Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-03-15

mute ilh luuty euHDltu MN 10 discern
something mocking about its faded exterior.
its heavy lock. Perhaps he was bewitched,
and the curiosity shop would prove Il dream
altogether, while the Green Door vanished
before his eyes. At eleven o'clock he again
presented himself in the narrow street The
lean and dry collector, with n cloth cap drawn
down to his eyes, was in the net of taking
ponderous key very deliberately from his
pocket. He greeted his customer politely in
French, and entirely without surprise.
Once more within the shop, the young mans
heart began to beat norvously. The place
wore n different look to his excited imagina-
ton. The mitred saint on the glass panel
seemed 10 gaze at him. the pictures to watch
him, the broken statues to wait in their shad-
owy corners for the result. lie took the
buckle from his pocket with assumed indiTer-
once and inquired
where did you obtain it =
The collector shrugged his shoulders; sus-
picon lurked in his glance. "One gathers
many things" he returned, guardodly.
DO you know the person who sold il -
pursued Henry, feyerishly, despite all efforts
at self-control.
yes"
This person is livingy'
"Per BdccD : Yes"
The mitred saint on the glass the faded
pictures, the dumb cold statues surely await
cd the next question Was the owner "a strang
er and man ? Perhaps. The collector be-
came more vague, even busted himself sort
ing coins ON n metal dish. He did not know.
Was this roticence sheer stupidity or subtle
caution? Henry severed the web of doubt
with one decisive stroke.
IF l could learn the name Of the person
who sold this buckle ] would pay eighty
francs for it," h said firmly. II would even
+ oil, 1l,. 4r.1
owner"
"Arc you an enemy of the signoro Z"
NO, friend
How the young mans heart bounded! The
owner WAS. then. a man; Explanations We're
facilitated hy the production of two-hun-
dred-fr note. Yes the gold buckle had
been brought for sale only Il few days ago by
the signore in the next street. lie had lived
there many years, and from time 10 time lit
tie articles had come to the shop. An old man
and foreigner probably lnglcse or a Icdes-
co. the dealer believed.
In silence he conducted Henry Toppmgham
beneath an arch which formed covered
| bridge from one old palace to the next. past Il
picturesque loggia, where a cobbler worked at
his task outside the door, and along q narrow.
winding street, hanEed 10y a closed church
and convent, now used Us q barrack. finally
| pausing before tail house. Indicating the
floor occupied by the lodger with his finger,
he vanished, evidently still doubtful Of the
strangers good intentions and left Henry to
climb the stone steps alone.
When the hitter had found the door, he was
| obliged to strike a match from the box in his
pocket to discover the bell, the darkness Of
tho hall being almost palpable. The match
flickcred over tiny card ON the panel, and
went out. Henry pulled the bell vigorously.
He had READ the name Of \. Long on the
card.
4 silence profound, intarminablc, cnsued.
Again he rang Then slow, shutting foot
step approached, and faint voice demanded,
in the wary Italian formula, before opening
a door.
Chi e"
Henry reflected moment. then answered,
"Cesare Borghetti'
"Ah :"
A bolt slid, the latch fell be entered bold
ly to find himself face TO face with the man
he most desired TO see on earth.
Albert Long, pale, guant, and wan with
gray hair and grizzled beard. leaned against
the wall, and regarded the stranger in sur
prise.
Il come from your brother. said the young
messenger, and his voice seemedtoring through
the deserted place.
What is my brother 20 me- demanded
the other. sternly.
He is dead"
Then the Judgment remains for him
He turned away and dragged himself into Il
room, where he sank into chair The fee
blencss of his gait alarmed Henry Instinc-
tive sympathy led him 10 pour a little brandy
! from his pocket flask between the pallid lips
of Albert Long. and to chafe his chill hands
while explaining the situation TO him. The
| place was utterly destitute of furniture, save
| for bed in one corner, with a charcoal braZ-
Ter beside it, and a table covered with MSS.
JOY seldom kills. The lonely creature burst
| into wild laughter. Henry feared his brain
had turned.
Look here" said Albert Long, rousing
himself, and pointing to the MSS. on the ta-
| Jle the great work is not finished, but my
strength is quite gone. What is the use Of
! life In another hour you would not have
| got in. l live alone lie approached his
| lips to his visitors car. 1.-The last franc went
in charcoal for the brazier, my friend. One
| falls asleep in the braZier fumes, and to-mor-
row | am rich you say, and am starving to
| death / have had no food for twenty four
hours. This is the ond-the end Yet |
seemed to be wating-I heard your footstep.'
| Then, in a louder, rougher tone of voice, he
added Half of the property belonged to me /;
| he lied about me always and they believed
| him Why was not belicvedI | should have
remained and fought my own battle. He did
not answer my letters afterward. He loved
money and power
Henrys sole response was to carefully ad-
minister more brandy He did not permit
himself TO falter. -Four years and seven
months had elapsed since the death of an I'M
! Just man, and here was his heir starving, pre-
| pared to terminate a wretched existence by
means of charcoal brazier Family quar-
rcs alone are cruel as the grave.
/ ,tsttl, Ia d
manded the young man, with assumed cheer
fulncss.
Yes" YEARLY. DO not forget the manu-
script"
This neglected and forsaken Albert Long
was taken to the hotel, where physician
speedily arrived to prescribe the suitable nu-
triment to revive him.
That night he looked at his ardent young
champion, who dared not express hissympathy
except by taking care of him, and said, with
a melancholy smile
you come like the Archangel Michael of
Raphael. young and strong, to trample on
evil"
Pray tell me if this shoe-buckle belonged
TO your grandmother Hannah Long" Henry
ventured to inquire.
yes How did you learn about her,
though? The buckle was my last relic, and
finally went TO the shop. All, how l counted
the twenty francs received for it Ten francs
went on debt TO poor woman with children,
the other nine for bread as for the rent
Then the last bought charcoal"
"Hush!" said Henry soothingly. 1--WE must
talk of the future"
Later Mr. Whitecap read an ocean telegram
with profound astonshment:
II have found the heir. II. TorrINaHAM.
In the month of July of the following year
a pretty young woman sat at table covered
with papers, bending over a manuscript on
which she was writing zealously. The shad-
ed lamp made halo about her, while an ell
derly gentleman lounged in an armchair in
the shadow beyond The evening was warm
the scent of flowers came through the long
| French windows of the country residence,
modestly termed cottage
Il have finished" she said, with final