Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-07-25

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said pointing to the frame, 'and mine to be
confidential. We have n legend in our fam
lily, too My grandfather resided in New
York at the time Of the British occupancy
One of the British officers was quartered up
on him. My grandfather's sister, young
girl, resided with him, and between my
grandfather's sister and the young officer
drama something like that of Hamlet and
Ophelia was acted, for your grandfather-
you must already guessed that it was he--co.
quetted with the poor child and finally left
the country, taking with him the pictured
face that had attracted his fancy, but leaving
the faithful heart that broke at his dssortion
for she ended her days sir, in n mad-house.
My father would never suffer the frame
to be removed from its place upon the wall
1t is very bitter legacy, but one that has
been carefully cherished"
FCathorstonhaugh turned his glittering op-
tics toward Mrs. Decker they were rs pellu-
cid as crystal, but London smoke could not
have been more impenetrable. lie seemed
struck with admiration for the way in which
she had told her story. "You did it much
better than /, ~ be said much better You
put more heart in it,
Perhaps so," replied the little widow with
her most fascinating glance. perhaps l
felt it more"
ItdlutIhlOnIdukh IOst huuutuiN hliN btBhu
drawing on his gloves. ut is a remarkable
coincidence" he said Il never heard of
anything like it. The portrait is yours, Mrs.
Decker will send it around as soon as the
exhibition closes"
"Nour grandfather owed our family more
than the portrait replied the lady signif-
canty
"Ah-yes-Lut excuse me, this part of the
story is quite new to me and do not exactly
see my way clear" which was very true,
for his Eyeglasses had slipped and he was
fumbling at a door which led to a dark closet
under the impression that it opened into the
hall
~ have great notion to propose to that
woman" he said to himself as he walked
down the street "Shc must love me or she
could never talk as she did He was oppo-
site his hotel as he spoke but he walked on
and on until he reached Hettys studio. The
door was locked, and he was turning away
disnppOintedly when he met her in the hall.
"Oh. Mr.. Featherstonhaugh % she e1-
claimed, Il have just been out for you. l
came across a curious old corsage of pink
brocade this morning, and l fancied it was
the one worn by the lady in your picture so
| carried it down to the Academy to see"
Was the garment an heirloom in your
family 7" interrupted Featherstonhaugh
NO, indeed, replied the young girl frank
ly; Il found il at n costumer's, where ! was
poking over a lot Of old stuffs TO find some
thing in which to dress a little page who is to
pose for me tomorrow, and | am very sorry
to say that the pattern on the brocade is ex-
actly the same; indeed, the two bits Of cos
tune are quite identical"
why are you sorry p asked Featherston-
haugh.
Because the costumer tells me that she
bought the corsage in New Orleans; she was
tolerably certain as to the street and the
name of the parties, and have written both
down for you. was sorry because this
seems to remove your search to another
field"
Yes" replied Ftatherstonhaugh, absently
crumpling the addr, IS which she gave him
and thrusting it into his vest pocket.
This does seem to put Il new light on it :"
and he added TO himself as be pursued his
way disconsolately back to his hotel 1T
proves one thing at any rate she can't care
two pins for me, for she had twice rs good
material to work up as the other one"
few days later, feeling quite at loss for
entertainment. he attended Il church festival
Some tablcaux were in progress, and he made
one of the circle standing just outside the
last row of chairs. A lady seated near the
stage in large, white Gainsborough hat, a
hat which completely hid the performance
from at least three people behind her, beck
onod to him with a white feather fan to ap-
proach 1t was Mrs Decker, and he settled
himself rather unyomtortably into the seat
beside her. She began 10 rebuke him yolu-
bly, for his neglect, and her reproaches had a
pleasant sound, for he was homesick and
lonely.
III You will allow me l will see you home, -
he said. Il want to talk to you about-my
picture
Mrs Decker smiled and the white plumes
nodded like the crest of some giant cockatoo,
the little bell jingled, some one at the piano
began to play the Nuptial Song from Lo-
hengrin and just as the music was stealing
over him like a charm the curtain rose and
there was his picture. He could hardly be-
lieve that some one had not taken it from the
Academy walls and placed it on the easel be-
fore him. One moment the illusion lasted,
and then he saw that the maroon drapery
concealed more of the figure, that it was only
Hetty in the rose-colored corsage, with plen-
ty Of old lace about the throat and tiny cap
ON her curls.
Excuse me moment" he said TO Mrs.
Decker, Il will meet you at the door" and
he stepped around to the green room hoping
to speak with Hetty, but the ogress who pre-
sided over these dominiOns would not suffer
him to enter and he returned to the spot
where he had left Mrs. Decker She had
gone and he found to his confusion that he
had lost his faithful eyeglasses. Never
mind, he thought, II can tell that white hat
without them and he posted himself senti-
mel Mt the door.
Ladies came aud went. The greatest lone
luess of all, the isolation that one feels in a
crowd of unfamiliar faces, came over him.
L tBit 20 II.t
ty; blind, hopeless love that would not be
fought down. He was angry with himself
for loving her as lie did what foolishness to
throw away his happiness in fruitless waiting
when here was another woman who he was
sure did love him. He determined to stran-
gle his love for Hetty rs an unmanly weak
ness and to accept the gift which the fates
seemed to offer him.
Just then n dark mantled figure tripped
from the dressng-room, figure surmounted
with u white hat and nOdding plumes.
Featherstonhaugh bowed and dutifully offer
ed his arm, a tiny hand was slipped within ii
and they went out into the night together.
The widow was unusually silent and she was
not looking at him now it made him uncOm-
Portable to be looked at and he determined ia
seize the favorable opportunity. II wanted
TO talk to you about that picture" he
said. Il am willing to waive all further in.
uuiries and to believe it is just as you say, for
YOU know love is blind and l believe you, -
that is l believe l love"
II know YOU love the picture" replied a
clear voice at his side, not the widows but
Hottys, and Featherstonhaugh' heart gave O
leap as he recognized that he was escorting
her home by n happy mistake. Amy one
can see," continued Hetty, that you have
given all the devotion of your nature to thai
..an Nj