Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-05
years brought troubles innumerable TO the
kind old man.

Hannah stood in the doorway tossing corn
TO fororn little colony Of chickens Twenty
years had not improved her in any respect
she was gaunter, bonier and more vinegar
faced than ever.
ayes" said she, slowly, ",and perhaps you
don't remember that it was Just twenty
years ago to-day that you threw ten dollars
away on that woman and her child. | told
you then, you'd end your days in the poor
house, and don't see but what my predic-
tion is likely to come true. Didn't | say
you would live to repent it p
al won't deny, Hannah" said the old
man, "but that I've done a good many
things I've been sorry for-we amt none Of
us perfect you know, wife-but that is not
one of them. No, never for a minute re-
pent being kind to the widow aud the
fatherless."
Hannah shrugged her shoulders, but made
no answer. "Didn't you say you were going
up to see that rich lawyer about the five
thousand dollar note to-day ?" she asked.
"Yes, but don't s'pose it'll be much use.
II he'd wait little I'd do my best TO please
him. Jones says he'll be sure TO sell the old
place from over our heads, however; they
tell me he's a hard man. | mean TO explain
TO him Just how the matter stands and"
al told you how it would be long ago"
vexation. "What on airth ever possessed
you to sign for Jesse Fairweather 2"
al s'posed he was an honest man, and
wouldn't see an old friend wronged."
Fiddlestick That's Just your calcula-
ton, Job There, Zeke has brought the
wagon do start off, or you'll be too late for
the New York train !" And Job meeky
obeyed only too happy to escape from the
endless discord of his wife's railing tongue.
The rays of the MONDAY sun streamed
brightly through the stained glass easements
of Mr.. Everleigh's superb Gothic library.
The room was decorated with every appurte-
nance of wealth and taste. Velvet chairs,
with tall backs of daintily carved rosewood,
were scattered here and there marble vases
occupied inches beside the doorway, and the
rarest pictures hung on the paneled and
gided walls But the prettiest object of all
the one which the rich lawyer oftenest
raises his eyes from his writing to contem-
plate with an involuntary smile of pride and
affection-was a lovely woman in white
cashmere morning robe, trimmed with white
velvet, who stood opposite, arranging flow
ers in bouquet. She wore spray of ber-
ries, carved of pink Neapolitan coral at her
throat, and tiny pendants of the same rare
stone in her small, shell-like ears, and the
slender waist was tied round with bright
pink ribbon.
"There, Walter, isn't that pretty ?" she
asked, holding up her completed bouquet
"Very " pretty" he answered, looking not at
the roses and geraniums, but directly at the
blue eyes and golden curls of his beautiful
young wife.
"You are not even noticing it," she said.
Because | see something so much better
worth looking at" he said playfuly.
do you really love me so very much ?"
she asked throwing down the flowers, and
coming round to his side. "Oh, Walter, if
mamma could only have lived to see how
happy we are"
There was a knock at the door. Mrs.
Everleigh slipped from her husbands arm
with the prettiest blush in the world, and
was very busy with her flowers when the
rich lawyers fright hand man put his
grizzled head into the room.
"The old man wants to see you about that
Fairweather business"
"Show him in. Don't look so disap.
pointed, love-" he said, as the grizzed head
: disappeared -" I shall not be detained three
, minutes, and the horses are at the door,"
Mary Everleigh never troubled her pretty
, little head about business matters, so she
never even looked up as the halting sound OF
old Mr.. Raynesford's crutch echoed on the
carpet. But the instant he spoke she started
as if an arrow had smtten her, aud stood
with her large eyes diated, and her slen-
L, der hands clasped together, listening as
D intently as though her life depended upon
( hearing every word The old man was
r pleading and sorrowful-her husband po-
ltely innexioie' At iehgth ooo hayhesioro
T turned to go.
wen, SIT, ne SAID IN suouueu uone,
81 don't know much ABOUT law ana law
, ooohs, ou. ~ uoes seem ua'u 'le. au oiu
' man should oe turned OUT Oh tne nome 'naS
: mas sheltered MN lor siA1y years, anu al
= lor no iauit OF ms OWL Iney say you are
a very rlch gentleman slr-nVe thousanu
dollars may seem small sum 10 you' out IL
Is my all
Mrs Everielghs sott voice oroKe the mo
mentary silence that succeeded thIs appear.
waiter come mere one mihute-l want 70
speak 10 YOU
lie ooeyed' somewhat surprised sne GREW
him into deep recess OF stained glass pay
, WINDOW, and, standing there with the rosy
, and amber shadows playing ABOUT her ioteiy ts
prov, IKE some pictureu SAINT sue Ioiu nun
e now twenty years ago. wearied child ana
It's mother were fed ana sheitered oy kino
hearted stranger now he had gwen tnem
money ana kind wishes wneh 1ney were ~
! terly alone and desoiate IN the wide world.
But, my love- what mas s all this 70 do
with my business matters Z ,
Much, Walter am that little chiid
You, my dearest
81, my husoand ana Tue nooie man wno'
! l am persuaded, saved my NE that nlght,
/, stands yonder, Win gray oowed mead ana
. sinking heart
Mary you must surely De mistaken
i, ~ eannot oe mistaken, Maite[ / ISM snouia a',
know MIN among thousand lou SAID you
|, loved me this morning-now grant me one
; little boon
What Is H. dearest
"Glye me that note ne spoke OIL -
Mr. Eyerielgh silently went 70 small
ebony cabinet, unlocked IL, ana GREW out
! folded paper, which ne placed IN her nands'
She gllded up TO the OLD man. VINO mad oeen
gazing out oil window In sort OF revere,
I, and laid her soft hand hand on his arm DO
you remember the little goiden,haired Mary
whom you found with her mother, wearled
out on the roadside twenty years ago
"Do l remember her, lady IL was but
this very morning was recalling the scene
And don't you recognize me she sad
smiling up into his lace, as she drew back
the dropping curis' 81 am iittie mary
! lie stood IN oewiidered silencei all OF
sudden the truth seemed 10 preaR upon MN,