Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-12-26

Ger of volets perfumed the air, and, in tn,
cosieSt place that could have been picked out
stood-the third astonishment Of the day. l
was an armchair of massive oak, cushioned
aud padded with leather with adjustable sup
ports for the head and feet, and an extr,
arm, large enough to hold n book and news
paper, turning on hinge-in short, the per
fection of solid workmanship and physica
| comfort
'"rhis is yours, father - said Susan, play
fully pushing him into the seat.
Gideon, taken by surprise, sank down, ant
| did not Immediately rise. He had reached
| the age when he could wholly appreciate sucl
| n luxury, and there seemed to be no end tC
the delight Of trying this or that quality, anC
finding nothing wanting. Then perennial
tried the chair, aud finally Lydia Maria and
| thus fully ten minutes passed before any one
thought Of asking "Where did you get it
| Susan 2" and, "How under the sun was il
brought into the house p
ITS not my gift, father" she said 'i
comes from somebody else"
Not Gideon began but he hesitated
to speak the name in his mind.
The outer door opened and shut some
body had entered without knocking. The
next moment bright-faced, sunburnt, beard
ed man of thirty-dye appeared ia the parlor
william :" they all cried, in chorus.
"Yes, father said the younger son, hear
tily shaking old Gideon's hand. He gave
Jeremiah cordial grasp, kissed Lydia Maria
and Susan, threw off his overcoat, and cheeri
! ly announced: I've come to eat my Christ
mas dinner with you -
"Ha my horse Bob !" cried Jeremiah
"And my COW Polly" cried Lydia Maria
"And this arm chair :" Gideon added "it
must have cost power o money
Never mind how much ~ said William,
laughing. II can easily afford it thanks to
Susan and Evan Powell"
Lydia Maria became rigid. "Susan and
she could not bring herself to pronounce
the name. Gideon looked perplexed, and
even a little abashed.
We will take advantage of their surprise
and expectant silence, and relate MS much as
is necessary Of Williams history. We have
said that the Lanes were Democrats, and
everybody knows how stubbOrnly the Demo-
cratic farmer of Pennsylvania holds to the in-
fullibilty Of his party, and the miraculous
conception of every one Of its doctrines.
Gideon was so bitter in the faith that when
war came he secretly e1ulted over every dis
astor to the Union arms. Hence he could
have felt no sorer wound than the enlistment
of his son William inflicted on his nature.
Williams inseparable school friend was Evan
Powell, whose father was Republican, and
who volunteered at the first call made by
Abraham Lincoln. 1t was not long before
William followed; but the two were not
much together during the war. William be-
came first-lieutcnant, while Evan only rose to
be sergeant ma jor but the former was sent
home severely wounded. early in the fourth
year of the struggle. The long and careful
nursing required was an additional grievance
to his father and still more so the announce
ment that he would be untitled for farm ln-
Dor, and must find some other way of living
The end of it was that William went to
Colorado, where his health improved so rap
idly. and the active life of a pioneer so readi-
ly adapted itself to his nature, that he had re-
mained there ever since He had come forth
from the army as a Republican, and the po-
litical heresy lie brought into the family con-
tinued after he left in the shape of The
Weekly Tribune, the subscription to which
was renewed 10y Susan jeremiah first. and
then his father, began to read the agricultural
articles, with proper degree of caution and
their eyes being now and thon caught in 9th
er departments of the paper, they ventured
to read further. Democrats as they had been
and continued to be, there finally came II
time when they looked forward with some
impatiencc for the arrival Of the paper, and
jealousy watched their several chances of
reading it. Susan was prudent enough to
take no notice thereof; but now, punctually
on the first day of every November, she for
warded her subscription for The Semi Week
ly edition.
Gideon Lane, if the exact truth could be
known, had probably outlived his political
grievance against William. Three years be-
fore, however the latter had written TO his
father, giving the details of an extensive ven
turo which he had made in buliding-lots at
Denver and Colorado Springs. He clearly
saw his way to fortune, if-and this was a ia
tai contingency-he could get possession of
$4,000 or $1,000 more. Now, this was very
nearly the sum which his father had saved
during lifetime of severe economy, and in
vested in first liens" upon property which
he knew. 1t was like asking the old man to
tear out his heart and hand it over on plate.
He refused in terms which expressed his sur
prise and wrath, and William had not written
again. Susan was the only member Of the
family with whom he had kept up CORES
pondence.