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


Mr.. Paul Bradford, tall, lem, dark gen
tleman of forty-tive, picked his way through
a side street of the metropolis one night, and
started with glad surprise when he saw cal
hurry away from the door he was about tc
open with his key. He had lived in thii
house of and ON for over twenty years be.
fore Mr. Dunbar, the owner, died and when
MIR. DunbAr's daughter ElinOr was mere
girl. Paul was an accountant in Mr. Dun
bars office and having no family or friends
in the city, had found home with his EN-.
ployer. Even Mt that time season of com.
merclal depression and some unlucky ven.
lures had straitened Mr.. Dunbar's means, and
deepenCd the ruts of care between his eye
brows, and made his manner rougher, and
his voice gTuffer. The board of young Paul
Bradford became a very acceptable addition
to the weekly allowance of Mrs. Dunbar
it bought many pretty furbelow for little
Miss Nelly, and saved her mother many a
troublesome encounter with her liege lord
who sternly declared that he had no money
to spare for ribbons and Rewgaws which, in
deed, was the truth.
But Miss Elinor was now in her seven
teenth year and ribbons and gewgaws were
as needful to her well being as her daily food.
What in the world these two women would
have done without that money from Paul they
could not conceive. 1t was impossible TO dis
Germ any difference in the house expenses with
or without Paul. There was plenty of room
for him the same light and fire and food
did for him as for the rest so that the pre-
cious money seemed altogether extra and
like a boon from heaven to Mrs Dunbar
She was naturally an atfectiouate woman, and
her heart went out to the young man in graf
itude. She taught Elnor to look upon him
as their common benefactor, and the sincere
and honest wheedling of these two gentle
creatures warmed the heart of Paul, and
charmed many an extra five-dollar bill from
his pocket in their behalf. Shortly after
payday there was always to be seen some
new trinket about Nelly's pretty person that
betrayed the generous giver. Paul had plen-
ty of money after that little sum was given to
Mrs. Dunbar, and what more natural than
for him to ask Miss Elinor to take a walk
down the avenue to get some bonbons and
the shop windows being all aglow with gilt
tering merchandise, what more natural than
for the pretty maiden to clap her hands and
utter little musical shrieks of admiration I?
The end of it was, Paul went home with his
purse lightened as well as his heart; but the
best of it was that when payday came again
the one could be made heavy, while the 9th
err remained light The young lady grew
prettier and prettier with each day that came
10 lltIs anu IL Ndb nOl " Dt GA pGCNcu luhl MI
Bradford was the only apprecative person in
that vicinity. young gentleman upon the
block below, who had once been a school
mate of Nellie's and who now attended the
same dancing academy, was known to be
wildly in love with her. But he was only a
lad of nineteen; his mother was a widow and
kept a boarding house for a living, so of
course there could be nothing serious in that
attachment and it really was convenient for
Nelly to have somebody to go with her to the
dancing academy and to the little parties
about the neighbOrhood. Paul was twenty
five years old, exceedingly grave and deco
rous for his age and while he held these juv-
emile recreRtions for Others in high esteem, he
had no desire for them himself So time
went by Paul bought the ribbons and trink-
cts for the dancing lessons, and Nelly and
young Harry Haver waltZed away many hap
py nights at the Academy. On one of these
occasions Elinor was putting the last touches
to her toilet, and young Haver was waiting in
the parlor, when cry of dismay came up
from the dining room, and Elinor, rushing
down the stairs, met Paul coming up. He
caught her in his arms and carried her back
TO her room again
Don't came down, Nelly" he said grave
ly. Your father is very i'll; l am going for
the doctor. Don't come down, dear, till
get back"
When he got back with the doctor, he
found Nelly bending over the white, rigid
lips that never again would growl about bills,
or discounts, or extrayagances. 1t was quite
natural that one of her little hands should be
clnsped in her mothers, but the other one
was held Just as affectionately by young Ha-
YER who stood there by Nelly's side. He
was only lad, and evidently quite overcome
by the sudden calamity. His face was pale,
aud tears were running down his checks. 1t
would not do, of course, to speak harshly to
the boy, but Paul felt that it was no place for
him.
You'd better go home, Harry" he said,
kindly. 1T is best that no strangers should
be here just now"
''Strangers !" repeated the lad fiinging n
fierce look upon Paul but Nelly whispered
in his ear, and pushed him gently away. Har-
nv went, without another word and there
was something in the boys face that made
Paul follow him.
TT is so much better they should be
alone, said Paul.
'Are you going to stay out too ?" said Har-
Eyes, replied Paul.
''Oh /" said Harry and there was a world
of meaning in that little monosyllable 81
beg your pardon, Mr., Bradford, but thought
YOU singled me out as a stranger, you know,
and amt. never can be. I-Pm so very
sorry for Nelly"
$50 am l, said Paul, gravely.
81 love Nelly" blurted out the poor
lad. 81 love her better than any body in the
world"
$50 do l." said Paul gravely and as Har-
nv stood there upon the sill, he gently shut
the door
Paul was pale enough himself when he
went hack to the two bereaved women. He
had left the love of yonder lad upon the door
stem to cool, but what about his own? Sure
lv L had served long enough. Nelly and her
mother would need a protector now. Mr..