The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-12-19

strangers. As for the society Oh, she
certainly would not come to it, even If we
should give her special invitation"
Aud none of any sort was given. Un-
doubtedly it would have Jared on Mrs.
Alton to accept such thing from three
or four notable ladies, duly appointed as
| q "committee." But what a pity that
| informally no courteous hint was dropped
that her presence would be welcome when
ever in the future she felt the courage TO
meet the group, and that her absence now
was permitted merely out of loving APP
probation of he private sorrow.
So sped on the summer. Mrs. Alton re.
NAMED yet "to be called upon by Mil.
ton Center, to a degree that would have
shocked at least some OF its first fam-
lies had they realized it. The grave,
interpretive lady at Larkspur cottage
felt panied at her inexplicabe solitude.
She sought within herself for the fault, to
be perplexed at not discovering it. Was
this the rural kindness to the stranger
within ones gates. of which she had read2
Never had she found whole metropolis
80 exclusive-or 80 neglected. Her hus-
band had shared her surprise and her
quietly-developing misconception of social
feeling in the locality. Many, alas, were
the lovely women in Milton Center whose
hearts would have been drawn closely to
Cornelia Atoms had they only exercised
their courtesy in that necessary /" first
call" Mrs. Judge Miner never came by
always meaning to come. Mrs. Yelling
was in the Catskills. Mrs. X, the Y.
family and the Is. were completely &C.
cupied-haven't moment to spare"-
with their successive guests during the
warm weather, for Milton Center was
great place for summer visiting, and the
quiet streets were liveier from July to
October, and DIR. Hills church fuller, than
during all the rest of the year. 1t was
the GOODNESS and beauty of the place that
reconciled Mrs. Alton, in her then mood,
to life there. She sat by the windows in
the afternoon and sewed, or gave herself
up to her boy and girl. Often in the
evenings the derelict in "that call met
her and her husband, accompanied by the
children, taking crepuscular stroll and
courteous bows were exchanged. Two
calls, however, the gentle lady had, that
are worthy of record. Mrs. DR.. Barham
came in state, as do the wives of doctors
not infrequently, in order that people like
the Altons may understand that "my
husband " is quite the old and leading
| physician of the place. Mrs. Alton knew
that before. Mrs. Barham was a restless,
opinionated woman. The lady of the cot
tage was not disposed to progress rapidly
with her acquaintance, thought it might
have been OF use to her.
The other call was from Mrs. General
Cox-in her carriage, one afternoon-in.
spired to the long.deferred courtesy by
the generals remark over his morning
paper at breakfast; "My dear Annabel,
that Alton seems very clever fellow and
his wifes daughter of Jared Elliott of
Boston. l wish you'd drop in there soon."
So the generals wife stopped her horses
aud got ou', and was most gracious to the
pretty, faded lady; even going so far as
patronizingly to ask her to " step in and
take little ride down to the river and
back. 1t will do you good" But un.
luckily Deborah was away and the chill
dren could not be left alone. Mrs. Cox
had not the discernment to obviate the
difficulty. The drive was declined and
before Mrs. Alton could return the call
the general and his wife had unexpect-
eddy gone on long northern trip.
The summer was over. Autumn house
keeping absorbed Milton Center's atten-
ton. Mr.. Alton was unusually engrossed
and obliged to be away from home. 1t
panied him deeply to leave his wife so
solitary; but what could he do? Man.
like, he felt an actual resentment, never
betrayed to his wife, for the course her
neighbors had maintained toward her.
1t stung him in sensitive spot, and he
| unrh nd Apnhlu horA 70 frx,
the family once more to more hospitable
surroundings prospect which his af-
fairs began now to suggest. But the vii.
lage discourtesy was rarely mentioned be-
tween the pair or if Mr.. Alton exclaimed,
on bidding her good morning, "My dear
Cornelia, if l knew that you had single
cheerful friend here who could spend half
this long, lonely day with you" Mrs.
Alton would answer with brave feigning
of indifference, "Oh, never mind, Paul
| shall be better acquainted here by and
by. have you and the children that
is enongb." Bat Cornelia Alton intro.
duced herself into some "circles of
Milton Center. They were not Mrs. Well.
ing's, however. The poor colored woman
who washed for her, the Irish teamsters'
wives, the distressed and infirm early
learned the self-sacrificing and generous
temperament of Cornelia Alton. Lonely
and depressed within herself, she light.
ented the poverty and pain always at
hand. One humble friend she really
made-little Miss Tilt, the tailoress and
dressmaker, who came to regard her as
veritable angel of mercy, and sought out
with her many spot where their joint
ministrations were sorely needed re-
warded with tears and blessing.
1t was in November, just when Milton
Center had the fever OF arrangements"
private and social, secular and religious,
for the coming winter. Several persons
had by this time again recolected that it
was "quite time to call upon Mrs. Alton"
and expected that that duty really must
be performed to evolve its rainbow in their
souls. Then one day came the news that
sorrow had visited her instead of neigh
bors. Her youngest child had died of
some infantile malady, in great agony,
and after days and nights of devoted care
and watching from the mother and father.
Milton Center was somewhat shocked to
learn that little Cora had been i'll almost
a fortnight 1t must have "been very
hard for Mrs. Alton 80 everybody ad-
mitted.
But when 1t came to be positively I'M