Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-08-09

brushing the tears from her eyes, and don't
know which of US felt most embarrassment
| fear | showed mine and the concern / felt
very visibly for she recovered herself almost
mt once, and there was something so sweet
and gracious in the way in which she received
my bungling apology, seeming to put her
own annoyance completely out of sight in
the effort to set me ut ease, that / was sur
priscd when, just as | was leaving, she stop
ped me 10y saying with moro girlsh agitation
than / had ever seen in her, and yet with n
frank dignity which always seemed part Of
her nature:
Or. Elliot you were surprised to find me
crying just now but am not in any trouble.
You look so sorry that / must tell you so"
suppose did not look satisfied for she
tried to smile and came nearer, leaning her
clasped hands ON the table
"Iou were speaking last night to papa
about my marrying. lie was not so well this
morning, and-aud the idea fretted him.
/ Pray do not do so again. ever | do not
mean to marry. lie wants me. lie could
not do without me aud he is right in what
he told you. [ am quite happy, perfectly
happy, and contentcd here with him happier
than | could bc with any one or anywhere
else"
You are young to say that, my dear" |
said gently.
You see 1 was past forty, an old man COM
pared to her; and the tears in her eyes made
me feel more tenderly TO her.
Il am not too young to know what is right
and good for me, =" she answered. My father
has only me in the world, and I" Her eyes
wandered out to the green-blue of the twi-
light sky, and fixed themselves there with Il
strange wistful look as if she were appeal
ing to some one far, far away. There was a
little cheap ring on the third finger of her
left hand. She covered it gently with the
other, stoking it backward and forward softly
"How could l have had any happiness apart
from his And he has been so tender to me
always. Other girls have mothers: but /
the study of his life has been that | should
not miss mine. Think what it would be to
him now to miss me! Aud pray, pray. new
or say anything to him to make him fear that
he Will"
MY dear, / said again. you may trust
me. Your father has u good daughter.
hope heaven will bless her.
l hardly thought she h.GM me. for her
eyes were still fixed on the eky in that far
away gaze only. after moment, IL grave,
sweet smile CAME into them, and She held out
her hand to m, saying:
Thank you Doctor; l do trust you al
ready. Indeed, | think you are one of the
best friends | have" And then she added
with a little laugh as if trying to shake of
the least remains of her sadness 1T seems
strange that We should have grown to know
each other SO wei aft r only six months ac-
quamtaucc, when for five years We have been
living with only this narrow street between us
aud never even dreaming of each others cx-
istcnce Why, the one thing knew of your
house was that !: had q brass plate on the
door, and l don't once rccolloct taking the
trouble TO look across, or to ask whether it
belonged to doctor or a dancing mistress,
until the day papa had that tit
Not once. And all those five years her
house had been the one Lome-spot in my toll
some life. Yet. after all. it was only natural
What WIS there ON my side of the way? An
ugly, middle-eged man and a dingy house.
1t was she who made her side what 1t was to
me. For the rest 1 was content enough at
learning from her own lips that she was as
happy as she locked, and would not change
her lot for that which had once been offered
her, if she had had the opportunity.
Poor lad But / dar,say he. too, has
consoled himself l laid TO mysslf as l went
away
C0HclR6fi mart reck