Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-03-05

stairs and into the crowded parors. Macs
nose was high in the air he was dressed in
the finest of broadcloth, while the musical
prodigy, who was now well-grown young
woman, swept along in q rustling white silk
! that the dress-maker wouldn't let Jenny do
even the cOrding for. On they went, and
Jenny's heart sweed big with pride, then
sank with modification, for two fine ladies
near her, leaning upon the arms Of good
looking gentleman, began all at once to cavil
at poor Jenny, who had never in her whole
life said evil of anybody.
"The mamma appears to he invisible, said
one of them. "They say she is shut up in
the coal hole upon these occasions: and no
wonder when one thinks Of the blunders of
| the poor creature"
Perhaps she's in the Kitchen" said the
other 1--WE heard that is where Mr.. Mac
Neil first found her"
Then up spoke the good -natured.looking
gentleman, and said that if she could make a
good ragOut there her husband ought to rise
up and call her blessed, for it was a finer ac-
complainant than any he could remembers
and one thing was certain, she was far
prettier woman than most of them there that
night
A little later on, one of their old friends.
the wife of a journeyman printer, in the dear
old neighborhood Of the forsaken nest, WAS
startled by the appartion Of a comely face,
dear TO the olden time of morrment and
song. but now blurred with tears and the
tale she told, Mrs. NJ Shane anticipated every
word Of
My poor bairnie, she said II knew how
twould be when | saw Macs way of going on.
His stuck-up airs and his talk about strophes
and symphonies and outlandsh heathenisms
boded no good. But 80 long AZ have a roof
you shall share it,
But Jenny was independent and soon got
situation far above the one in which she first
saw her husband. As luck would have it the
old rooms were just vacR.,d d. Mrs NJ Shane
had most Of the old furniture so, before the
month was out Jenny was back in her nest,
but sick at heart, and sometimes ,ady TO die.
In the meanwhile We must run back
month TO the scene Of festvity, where we left
Mac with his head high in the air, and the
skirts of the musical prodigy trailing full
yard behind her. Neither of them missed
Jenny till the splendid repast WAS ready, and
the guests were not disconsoate for the soci-
ETY. of their hostess But now, indeed, it
was time for Jenny to take her rightful place
and with many un inward prayer that she
would be as little unequal to the occasion as
could be expected Of her, and resolve to
caution her only to speak when necessary,
and u certainty in his heart that she would at
least be pleasant 10 look upon, Mr. Mac Neil
in vain and two or three Of the servants not
being able to find her Mr.. Mac Neil, in high
disploasure, sent Shiol off with an immed diate
order for her pertnIptory appearance before
him. Shiel hunted high and low, and came
back TO his partner with wild look of alarm
in his face, and his now scanty locks almost
on end.
Shes clean gone not a sign of her :"
he said.
MacNeil was more mad than grevod, for
he knew she'd come in, he said, at the fag-
end of the feast and spoil every thing. She's
run out somewhere for something" said poor
Mac, little thinking of the nature of her er-
rand. He made all apt excuse to his daugh-
ter, and the supper went on successfully.
Poor Shiel ate never mouthful and his face
was as white and blank if he bad seen a
ghost but nobody minded Shel In truth.
Macs own appetite was a little frustrated,
and AS the night wore away he was heartily
glad to zee the people trooping out to their
carriages. When all were gone, little up
stairs maid who had always been civil TO
poor Jenny, put little note into Macs hand
saying that her mistress told her not to give
it to him till the festivity was over. Mac
opened it with a trembling hand, and cad
poor Jenny's scrawl;
I'm gone for good and all, dearie. For
long time I've seen that you and my darling
child were beyond me in everything. l can
never grow up to you; so please forgive me
if stop by the way God bless and prosper
you is the prayer Of your faithful
JENNY"
Mac handed it over to Shie and dropped
in chair as if struck by an unseen hand
The air was a little heavy with the breath of
his artistic guests who had Just departed, and
the scent of the eXotics sickened his nostrils
the big blaze OF light grew dim about him,
and all he could see for that weary minute
was the sweet face Of young English girl he
had known and loved almost beyond his
strength long time ago.
Shiel had read the note for the sixth time,
his face growing more and more distracted
and imbecilc, and had begun to read it over
again, when Mac cried out, in broken voice.
Gould any villain be at the bottom of this.
Shiel could any one have tampered with
her loyaltyf"
Never" cried Shiel, Indignantly 'Tn
answer for that with my life. know how
foolshly faithful she was-never an eye or
an ear for anybody else. l know that by
experience. Many's the time I've tried to
console her myself for your indifference"
MY what :" roared poor Mac,
Your indifference and neglect, Sir"
cried Shiel, now aroused to the pitch of reck-
lessneSs. She was a pearl of purity and
sweet simplicity, but she was cast before
swine, Sir"
"Shel, you were always more or less OF a
fool" groaned Mac, "and now you're clean
daft" But he listened to Shiel as he went On
to give him piece of his mind, and took
heart as he gathered in the evidence of Jen-
ny's wounded love. She'll be back before
twenty -fours, said Mac, 'and Wen all be the
happier for this little bout"
A whole week passed away, and no Jenny
came to lift the weight from Macs heart.
Shiel advised him to secretly consult the po-
lice, at which Mac first revolted, then sue
cumbed but with no success A fortnight
went by, and even Shel forgaye every fault
of Macs, so deep and sincere were his sor-
row and penitence. The musical abstraction
of Miss Jean served in a measure 10 mitigate
her grief, and an eminent professor had of
fered her the warmest sympathy and conso-
lation a man can offer but poor Mac hated
the thought or sound of music now and
would have no commseraton save that of
Shel which, indeed, partook of so unwcaried
a nature that Mac clung to it as a drowning
man will to straw.
At the end of month Shiel declared that
journalism was the only thing left to them
lie had held it, he said, AZ a dfrRier resort
not wanting TO set the tongues of the world
that Jenny so hated waggng in her behalf
but her cruel obstinacy had let them no al
tentative.
II see" said Mac-'the personal column
in the Herald. Make it as agonizing as you
can, Shiel God knows it can't hold misery
enough. Tell her to come back and rule ev-
cry hing manage the money aud the bust
ness, smash the piano, and forbid jeans mar
riage to the professor and tell her Shie
the house is 'cauld without her, and my heart
wearies sair.'" Aud here the tears rolled out
of his eyes, and a lump in his throat stopped
his speech
Nonsense, man." said Shiel. Call you
that journalism Listen here, Sir, to the
cunning touch of genius, the lever that moves
the world" and he read foth to the despOnd-