Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-06-20

''Then, Sir, allow me to tell you that you
have behaved very shabbily to Miss Ten Eyk
very shabbily indeed Good morning.
Sir"
That was n charge that Dicks whole nature
rcpelled, and yet perhaps it might Lo true
lie resolved at once to have an understanding
with the lady, although the subject was so
delicate that he scarcely knew how to ap-
prOach il.
Jane spared him the trouble. She was sit
ting in her morning room with n newspaper
before her, and when Dick was announced she
seemed nowisc aslonished at the unusual
hour Of his visit. After the first courtcsics of
the morning were over, she said, II suppose
you have seen this paragraph, Mr. Dayton,
and it is very kind Of You to attend TO the
matter at once.
Dick read the paragraphs her finger indicat-
ed and saw it was n statement of their MP
proaching marriage.
GLOW do such things get said, | wonder
l suppose it is one of the penalties Of my
wealth. Have | done any thing to countc-
nance such a report? Why don't you speak,
Mr. DaytonY II is not possible you dared TO
circulate this falsehood, Sir?'
All these questions Jane put with
constantly increasing pallor and hesitation,
and all the time Dick had remained perfectly
silent, with his eyes on the paper, and his
checks flushing redder and redder. But when
Jane covered her face with her hands and be-
gan to cry quietly, he could no longer debate
with himself.
"Jane! Jane dearest Jane" he cried,
taking her hands, and kissing the tears pas
sionately off Them "you know | never did
Who honors and loves you rs do? Why, |
have loved you for six years. If there was
only any possible chance Of these words ever
l.,
happy in all the world as / would Z"
Jane did not answer but her eyes were
clear as truth itself, and i'll her face Dick
might have read very sweet untold story.
But instead of asking her to tell it, he spoke
of her riches and his own poverty, and of
what the world would say, and so accepted for
himself the desolation of an empty heart rath-
er than incur the shame of being called for
tune-hunter.
"He nevorthought of me He never thought
Of me - sobbed poor Jane, with her head
buried in her pillow after Dicks farewell
Her true and tender womans heart had been
dreadfully wounded and disappointed by his
proud decision, but she would not show her
sorrow to the world For a time there SEEM
ed to be no change in her relations with Dick
Dayton, but gradually they drifted further
apart, and Dick again reminded himself that
a man has his fate in his own hands but it
is doubtful whether he found any consolation
in this supreme exercise Of authority.
During the following summer he heard
many reports about Miss Ten Eyk which
helped him to believe that he had acted wise
ly in maintaining his Independence, even at
the expense of his affections. II was said that
she had become more and more authoritative
regarding her estate, that she had removed
managers, and changed her investments with
out seeking advice either from friends or
lawyers. People spoke Of her as growing
hard and penurious, and rapidly losing all the
womanly graces which belonged to her Sex
and station.
SO Dick rather congratulated himself on
his escape. He was gradually gaining wealth
and reputation, and when be had achieved an
income of five thousand dollars year, he
meant to marry some pretty girl who would
be the realization of his peculiar ideas as to
what wife ought to be. One night he
thought he had found the girl of these dreams,
and the next morning, for one whole hours
reverie, the pretty Maria FontRne was para
mount. Then, as he lifted the morning pa
per the first words that struck his eyes were,
Miss Jane Ten Eyk."
He read the paragraph eagerly, put on his
hat, and hastened down town to his office.
As he had almost hoped, he found among his
mail letter signed "Jane Ten Eyk" 1t was
dated from st. Louis, and read thus:
my FRIEND, When this reaches you, my
absolute ruin will be known to a world so cold
andcruel that have not the courage TO meet it.
l have gone back TO the little home in Dog
wood Gulch, and if you will think as well of
me as circumstances admit Of, shall not be
quite unhappy. JANE Ten EYE.
Then he turned to the newspaper, and read
over again the circumstances They look
ed dark enough. 1t was said that year ago
the lead in the Ten Eyk mine had been lost,
and that Jane had recklessly raised money ON
valuable securities in order to pursue a search
for a treasure that was believed to be exhaust
cd and it was asserted that if Miss Ten Eyk
would have taken proper counsel in the mat
ter, she might at least have saved herself a
comfortable competency.
Dick smiled queerly over these criticisms,
hastily packed his travelling trap, bought
ticket for Kansas City and started that night
westward. Now that Jane was poor, he had
no longer any doubts he was willing under
such circumstances to Oblige Fate and accept
the wife she had chosen for him. He read
her decree in new light 1t was IN Jane,
and not WiM her, that he was to gain for
tune. For the first time he respected the
divinatiOn of the Romany girl.
After a weeks travel lie arrived at the Ten
Eyk homestead, 1t was only little frame
cottage, but old Peter Ten Eyk had consider
ed it n species Of palace, and been exceeding
ly proud Of its ow-window and its wide
piazzas. Dick knew that the eastern one was
James favorte place in the afternoon, and he
went at once there to seek her. She was sit
ting in low rocker, sewing and dreaming,
but she heard Dicks firm, rapid steps and
kneu them. Dicks first glance at her face
showed him it illuminated with tender ex-
pectation. He never knew who first threw
ceremony to the winds the only recollec-
tion was an embrace in which everything was
explained and everything forgiven.
What blissful evening that was A full
summer moon transhgured the mountains,
and in its glory the lovers paced the wide
plateau, and laid their plans for the future.
Dick would not speak of James fortune either
in its past or its future. Let the creditors of
the estate have every dollar there was" And
Jane was very grateful to him it was great
relief not to have to explain all her mistakes.
OF course they were to marry at once, and
after short European trip, the home which
Dick had been contemplating lately would be
ready for them. Jane was very happy. Dick
was better than n silver mine, and she was
supremely content with the exchange. Mrs.
Grundy, however, had her opinions about the
whole ''ridculously Quixotic affair !" and the
rgidly Just ones thought it a very demoral-
izing thing that Jane Ten Eyk should be re-
warded for her obstinate conceit with the
handsomest and most promising parf in her
set.
But the lovers in their self-satsfactiOn cared
for none of these comments. They had a
quiet wedding in the Ten Eyk home, and no
one knew precisely on what steamer they
sailed for Havre. Society can scarcely afford
TO interest itself about people who care so lit
tie for its demands, and therefore Mr.. and
Mrs. Richard Dayton were quite forgotten un-
til near the following Christmas, when their
select little "At Homes" gave the fashionable
world n faint surprise.
They were open now 10 criticism, and were
not spared Dick was absurdly happy and
demonstratiye about that plain little wife of
his, and James affectation of contentment
with her loss of fortune was ridiculous the
world knew her better, and was quite sure
that she was enviOus and miserable beneath
it.
In business circles Dicks singular behavior
was also discussed WHY did he not marry