Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-04-07
NO. IA.

ed wax, school friends epistles crossed and
recrossed with colored inks. One she kept
to the last. "Cornelia Clarke, what a dear
sweet creature she was Dead and gone this
many year. We were neighbors, and used
to go with her TO dancing parties to practice
the new steps. Why here are the very gar
net clasps 1 loaned her the night she came in
early to put up my hair in the new giraffe
bows We both wanted to look well that
night remember. How we joked one an
other about Mrs Lowders fine London cous-
ins who were to be at her house for the par
ty and l would put on my old purple sati-
nette gown, just to show how little l cared
for any one noticing me. q knew very we'll
how it became me thought After ALL Mr..
Paulett, the rich London merchant, didn't
come, only the sailor cousin, Hugh Lowder.
He had been in the Levant, and we were all
wild about the East and my Lord Byron's
new poem just then, and expected something
so romantic-a hero with big black beard,
and stories of corsairs and veiled beauties of
the harem, and numbering despots of
Pashas.
'It was disappointment TO find only n
big blue-eyed north countrYman, 80 shy and
awkward that the girls all turned up their
noses at him for partner till 1 taught him
the figures, which he picked up in FIVE min
utes, and then he wouldn't ask any one else
to dance with him.
"He came to call on us next day, and
| brought mother little Turkish bag, and So
phia some amber beads. She lost half of
them and saved the rest He had present
for me too, but was so shy about giving it to
me- 1t wasn't good enough, he said, yet it
was worth all the rest, that dear little crystal
and gold flask of altar of roses. How it has
scented everything"
She bent over the tiny box, tenderly touch
ing the shabby old odds and ends, and the
rose scent seemed to rise and fill the room.
And Josiah threw it in the FIRE said he hat
ed the smell, and would have liked to throw
my little box after it. He was angry, all be-
cause he found me crying over fathers wrist
bands. had been stitching them the very
day he was taken ill with the fever that killed
him. 1t was unkind of Josiah, and think
he felt ashamed of himself afterwards, for he
brought my fine new workbox home the very
| next day. II he had known all was crying
about! Not poor father only-I was thinking
of Hugh Lowder. How handsome he looked,
and how kind, when he came in to say good
bye before he went away to sea again He
took my hand, sewing and all q could see the
marks, years after, where 1 had pricked my
| finger when heard him come I'M, and he
ssid-oh, so tenderly - Bella, have you cour-
age to marry poor man, or patience to wait
till l come back a rich one p and 1 had neith-
er. God forgive me, as he has punished me !"
She held the little box tightly in her hands,
her whole figure shaking with emotion. God
| forgive me !" she cried again, and sank for
ward on the table, sobbing among her dis-
| monds.
There was timid knock at the door, but
she did not hear it then another. She rose
from her chair, looking strange and bewilder-
cd, as the door opened softly and Dora stole in.
60, Q,,,l i
out of its prettiness by hard crying, and her
hair in woe e-begone touzle.
Auntie, I've come TO say-please forgive
me if was rude to you this evening, and please
don't leave us! Cor-cor-nelius and l are
not g-going to be engaged any more"
Here came a breakdown and a burst CT
stormy sobbing.
EVERY one says-Tm s-sacrifcing the
whole family by my selhshness, SO I've given
him up-oh! oh! oh!-forever!
Lady Paulett made no sign-only looked
with half-terrifed air at her niece, her old
| lips working nervously.
"But 1 won't marry any one else-never :"
broke out Dora, with sudden energy. 'Tll
do anything else can to please you, auntie.
l can wait and wait and perhaps, he says, if
some day he comes back rich enough to please
you"
You little fool !" broke in Aunt Arabells in
her own sharp tone; then, suddenly changing
to piteous, shaky little voice. "Why are
you all so quick to take up an old womsn's
hasty words? I'm sure I've never been un-
kind to any of you yet. Don't let him go,
Dora. Can't you trust your old auntie
Rich enough TO please me !" Child child I!
to think that some day l might have had to
answer for two more spoiled lives"
Dora looked all wonderment.
''There there go to bed, and if the others
want to sacrifice you to their own interests,
never you mind them. I'll let them know to-
morrow what think of such selfshness" !"
She gently pushed her amazed little niece
out, and shut the door.
Parker, are those letters gomez"
'Yes, my lady"
Then let some one take two kilograms the
first thing tomorrow"
"Yes, my lady"
"And Parker, have you finished packing for
tonight? ?"
eyes, my lady"
Then put everything back in its place di-
rectly. I'm not going"
'Yes, my lady. ."-Temple Bar.