken her heart to hours c
such keen pleasure as John Furber had give
her. She tried to recall one mind who's
grasp of intellect had dwarfed her own a
his had done, who had met her fairly in S
many arguments and worsted her, and sh
could only remember soft hattery of he
wonderful mind"
Finally, lifting her eyes with a soft sigl
she saw him leaning against tree opposll
the low window, looking at her. A viyi
flush stained her cheek as he said
, "What can you have been thinking of
You have not stirred for half an hour. Onl
that your eyes were wide open, | shoul
have thought you asleep"
"Your powers of observation are marye
GUS" she answered lightly, I'll was dream
ing"
"Of what 2"
"The world in general, my world in pa
tcular. II is almost time returned there
She was prepared for some polite show
regret, but not for the ghastly change in h
face.
! She shuddered remembering his aunt
I words.
"Going away Why, of course you wou
0 be soon," he said, trying to speak carelessl
}, while his eyes hungrily devoured her fac
:, aud his white parched lips were drawn as
+ in sharp physical pain.
81 have been here three MONTHS" 81
= said, feeling her own heart ache at his miser
4 "Yes, yes You will 90, certainly"