Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-14

feelings on the subject, alter ne nau maue
the acquaintance OF the aristocratic lady he
afterwards married.
In due time our young couple tired oil
boarding, so housekeeping was the next
thing on the programme. OF course moth
ing less than "a three-story marble-front
would suit 4" my lady," and of course it must
be on fashionable street where property
was very expensive. After some search
| Just the right place was found, and no one
| but the former owner knew that two-thirds
| of its so-called value remained in the form
| of mortgage.
Charles had been making money very
| fast, and being generous and also very hon
| orable, he had contrived to crafty Lucys
extravagant tastes without encroaching on
the principal of her money; but when 1T
came to furnishing the new house, her wants
were so numerous and her ideas so grand,
| he was obliged, when the exorbitant bills
were presented, to pay them from her money,
she consenting to it, and owning in her own
name the furniture.
"Charles, how much did your furniture
cost ~ said his uncle who had called to see
the new house and learn how his nephew
was getting on.
mot much inside Of ten thousand dollars,
uncle 1t beats all how much these women
| can put into house"
"Well,' said Lucy, ait is my own
money"
"How many servants are required to keep
the house in order ?" said uncle Charles.
WE'LL we have cook, of course, laun-
dress, and then Lucy's maid. Lucy could
| not get along without her, you know"
at must cost you over five thousand to
run your establishment, not counting inter
est on the value of the property"
al suppose il does, but have not counted
all the expenses yet, uncle"
"Well, Charles, advise you to count the
cost, then strike balance and see If you
are getting enough happiness out of this
great expenditure to make it pay. | also
advise you to be laying something aside for
a rainy day, my boy"
go dear " said Lucy, after the door was
closed on old Mr.. Leslie, Z" would as soon
review the first four rules of arithmetic,
with fractions thrown in, as to have a visit
from your uncle, Charles; he is such cal
culator. Cost Cost Cost hate cacu-
lations. l never could bear arithmetic at
school, and it makes me dreadfully nervous
to have to calculate"
dwell, you will have less interest to cal
culate another year, my dear; less money to
spend as well as to count, and some one must
do deal Of calculating and counting to sup
port this establishment | am afraid to
strike the balance which uncle Charles men
toned, lest | should be convinced that it
does not pay" said Charles Leslie with
weary air, as he surveyed the beautiful
things with which he was surrounded.
Time passed on, and Charles Leslie had
been married five years. The elegant house
for it was never home-had brought
them nothing but trouble; for live as ele-
gantly and extensively as they might, Mrs.
A. or Mrs. b. outdid them, and Lucy's am
bition was to be first and foremost.
Lucy was fine singer, but she had been
too indolent since her marriage to keep her
voice in practice, though Charles was very
fond of hearing her sing. OF late, however,
some one had proposed having a series of
musical soirees. Lucy was pleased with
anything new, and had taken great deal
of pains to prepare herself by practice, to
sing on these occasions. The first soiree
proved great success
Through these musical exercises Lucy
was introduced to an Italian count who rep
resented that he was acquainted with her
sister who still resided in Paris. From sing
ing so much together he had gradually be-
come her frequent attendant to places of
amusement.
At first Charles, who was not in the least
Jealous, was relieved at being excused on
these occasions; but lately having heard
some very ill-natured gossip on the subject,
he had warned Lucy who refused to pay
any attention to his advice. This, with the
fact that business did not go as smoothly as
formerly had made Charles very unhappy.
Money matters grew worse and worse.
Every Investment made proved a poor one
the tide had fairly turned, and Charles Les
lie did not know where to raise the money
for daily expenses. In his great perplexity
Charles went to his blunt old uncle to borrow.
al II gladly lend you what you may need,
my boy, but will it pay?" said the good
hearted uncle. "Come let us look the mat
ter over"
After thorough examination, uncle
Charles said to his nephew,
"You see you have made great mistake,
and all the money you borrow and put In
will be so much more lost"
Charles did not know how to break the
news to his wife, so uncle Charles undertook
the disagreeable mission. He told her that
her money was safe and the furniture was
hers, but the house must go; for, with the
change in the times, Charles could no longer
do profitable business, but that he must
work on a salary again.
When Charles came home there was
another terrible scene. Lucy felt that she
had been deceived in Charles entirely; she
never even gave him credit for his many
good qualities, and said over and over again,
al wish we had never met"
Charles only answered, ave made great
mistake"
Finally Lucy decided to sell the furniture,
take her money and go to Europe. She
said she could never hold up her head in
/ NaU Yark anain Charles and biu upcla
postulated with her, but to no purpose. She
went; and the count, it was afterwards as
certained, sailed on the same steamer. .
| Poor Charles, when the end of his grand
career came, was sick with fever for weeks,
but was kindly cared for in his uncle's plain,
old+fashioned home, and on his recovery
was glad to take a place in the store again
on very moderate salary.
Lucy did not go to her sister, and for
long time Charles could get no clue to her
whereabouts. But about three years after
her departure he received letter from
sister of charity in Florence, asking aid for
Lucy who was sick and almost dying, and
whose own sister had refused recognition or
relief. AS the sister of charity gave satisfac-
tory reference in New York, Charles with his
uncle's help sent every month sufficient sum
TO defray Lucy's expenses, for his uncle said :
| " one Is not SO mucn 10 DIANE as are tne
fashionable follies and the false system OF
education which have dwarfed her woman
hood and made but a toy of what should
have been a sensible woman. You can real
ize from the fact of her own sister refusing
even to recognize her, the utter heartlessness
and selfshness which this style of life en-
genders; still SO many are expanding all
their energies to be fashionable"
Lucy lived only few months after the
kind sister of charity wrote She seemed
truly grateful for the kindness shown, and
often before she died she said, " l have made
great mistake"
In after life it was a great comfort to
Charles Leslie that he had been able to make
the last hours OF his poor, mistaken wife, a
little less wretched; for he was ever con-
scious that the nrst mistake was on his part
in marrying as hs did.-Selected.
| Any Cow YOu Want.