Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-07-21

What IL Frank should bo III, dying he was
always delicate and the life which he must
have been lately leading must have tried him
sorely.
What long way of was her destination
how slowly was the carriage moving She
called to the coachmon to drive faster, but he
answered that he was going at greater rate
than usual the neighborhood was crowded,
he dared not increase his pace.
At last they emerged from the more crowd
ed thoroughfares into a closely interlacing
network of small streets to the right, round
by the left TO the right again then the car
riage stopped before a dingy block of high,
narrow-windowed houses. Mrs. Pierrepoint
felt her color coming and going, and her
heart beating faster aud faster she got out
and told the man TO drive on then she knock
ed steadily at a crazy door with a great chalk
2 marked on it. A little pause, which seemed
an age, the sound of scuffle within, followed
by the heavy tramp Of advancing footsteps,
and in another moment Minnie found herself
face to face with a worn-out, sullen-looking
woman who stood in silent wonder before
her.
"The Rev. Mr.. Quornham lives here, be-
lieve Z" said Mrs. Pierrepoint in her most
conciliatory tones.
The womans naturally sullen expression
gathered deiniteness there was suspicion
and hostile questioning in her glance as she
said shortly, Yes"
81 wish to see him" Minnie went on, with
q continued effort at extreme suavity Of man
ner.
The woman put her hands on her hips, aud
looked uncompromisngly at the dainty figure
before her. Don't know if you can see i'm,
I'm sure, gently busy bout this time"
''But wish to see him very particularly
on very urgent business, in fact, said Minnie,
controlling her irritation, but speaking half
note higher than before
"'s not had is tea yet-'e never makes
much Of dinner, so give i'm 3 tea early"
The woman spoke defantly, yet with q GER
tain undertone of protectiveness and grim
tenderness which the other distinctly felt
"But will you please tell Mr.. Quornham
that l am here" There was a deeper flush on
Mrs. Pierrepoints face, softer brightness in
her eye-every one it seemed loved Frank,
even this hard, worn-out creature.
The woman closed the door then, with
out word, led the way up the dark, narrow
stairs which creaked and shook at every step.
On the second story she stopped before door
and knocked.
No answer. "E's not there. I'll tell i'm
you've come" painted the sullen janitress, at
the same time showing the visitor into the
room, and slamming the door upon her.
Minnie was not sorry for the respite now
that the moment had come for which con-
sciously or unconsciously she had shaped the
latter part of her life, she felt vague fear a
terrible anxiety, though deep down in her
heart lay the certainty of success, difusing
strange happiness through all her doubts.
She glanced around her with tender scrutiny,
and her eyes filed as she noted the pathetic
| little attempts at refinement amid the utter
| poverty of the surroundings. The room was
rather large, but miserably fitted and fur
nished, yet somehow it was stamped with the
unmistakable mark Of culture and refinement.
| The patched window was open, and the scent
of mignonette was waited in from the pots on
the sill two or three fine engravings hung
| on the wall, (one she remembered with a
thrill, she had given him y there was set of
| book shelves with their own well-worn books,
many of them those little brown backed, red
| leayed volumes, of which she had been rather
| jealous in the old days; on the table was a
blue vase with creamy flowers in it, one OF
which had fallen on an open volume of ''The
Earthly Paradise"
Footsteps sounded outside, then the handle
| Of the door turned her heart beat faster and
faster; only by a mighty effort did she raise
her eyes to the tall figure advancing toward
her.
Some people said, speaking of him not
wholly admiringly, that Frank Quornham was
| like a lily and the simile was not altogether
| ill-chosen. Something in the lines of the tall,
slight figure, in the curve of the exquisitely
graceful neck supporting the fine, fair head
with its pale face and long, delicate features
might have suggested the most graceful of al
| flowers but there the resemblance ceased
there was no hower-like weakness or mere
sweetness in the mans strong, grave face
with its well-controlled lips and deep-set
eyes.
He came slowly toward Mrs. Pierrepoint
who rose and stood calm and pale before him
A faint, almost imperceptible flush spTang fo
an instant to his cheek, but slight and heetin(
as it was, she saw it, and gave it her own in
depreciation.
Mrs Pierrepoint, he said, bowing gravely
''this is an unexpected pleasure"
Minnie's thought was, "How dreadful,
pale and thin he is looking" her word
were:
'You sec it is a case of Mohammed and the
mountain. You did not come to see me, so
have come to see you" She spoke lightly ant
with strict impersonalty, carefully steering
clear of the familiar Frank" and the forma
"Mr. Quornham."
Frank was puzzled. "Pray sit down, b
said, indicating chair, and speaking witt
marked formality.
Minnie obeyed, feeling somehow a littl
chill and frightened; she had told hersel
over and over again that such would be he
reception-her fear had no solid foundation
was only the recurrence of a certain feelin
of something like awe which she had alway
had for Frank, even in the days when she hat
tyrannized over him.
81 did not know where you lived, till tn
other day. when the Dean told me-" sh
said; cit must be great change after Trim
ity."
Eyes; indeed. College is the little bit q
poetry which comes into SO many otherwis
prosaic lives. 1t is something to store up i
ones memory"
81 eau quite think it one must need
great many pleasant memories in WhitechaE
, ell"
"Though even Whitechapel is not Without il
, charms, when one comes to know them"
81 think it would take me a long time
find them out" said Minnie, with a littl
laugh. She was wondering how she coul
a give the conversation a less impersonal turr
: for she felt that very soon the tumultuous il
! ner emotions must burst through the outC
, crust of oomposure.
: There was little pause. Mr.. QuornhaI
, leaned back in his chair, rather wearily Mr.
? Pierrepoint tapped the ground inpatient
with her foot. She had meant to be cautious
TO lead up to the denoument very slowly an
: carefully, feeling her ground at every step
|, but she had miscalculated her own strength
she could bear the silence, the coldness 1
. longer she must set at rest the wild desir
a aud terrors raging in her bosom. For m
J. ment she buried her face in her hands; the
q clasping them tightly together and lookir
v straight at the young man, she spoks in
clear, high voice;
|, II daressy you are surprised at seeing n
y here to-day, Frank, after all that has happe
: ed If il were TO any other than yourself
y any one less great and noble, should n
; have come. 1 have been very cruel, ve
Il wicked-but remember 1 was young and i
y experienced Oh Frank, wont you forgi
# me wont you give me back what you offer
a mo once, aud threw away 80 blindly
A You were willing then to take my worthle
y | self now l offer YOU my worthless self and {