Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-01-06

by foreign Governments; just imagine 10 Il
should come to be known that I had been
decorated by my own, though Cas we say 10
the House Of Commons) in another place
had forgotten that Mr.. Mostyn was In the
House. Indeed, that circumstance was mere
ly sort Of pendant or corollary to bis omi-
nent position. He was essentially a man Of
mark, though until that morning, Of course,
had never known how very literally he was
80.
"The question is, DOCTOR" he continued
gravely, "can you take il out p
The phrase he used was ridiculous one
q mark Of that sort was not like the initials
on a stolen pocket handkerchief to be picked
out and smoothed away, and frankly told
him 80.
"The trace of the branding iron is then in
delible, conclude -
He was very cool but noticed his voice
trembled in alluding to the instrument Of his
disgrace.
81 am afraid so. Science-or at least my
science-knows no means of eradicating it,
There is indeed, one method by means of
which your secret may be preserved"
Name it, and then name whatever fee you
please" he exclaimed, excitedly.
'Well, you could be branded again in the
same place with something diiTerent-some
mark of good conduct, for example"
He shook bis head aud put on his hat and
other garments.
Thank you for your obliging offer" he
said, "but have had enough Of that"
1t was obvious that he had quite made up
his mind upon the point, So did not press
it, and we parted excellent friends.
The great financier's visit, even had done
him any good, could, from the nature of the
case, have been Of no advantage to me in the
way Of advertisement and as matters Stood
except for his fee, was not halfpenny the
better for it,
For six months afterward had no patient
of any importance, and almost began TO think
that my studies in tattooing were to have no
practical result whatever. And yet the old
house-surgeon at st. kits hospital, who was
reckoned a sagacious man, had given me this
advice: MY dear Dormer, be a specialist
do not attenuate your intelligence by vague
and general studies apply yourself to one
thing only-the little toe and its ailments
for exsmple-and stick to it,"
One day young lady called to consult me.
She came in hack cab, but saw in a mo-
ment that she was used to a carriage and pair
81 cannot give you my name" she said,
land hope you will do me the favor not to
seek for it.
bowed and assured her that had no vul-
gar curiosity of that kind, though, on the 9TH
er hand it might be necessary, for profess
ional reasons, to be made acquainted with
her circumstances.
My case" she said, smiling, sis scarcely
one to require such revelation. However, my
position in life is good. l am engaged to be
married to gentleman Of title. 1t is on ac-
count Of that circumstance that I am paying
you this visit"
She looked so beautiful and blushed so
charmingly, that if l had not been profess
sional man l should have envied that gentle
man very much. Indeed, l could not help
building a little romance about her in my
own mind; perhaps she didn't like the man,
who, being of title, was permitted by her
family to persecute her with his attentions
and it might be that she was come to me TO
be tattooed in some temporary manner in Or
der to choke him of. Her next words, how
ever, showed that this suppostion was quite
unfounded.
81 love the gentleman, you must under
stand, doctor, very truly, and all my hopes
are centred in him but"-here she began to
stammer in the most graceful manner, like
some lovely foreigner speaking broken Eng
lish-"but, a long time ago" (my visitor was
not more than eighteen at most), "many
years, in fact l formed girlish affection for
my cousin Tom"
That very often happens" said encour-
agingly, for she had come TO a dead stop.
First love is like the measles Except that
you catch it AGAIN., and leaves no trace be-
hind it."
II beg your pardon, she replied; Sin my
case, it left very considerable one."
Perhaps you had an exceptionally tender
heart, l said, turning my hands over in pro-
fessional sympathy; 'such scars, however,
are not ineradicable.
"Quite true" she said land even if they
are, they are not seen, which is, after all, the
main point"
Then l knew, of course that she was
young lady of fashion, and that sentiment
would be thrown away upon her.
The fact is she continued, with some
abruptness, II may confess at once that l
made great fool of myself with Cousin Tom,
and in a moment of mutual devotion we tat
tooed our names upon one another's arms.
In his case it msttered nothing, but as for
me, was very soon convinced of the folly of
such a proceeding"
You quarrelled with your cousin, per-
haps?" l suggested slyly.
"Of course l quaTelled with him; but
whether that happened or not the inconve-
nienee of such a state of things would have
been Just the same. The idea of putting on
ball costume was out of the question with a
big Tom" on my arm, such as sehoolboys
cut on the bark of tree. had to affect a
delicacy of constitution which compelled me
always to wear high dresses. Think of that,
sir"
"a most deplorable state of things"
murmered.
"well, got used to that and might, in
time, have come to regard the matter with
calmness; but, Notwithstanding this compar-
ative absence of personal attractions, have
had the good fortune to secure the affections
of very estimable young nobleman, and
hence the affair becomes much more serious.
Some day or another he is almost certain to
find out that hateful Tom upon my arm"
There is no doubt possibility of it," 1
assented gravely.
"Well, that would be a dreadful blow to
him, I'm sure he is very sensitive and 0light-
ly Jealous; and have come to you TO have
that dreadful word erased"
With that she turned up her sleeve, and on
her white shoulder it was true enough the
word tom" was very legibly engraved,
though fortunately not quite so much at large
as she had led me to expect.
1T does not look to me to have been done
in gunpowder, as usual" observed l after a
careful scrutiny.
'It wasn't" she answered peevishlyi 'it
was done in slate-pencil, which we scraped
together Gdots that we were) on the same
plate"
'Its very well DONE" answered; "that
is, from tattooing point of view May l ask
if the Christian name of your cousin Tom has
any resemblance to that of your intended
husband ?"
mo, not in the least. Why do you ask ?"
"Well, if it had been anything similar
such as John, you see-we might have con-
verted Tom into John, and nobody would
have been any the wiser indeed, the young
man would have taken it as a very pretty and
original compliment"
"That would have been a capital plan" as
sented the young lady admiringlyi 'unfor-
tuuately, however, his name is Alexis"
As substitution was impossible, l was COM
PEELED to try erasure, and even that was
very difficult job. had no idea that pow
dered slate pencil could be SO permanent. In
~ NTH inf of