The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-08-06

nestr 10 you know the fnmilyP"
Poor Mrs. Grahami She lived here
with her children so comfortably and
happily, two or three dodgers on her
upper floor, until few months aso
she lost everything by the failure of a
banking-house. She had no relatives
in the city; has struggled on, tried to
get boarders, but the location Is too re-
mote; she sees no way but to give IL
up, place her children with friends In
the country, and try to earn liveli-
hood by painting. She is said to be an
excellent artist, though I'm no Judge
myself. These are all her own pictures,
believe. She is shut up In the back
parlor; everything taken out of 1t but
chair. / saw her few minutes ngo.
The tear were running down her
checks, but there she sat, bravely
stitching on her children's winter
clothes, sewing on the last button. and
mending the last stocking poor thing.
There are the little innocents al play
now in the yard"
Mrs. Wiggan herself (although she
had an eye on the best chamber set)
wiped away good generous tear; my
eyes were dim, and I would gladly al
that moment have relinquished the best
bargain in sideboards. Ned, too, the
dear old fellow. looked awfully sorry,
as he gazed meditativcly out of the
window where the bright-eyed little
girl and the boy with fair long curls
were loading dirt into tiny cart with
q miniature shovel. From the floor
above came the sharp ring of the auc-
tioneer's voice:
How much. how muchP Six dol
lars, did you say sevenP Six dollars,
seven dollars-gone at sevenp
The auctioneer descended with his
followers into the front chamber. Be-
fore knew it Ned was there, and in his
impetuous way was bidding in fashion
to astonish the secondhand men. He
swept everything before him; Mrs.
Wiggan, to be sure, stood him little
contest on the set," and / laughed to
see her glare at him, while he was so
absorbed that several punches with my
parasol had no effect whatever. "Was
there insanity in his familyP" l asked
myself. BY the time we reached the
parlor the secondhand men Rad skunk
away, the boarding house keepers looked
aghast. made brave stand for the
sideboard, but it was of no avail; and
indeed most of us sat down leaving Ned
and the auctioneer to themselves. Every
article from the second floor down was
purchased that morning by the distin-
guished stranger.
This amusing turn of affairs rather
confirmed my hopes In regard to Ade-
laide; of course. thought l, he cannot
rid himself entirely of those old recol-
lections; but he knows very well the
sterling worth of Adelaide, and what
a charming, intelligent, devoted wife
she will make.
All had gone but Ned, myself and the
auctioneer. The latter knocked at the
door Of the back parlor. "Come in,"
said a voice, and the burly man swung
the doors aside. The mother was max
ing an effort to rise, but the little fellow
with the fair curls was clingling so
closely about her neck that she could
not readily free herself. AS she arose
and came forward we saw the traces of
tears, the paleness of her face. the trem-
ulOusness of her whole form.
From Ned, who was standing Just be-
hind me, suddenly heard the words:
MY God! is it possibleP" and turning
saw him with face most indescribable
in expression. OF course there was no
doubt about his being out of his mind
too much auction had made him mad.
The auctioneer, after opening the doors,
had been called suddenly away, and we
tHEtc nOW bltOu llcIt-buOSe Two gdZ-
ing at each other. and l at both.
Edwinw mt last said Mrs. Graham;
Edwinr with voice and smile SO
sweet and sad that l did not wonder at
what followed.
Ned's ashen face suddenly flushed all
over. LottIe!" he cried, stretching
his arms toward her, "Lottie, my be-
loved, have / found you againP" and he
clasped her to his heart.
The queerest termination to an arc-
tion! haveseen many in my capacity
of housewife, but never one like this.
Mrs. Graham was the captains daugh-
ter" and the generous impulse of the
honest Californian had restored his old
sweetheart her home-yes, and the
heart of her faithful lover.
mamma" said the little fellow,
shyly, is this gentleman the auctioneer,
and will he take away all our pretty
thingsp"
mo, my darling" said Ned, lifting
the child far above his head, and then
bringing the round cheek to the level
with his own lips, "all your pretty things
will remain, you and mamma too"
"And you, too" said BERTHE. cordially.
IL like you"
And 80 these two, after years of sep
- Ae>eAOAs WSAO OAOaShb sObCbACA d6aAns
And in such an odd manner, tool I
couldn't help thinking how differently
should have managed 1t, had been
writing story instead of acting part
In real life. should have found Mrs.
Graham first, and sympathizingly won
her to tell me the story of her troubles.
OF course she would have mentioned
Ned. and of course should have seen
at o glance that she loved him still.
And then should have been the good
angel to bring them together. and merit
and receive their lifelong thanks, and
instead Of that, here was Barney acting
the part ofthe angel without knowing
1t, and my one q chancellor a romantic
adventure spoiled forever. 1t was
shameful-abominable, and then my
plans for Adelaide and Ned, of course Il
was clear they never could succeed
now. And yet felt delighted.
1 went home leaving Ned at No. 64.
What a heavenly change for Mrs.
Graham! How different from that Of
the morning looked the sunlight OF this
afternoon. Her home intact-her little
ones safely near--the prospect of the
lonely garret faded away like q fright
full dream. And Ned, happy as clam,
for having remembered the widow and
the fatherless. i had them all to dinner
that night. Mrs. Graham is charming,
l win say 1t even II Adelaide dies an
old maid.
There will be wedding soon at No.
"a. have already received as a present
a sideboard much handsomer than Mrs:
Graham's. Barney will be provided
for, and we shall al bless the day that
Cousin Ned went to the auction and
bought up the entire establishment
including a widow and two children
not ON the list.
1t is time for me to look after the din
ner; but 1 thought l must write to you
| this little romance of my humdrum
| life. AS ever your old chum,
--Ehrtch's Quarterly. EMMA.