Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-01-31


Dolph went gliding on their hands locked
together, their glad hearts caring no more for
fate than for the freezing wind.
"Doph is bnng-up skater said Jack,
that night at supper. THAT patch in his
boot loosened his skate, or he'd have been the
top of the heap. If he could only get pair
of shoes"
DO you mean to say said Molie, the
morsel upon her fork suddenly becoming dis
tasteful to her-'do you mean to say Dolph
Dacre cant get as many shoes as he wants -
why, sis il it comes to that can !? Can
you Poverty is blamed uncomfortable
thing, but | hope it's no disgrace"
1T is disgrace. It's hideous, hcinous.
unbeara3le crime % said Mollie. and pushed
her chair away, and went up stairs to cry her
pretty eyes out.
Her mother found her with her head bur
led in the pillow, her whole little body quivcr-
ing with excitement
why, Mollie. my child" began poor
placid Mrs. Muldoon; and then the young
termagant turned upon her.
ITS your business" she cried, "to put an
end to this madness between Dolph and me-
Do you think it's a very nice thing to have
your daughter -papas daughter engaged to
be married to Il man that can't afford to buy
himself pair of shoes p
"A little temporary embarrassment, my
child"
"a little temporary fiddlestick :" broke in
Mollie 'It's for ever and ever and hope
less. and wish | was dead" Here She be-
gan to sob again.
"What can l do?" said poor Mrs. Mul-
doom.
"You can break of the engagement for
bid him to enter your doors insult him
tell him YOU won't give your daughter to a
Lat III
look at me again"
I'm do nothing of the kind" said the poor
lady, her own cheeks beginning to burn. II
admire aud respect the young man too much
to cause him any unnecessary suffering: but
I'll tell him to give YOU up. for his own
sake as well Ms yours.
That night NIollie implor,d Jack to lock
her in her room and take away the kry.
"Namtnn's poipp to have Il talk with Dolpi
and don't want to Interfere" said NIollie.
Jack consented he said for the mutual
bcn,ft of those concerned II ,yu. case n,
h,lati.o jnoujre,.di Mamma would attend
to the mnatic down stairs he would hold
guard over the one in the upper chamber
The case Of madness below was easily dis
posod of Poor Dolpb met Mr.. Nnldoon
hnf way. He confessed il wa, the m.rcst
presumution upon his mart to asnirr to tbe
hand of creature so fair and sweet and su.
nrenelv perfrct. he owned tbat his r.cunia-
r rry prospects were hopeless, nnd his future a
blank season Of DESPAIR He would trouble
her no NOR and mipbt God hiss her and
prosper her And here the moor fellow crew
so mile that Mrs Nuldoon bep,n to comfort
and cry over him AS woman will and their
broken voices noputing mn tbr dilaridotad
chimney opening to Moiiie's room above, She
started to her feet and ran over TO the door
"Jack, Jack :" she cried ..let ,,, o,,t Iris
instant"
Not much. " said Jack
Jack listen 10 me " brpoed NIolli,
..Jnilor hear NV crv " said Jark
"Pm not poiuG to do any thing foolish
lack
",Jailer. | an, not mad snid Iock Now
see here. sis. it's no 20 This rock shall ay
from its base as soon ns l."
Jack. I've got three dollars ;Lat Aunt
CYNTHIA gave me toward NV walking suit
YOU shall have it for your club skates if youll
let me out"
"Ha! What is this | heary" said Jack
"Bribrry Corruptiou Woman. would Won
insult mr Three dollars. did Won sny
Aud I've got fifty cents. Marry pretty
sum of money"
At that moment wa, heard the broken
voice of Dulph: "Guod-nigl -pood-by."
The front door closed upon Tia, despairinp
lover.
Hang it," said Jack. II was Just begin
ming to relcnt"
Il can get him baok again, said Mollie:
but she found thi, not so easy after ALL
Dolph had pride of his own that had long
battled impotently against his love. He had
always mourued his inability to buy little
trinkets for NIolli. or Inv some beftiiuo to
ken upon the shrine OF his idolatry: and
now that Mrs Aludoon lad shown him In,
serious injury he was unwittingly doing the
one being he ndor,d. il was enough. He
came UP nu more to the house: the skating
pond missed its champion the main street
lost its most graceful promenader: no NOR.
little billcts-doux went into the vest pocket
nearest his heart. or Law in the pcrfumed re-
cesses of NIollie's battered writinp.dc,k The
brokers' Office where Dolph was employed
opened late and closed carly. for there was
very little business doing in those times of
commercial depression, hut he haunted the
busy streets of the financial centre with so
hagrard and distracted an air that he passed
for a youth who had yonturcd his ali upon
some rotten security and lost it, Which,
indeed. was the truth in more WAYS than one
Mollie. who had not looked for thi, firm
ness of resolve upon his part, began to prow
pale and listless. She also forsouk the familiar
haunts that love had made so delightful. and
busted herself more than ever with pAtgl1nu
up the outward appearance of her toilet and
the shabby surroundings Mt home. She grew
less plump. less ROSY, faint lines of Thought
traced her fair white brow her ewes took a
shade Of melancholy in their depth TINT made
them a deeper. softer. darker blue.
shes losing her health" sighed poor
Mrs. Muldoon
"She's more beautiful than ever. said Mrs
Cynthia Cinubar. Mrs. NIuldoon's fashionable
sister but even this lady conld not but con.
fess that the tender pras, green sL,. Lad ,,I-
ways adapted to Molla's complexion did not
become her ms of Old. and HAT crimson tint
which still burned in the heart of the roses
had fed from the checks of sweet Mollie
Muldoon.
It was midsummer. md Babbleton WAS at
its loveliest and best. and il became necessa.
ry for fashionable people TO lenye il at once.
Among the arrival, at at A popular watering.
place might have been noticed the names of
Mrs. Cinqbar aud Miss Mollie Muldoon. and
within month letters began 10 reach Bah.
Lleton that made the heart of poor Mrs N[ul-