Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-04-05


three of the boys We're of an unruly age. and
little Jamie was like bpby of Marys own.
MacMurray complained increasingly to me,
who would have been glad to shoulder the
whole household for the sake Of its sweet
womnnly prop.
"Shc actually talks, said NIacNIurray, who
had, singularly enough, chosen me for con-
fdant, las if this ahominable state of affairs
was to go on forever. l wish it would please
God to either rid her mother of her infrmi-
ties or take her where such troubles are over
rs for the boys, they are set of snyagcs."
Except Jamie Z" | said q little anxiousy
for | knew Mary's heart was set upon the
child
II except nobody but Mary herself, he re-
turned. "Im sick to death Of them ALL l
don't suppose you'll believe it, Bruce. but l
swear it TO you that this woman, who is my
promised wife, have never yet held in my
arms, nor have her sweet lips been given to
my own She's Shy and a little cold and we
never can be one minute alone"
Mansfield is an Englishman. YOU know, ="
said "and is preiudiced against our American
customs And rs l spoke felt glad, warm,
ling puisation through my whole body,
and the thodght that my little pearl as yet be-
longcd TO nobody, even in carcss. lent
sort of exultation to my voice
But MacNlurray went on to solicit my help
in his extremity, and begged of me to further
any opportunity that might present itself for
this dual solitude which he naturally coveted.
Only one little week after, we sat rs usual
around the blazing heater. 1t was freezing
night in March the wind roared down the
big broad stove-ppo the flames went wan
toning up to meet it the sides of the heater
sputtered and cracked, and took sullen red
tnge in unison with this fiery riot and in
the meanwhile Mansfield went on with one of
his stories, raking idly with a long plaything
Of poker this demon of heater, till the
air fairly palpitated, and the temperature was
only fit for salamander.
Cant we 20 up in the parlors:' said Mac.
If it's ever warm there, it must be tonight
and heard you say, Bruce, that you wanted
to look over the engravngs'
The sly rascal knew that this was hobby
of Mansield's. and while we were busy with
the engravingS, he could coax Mary of into
the front parlor. Even while my heart con-
tmcted with the thought. his proposition was
hailed with enthusiasm, and we proce edcd to
carry it out, Mansfield at the head Of the pro-
cession, with lamp in his hand, for the hall
above had not been lighted, the boys scream
ing after their father, Mary and Mac follow
ing and | bringing up the rear The POOR
invalid lady was the only one left ia the base
meut No sooner had we reached the parlor
door, and Mansfield had opened it, than a
cold blast whipped out the light that he held.
and suddenly we were in total darkness. l
began to grope my way, as folks will in this
emergency, and Immediately my extended
hands came in contact with other hands, so
soft and warm. and full of an electric magnet
ism that it thrilled through my every vein:
and all at once my two hands had drawn those
other two hands and the body that belonged
to them. close to my side. A fine, silken
AR .f l,,fv 4 Iii, I
helping then; my head bent instinctively
down, and as my lips touched hers, ! inward
~ vowed to take without murmur whatever
poor penalty could be meted ont for this
natchless felicity The intoxicating half-Sec-
ond had scarcely fled when | found some
powerful retribution close at hand A muf-
fled Shrek from below was followed by more
light than we wanted. \ volume of smoke
came rushing up the stairway.
Good Good my poor wife :" cried Mans
field, tumbling down this sitting crater to her
relief. ! caught up Jamie with one arm, and
encircled Mary with the other The boys
scurried ont through the front door with Mac
| Murray, and we were soon in safety with
some friends upon the block below, whittier
Mansfield shortly brought the insensible form
Of his poor lady.
She was not badly burned, but the shock
was fatal and she brcathed her last before
morning. Mansfield, who had never left her
side, gave way over the poor rigid body, and
| it was found that he had sustained severe inju-
res in rcscuing her The doctor looked grave
! after the examination.
Great Heaven" cried Mansfield. there :
nothing serious, hope? Mary and the chill
drcn have nobody but me now, and there
isn't a half-penny,' he added in Il husky whis-
! per, between them and starvation. | spent
my last dollar on that Internal heater that has
| burned us out of house and home, and I've
| hositated to insure because every thing is so
shaky in that way"
He looked around upon MS appealingly.
! Macs face Wore n sIrdonlc sOlemnity mingled
| with a contemptuous reproach, and he re-
mained silent but / stammered out some
thing to the effect that every body had lost
confidence in insurance of late, and lingering
behind when Mac and l were about leaving
for the night, | leant over Mansfield, and
told him to give all his energies to getting
well. that while | had dollar it should be
shared with him and Mary and the children.
God bless you Bruce said the suffering
mnn-"God in heaven bless you" Two big
tears rolled down his favered cheeks, and
caught just one sweet, feryid glance from Ma
| rvs tear-dimmed and hollow eyes.
Here's n nice lookout" began Mac, as we
walked along "a hopeful future for me, isn't
it,
why, you've got your wish about her poor
mother" | said, rather sayagely, and Mans
field is likely to soon follow his wife. You
must he patient, you know"
Il suppose" he said inquiringly, the rel
atiyes, in that case. would come forward and
take the boys;"
What relatives :" l replied. u neyei
heard Of any
why, good heavens! Bruce" said tn,
L. 1 - 1 A.
marry nil those boys with Mary z"
1T seems hard, l reioined. You nigh
put them in an orphan asylum
NIacMurray began actually to muse ovel
this idea, and declared he would be willing tC
give something toward their support by
charitable institution of this sort.
Whether he made known this liberality o.
intention to Mary, or that she was prompted
by some other feeling, there came II note tC
MacAlulray shortly after releasing him from
his engagement, and a declaration on Mary
part that her future was indissolubly LINKED
with her father and the boys and that sh,
could not reasonably expect nor had she any
inclination to marry under these circum
stances
1t was II noble letter, and stirred AlacMur
rays passion to the dregs. / trembed whel
l saw him run his hands through his hal
dst1actedly, and heard him declare that he'C
do any thing rather than give her up.
I'm tell you what I'll do, Bruce, he said
I'm offer to take Jamie-confound the brat
always hated him he has way of gcttin
under every body's feet that I'll cure when
have the charge OF him but I'll take the Lit
tie cub for the sake of getting Mary A ma
will do most any thing for woman that h
loves, Bruce. But that's the extent of my OF
fer-that's all l am willing TO do"
/ told him it was nobly generous on hi
part, but it seemed that Mary disagreed wit
me. She not only refused his offer, but de
clined to have any further negotiation in tn
matter.
And now," said Mansfield, when wen
up to see him that night, "her whole futur
is blasted because of this Quixotic idea {
r devotion to me and the children Mansfiel
was bolstered up in the bed, Jamie was aslee
in crib near by that l had sent up for tn