Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-02-11
The Lost Check.


''taken in and done for'' and the record
of their misfortune made public. that
Vivian Winn, young man of %, tho't
himself fully competent to elude the
wiles of any sharper who might beset
him on the journey he was about to take
from his home to Chicago. To be sure,
Vivian had never travelled much, but
then he had the warning advice of his
more experienced uncle, and for the rest
he depended upon his own shrewd-
ness. He was going to the great me-
tropolis of the West to take a stool at
the desk of his brother-in-l laws banking
house, and so, elated with his bright
prospects for the future, he gayly bid
adieu to the few friends who were at
the station to see him off, and entered
crowded car. All the seats were full
except one, which was occupied by a
solitary young lady.
Vivian walked slowly down the jolt
ing car, and, pausing before the unoccu-
pied seat, bashfully inquired if he might
sit there. With ready acquiescence the
accommodating maiden gathered up her
skirts and made room for him. Disen-
cumbering himself of his overcoat, our
hero proceeded to sit down, pulled out a
newspaper, and engaged himself in the
contents thereof, while his fair compag-
ME de voyage continued the perusal of a
book in paper covers, in which she SEEM
ed deeply engaged.
Vivian's eyes fell upon an article re-
lating how poor fellow had become en-
amored of beautiful maiden with whom
he became acquainted on a railroad
train, and how, on landing at his desti-
nation, he found himself minus his pock-
et-book and its contents-some 5000.
He laughed to himself over the simplic-
ity of the dupe, and, folding up his pa
per, turned his attention to the person
at his side.
Heavens what a beauty. A thrill
of uncomfortable interest ran thro' him
as he beheld those large, dark, dreamy
eyes, those waving tresses, and that fair,
clear countenance. She seemed greatly
interested in the volume before her, and
gave him a good opportunity of study
ing her features. At length. becoming
aware of his steady gaze, the fair IN
known suddenly closed her novel, and
turned those lorsO oyeo upon nIm. Wv
ian, blushing at the detection in staring
on lady, excused his rudeness by in
quiring if she was not certain Miss
Smith. and if she did not reside at such
a place.
No; her name was not Smith, nor did
she live at B.
"Ah, indeed Really, you must par
don me, for the resemblance is very
striking"
His conduct was excusable.
'Then you are not acquainted any at
B-?"
"No; but my brother has friends
there"
Your brother is not with you?"
II am on my way to meet him. Dc
you come from B-Y
Il do, miss, and am going to meet
my brother"
"Yes? Quite coincidence" ;"
Remarkable Ny brother is bank.
er at Chicago.
This looked suspicious. Vivian begar
to think that this was little too much
of coincidence to be natural-in fact
a vision of the lost pocket book, with its
5000, began to loom up with painful
distinctness, and to cause an itching tt
put his hand in his pocket and feel tha
his own wallet was safe; but moment
reflection satisfied him of the foolishnes
of such fear Another glance at tn
beautiful face so near his own made hin
feel ashamed of having ever harbore'
such an idea as that this lovely bein
could be capable of theft.
She pickpocket Never So irritat
ed did he become at the thought of hi
baseness toward the fair creature, tina
he was on the point of showing her tn
article that had raised the suspicion an
: then confessing his crime and beggin
,, forgiveness, when the young lady ono
more resumed her reading, and becam
, alike Indifferent to him and his fate.
Perhaps she had an inkling of hi
4 thoughts He blushed at the ide;
What fool he had been, after begir
ming an acquaintance that was likely [
prove so coateur de rose during the ted
s Gus ride. to forfeit her regard by sue
/ wickedness.
Perhaps she imagined that he was
u rogue, and had trumped up the coinc
! dence in order to get into her good gr;
. ces. Jupiter should that be the case
/. "Thirty minutes for supper !" shoute
o by the brakeman, together with ii
II name of the station, put an end to h
r cogitations and her reading
:. "Will you go to the table ?" inquire
e Vivian, rising.
Z mo, thank you; but, if you will
e so kind, you may bring me some T