Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-09-05

v
secret delight beset him-a delight he could
not well conceal He wanted all for himself
all the joy and sorrow, all the care and
perplexity, all the sweet incense of gratitude
and love.
When the sad ceremony was over and the
shutters were opened SO that more light could
be thrown upon the legal affairs of the do
ceased, and the two women, in their black
dresses, stood tremblingly by the big grim
safe where the sacred papers that had been
as dear to the dead man as the apple of his
eye were jostled rudely about by the lawyers,
and it was found that when all was paid there
would be but plain maintenance for the
widow and her child, Paul drew the weeping
girl close to his side, and took Mrs. Dunbar's
hand in his own. Il am here, he said ~
will take care of you"
Then the people that were present went
away remarking what providential thing it
was, and how everything was held in the hol-
low of a wise but unseen hand. Some of
them went back to tea the next night to con-
sole poor Mrs Dunbar, and others went the
night after, and Mrs. Dunbar wept, but was
consoled as the days went by. In her hus-
bands time there was very little tea-drinking
of a neighborly sort, and nobody dropped in
of an evening. Mr.. Dunbars manner was Sc
we're to austerity, and not calculated to en-
courage the little amenities Of life. Night
after night he sat by the big grim safe, never
throwing word TO poor Mrs. Dunbar, who
heard nothing hour in and hour out but the
rustling Of the dreadful papers, the hard
breathing of her lord and master, and the
doleful ticking of the clock.
No wonder the poor lady took heart and
frightened even as she wept. The tea-kettle
sang fearlessly now upon the brass hob of
the grnte, and Mrs. Dunbar fattened upon
the mild beverage. Her comely face put off
! many wrinkle, and her friends declared that
nobody would believe she could have daugh-
ter old enough to be married. For it became
settled that Paul should have the little maid
en- shortly for his wife He had not pressed
his suit with Nelly, an intuitive fear restrain
| ing him, but the widow and her friends had
settled it all. Nelly made no complaint; she
went about pale and listless, took long solita-
ry walks, coming back all unstrung and hys-
| terical but the neighbors declared it was
only natural. The poor child had suffered
shock time would do everything-tine and
getting married, they added, nodding their
heads, and taking more cups Of tea.
Paul began to be vaguely uneasy, he scarce
| ly knew why, and secretly hurried on the
simple preparations for the marriage Nelly
was but child, he thought, and had childs
fear for the future. Once safe upon his
heart his own forever, he would make her
! life again one long summer sunshine His
| own somewhat wearied heart basked in the
sweet anticipation, and the brief barrier of
time that lay between fretted his longing
| soul.
Scarcely afortnight before the ceremony was
TO take place. Paulhad been late at the office, a
| queer ganglion of his nerves stretching home
ward, and quivering over a cold apprehen-
sion hard TO define. He shut up the book at
last, and went speedily through the familiar
streets, whore the lamps began to glimmer
through the fog of a November night. A
cab recklessy turned the corner in his direc-
tion u shout from the driver brought the
pale face of woman to the window; the
swinging lamp threw a lickering ray over
features that seemed strangely like He
crossed to the curb, thinking confusedly over
it, stopped, turned The cab was hurrying
on. Paul began to run after it, increasing
his speed every step. His blood began To
grow warm, his heart TO grow savage in the
intensity of the chase the tension of his
nerves never gave way nor did his pace slack
en-, till the cab stopped at a downtown
wharf, where a South American ship had
taken her last freight little tug boat was
sputtering close by n voice from the deck
shouted. IAN aboard :" Two figures hurried
out of the cab, both slight and young, the
one supporting the o.her. But when Paul
stood out from the gloom of the wharf, con-
fronting them, the lad drew himself up proud
ly, and put his arm about his companion.
"She is mine" he cried in his high husky
voice I'VE are married. Mr.. Bradford it's |
useless to come prowling after us now"
Great God Nelly, is it YOU" said Paul,
almost doubling his senses, as he saw the
sweet face taking shape under his eyes.
''Yes, it is |" she replied, "and this is
Harry Haver that you put out the door that
night
Harrys slim form began to tremble with
excitement and the chill wind that blew from
Ill L. I II
locks blew about his handsome eyes. 1--WE |
are married, Sir" he cried again.
They seemed such absolute children to
Paul There was no room for wrath in the |
heart that throbbed up in his throat the ut
ter Illustration of the moment brought hot |
tears to his eyes. These melted the heart of |
the obdurate girl, and she left Harry side to
run to Paul.
"Oh, don't please don't" she said ''If |
you do. 1 shall break down. Please comfort |
mamma-take care of mamma"
IAN aboard !" shouted the voice from the |
deck.
Stand aside, Sir" cried Harry to Mr.. |
Bradford. Let her CO. Come, Nelly, |
come"
She stood one moment irresolute, went on
n step or two with Harry, then ran back to
the mOtionless figure of Bradford lifted her |
arms to his neck, lay half second upon his |
disappeared in the nurky gloom of the |
wharf The ship was already moving uneas-
ly, the tug boat sputtered out into the water,
and the big black hulk moved slowly on. Paul |
walked after the receding ship like one in a
dream AN ugly gap yawned before him;
the thick green water below was covered with
slime.
''Stop back, my good fellow, said steve
dore, who had been watching him. You
can't call that ere water invitin, now, can
youg You'd no sooner be into it than you'd
be hOllerin' TO get out again, and l amt in
the same humor for bath. I've seen such
things afore."
But the man was mistaken. Paul had no
idea of committing suicide He was only re-
GREETING that he had not held Nelly when he
had her in his arms, and taken her home
again. She was married. to be sure, but that
was an additional reason for preventing her
from making further misery. Paul was nat
urally of philosophic turn of mind, even
his wretchedness was of the dogged, endur-
ing kind. The cab that brought the young
couple was still within call. Paul hailed it,
and was soon on his way homeward. He ab-
stained from asking any questions of the cab
man. What was the use =: Besides an in
stinctive delicacy restrained him. An out
growth of this feeling made him shiver when
he put his weary head back upon the cush-
ion of the cab, and found the faint OdOr of
yiolets there. 1t was Nellys favorite per-
fume, poor child poor reckless, foolish
child 1t was all over now. What life she
had chosen with that wild, ridiculous boy,
whose neck he would like to wiring! Why
had he lost sight of the little serpent when he
left him there upon the doorstep? So many
cares and anxeties had intervened, what
room could there be for that yellow-haired
boy?
Before the cab fairly stopped, Paul saw the
confusion at the house. Lights were glanc-
ing to and fro. A woman came out upon the
porch with a shawl thrown over her head
"Here he is now" she said "Oh, Mr..
Bradford, something dreadful has happened
Nelly has run away with young Haver-he
has an uncle in the South American trade"
Paul walked straight on through the hall,
The sympathizing neighbor ran ahead TO get