Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-12-05

did in such a clear, business-like way that the
merchants became especially Interested in
her. She ordered with discrimination and
taste, making several new suggestions to them.
This woman is a born trader" said the
senior partner you see II she doesn't work
up first rate business /" and he sent Jenny
commendatory letter, which, with groat
pride, she forwarded at once to her uncle
At the end Of three months she had worked
her way slowly home again. She had prom.
ised to be at home for Christmas and she
! would not break her promise But she was
impatient to be of. The taste she had had
of independence and travel had but whetted
her appetite, aud after two weeks holiday she
set off again, this time going south as far as
Nashville, and as far west a. st. Louis. The
! summer she spent in the northern lake states
and in New England. She had purpose in
thus rapidly extending her circuits. She
| wished her aunt andunce to grow so accus-
toned to her being at a great distance from
| them that they would not be startled at her
| plans for the following year. Jenny was re-
solved that another year should see her in the
Rocky Mountains. "Once there" she said
to herself, am sure l can keep on to Cali
forna but won't say anything about that
at first"
Her relations with the New York house
we're now 30 assured that they trusted her
with all she desired. She had but to telegraph
to have box of such and such articles ut any
given point on given day, and she always
found it there awaiting her. Some of her
most profitable business was in taking specific
orders for articles too valuable for her to
carry about in her boxes These orders were
instantly honored.
1t was past midsummer when Jenny sue
ceeded in reaching her goal in the Rocky
Mountains. 1t was ths little watering place
of Minitou, in Colorado, at the foot Of Pixies
Peak. She had travelled slowly, having found
an astonishing demand for her goods in towns
both large and small in Missouri and Kansas.
But she was not too late for MAnitou Its
four hotels and all ts boarding houses were
crowded to overaowing. 1t had been on of
the gayest seasons ever known there and
promised to last we'll into September.
1t was the sixth day of Jenuy's stay at Man
itou. Already the erect, energetic little fig
ure, with its plain gray serge gown and broad
hat was well known by sight at the hotels
and already, as usual, Jenny had made friends
among her patrons. There seemed a sort of
magic in the way her confidiug trust in every
body's goodwill disarmed the usual sntago-
nism toward peddlers That's what am
a peddler :" she would say. "Some folks ask
me why don't call myself something else
Travelling saes-womHn! ! but peddlers short.
est. If people won't like me by that name,
they won't by any"
large party was setting of for the ascent
of Pixies Peak. Little Jenny stood on the
piazza, black morocco box in hand, watching
them wistfully. She had Just made a big
sale of lsces to one of the richest guests in
the house, and she was thinking to herself,
Now if only knew somebody to 60 with,
l could afford to hire horse and CO."
Look at the little lace girl" said this lady
to her husband. See how she wants to go
too"
Well, why shouldn't she ?" said he.
Il don't suppose she knows any one to go
with, replied his wife.
Nonsense said he anybody that wants
to goes in these Pixies Peak parties. That
girl can take care Of herself anywhere. Ask
her If she doesn't want to CO. I'll make Que
of the guides wait for her.
What" exclaimed Jenny. Just as
am l haven't got any other gown-except
my black silk, " she added, shyly.
I'm lend you a skirt. Come quick to my
room" exclaimed Mrs. Sanders, while her
husband beckoned to one of the guides, and
sent him to the stabls for another horse.
Jenny thought she was in a dream. Before
she fairly knew what had happened she was
cantering off on a good pony, commended to
the special care of the guide by kind Mr.
Sanders, who had said:
Now remember, Mac, this young lady is
stranger here. She knows no one in the
party. You look out for her, and bring her
safe back"
THAT will SIR" answered Mac, gazing
approvingly at Jenny's glowing face as she
thanked Mr. Sanders. And then turning to
him, she exclaimed, warmly,
'And thank you too, Mac, beforehand, for
| taking care of me-"
1t was a large party, but there was not a
man or a woman in it who so keenly enjoyed
the beauty of that wonderful upward path
as did Jenny Connard.
As they reached plateau after plateau, with
fresh outlooks over the plains, or glimpses
down into grand ravines where pine-trees
looked like bushes, tears of delight filed Jen-
| ny's eyes. No one spoke to her, but she did
not think of feeling herself alone. In de-
scriOing the ascent atterward, she said,
81 never once thought about being alone,
any more than l should in heaven"
But as they neared the top Jenny began to
| feel strangely ILL., Few persons can without
suffering breath, the rarefed cir of fourteen
thousand feet above sea-evel, and to many it
is dangerous. Poor little Jenny proved to
| be one of the latter class. Her head swam
a sickening sense Of weakness overcame her.
Mac" she called, family, Il am afraid 1
| am" and the next thing she knew she
found herself lying on the floor of the Signal
Service hut on the top of the Peak, her head
| on Macs knees, and some one pouring
| brandy down her throat.
As she opened her eyes, the same swoon-
ing sensation seized her again II must be
dying" thought Jenny, who bad never in her
| life tainted. Her next thought was, who
will see to sending the laces back ?-Will you
please write down something for me ?" she
gasped to the stranger who was bending over
her. ~ am sure l must be dying"
'Oh no, miss" he said; you are only
faint"
| n,. No ba cold 70 Tsnny sorL of into on
much more serious a swoon that he was not
sure. 1t was terrible. From one swoon into
another she sank, until finally it was thought
| the wisest way to carry her out of the house
and lay her on the ground. Here the wind
revived her.
please WRITE" she gasped my name
and my uncles are on a card in my purse"
(The wise little creature always carried these
| as a precaution in case of disaster "Please
-tell-Mr. Sanders-box from Aiken q
Wheeler's-laces-wil come-express-to-
morrow. Send back"-and she was gone
again.
As she said the words Aiken & Wheeler's,"
the young man who was bending over her
started, and muttered, "By Jove, that's
strange!"
DO you know 'em, sir ?" whispered Mac.
The young man nodded. Then, speaking
very loud, he said in Jenny's ear 81 belong
to that firm myself. I'll see it's ali right"
A grateful look came into Jenny's eyes
she tried to smile but had not strength;
whiteness like death spread over her face,
and her gasps for breath we're fearful to see.
There is but one thing to do" said Mac.
''She can't breath this air we must carry her
down-even few hundred feet lower down
she may come to. I've seen one lady this
way before. You lead the horse, sir, and
well carry her."
So, in the arms of the two guides, the un-
conscious Jenny was carried down the path
on which she had few hours before set out
with such gayety of heart As Mac had pre-
dicted, she was relieved after a short descent
so much SO that she was able to sit on her
horse, being steadied by his arm, and with
Mac on one side, and her new acquaintance
on the other, with long intervals of rest, she
was at last carried safely back to the hotel
only, however, to be laid in her bed, from
which she did not rise for many days. Her
system had received a terrible shock, from
which it did not easily rally. The story of
her illness and courage, and her touching at
tempt when she thought herself dying to Sc
crre the safety of the goods intrusted to her,
spread through the hotel, and little Jenny
found herself a heroine and the fashion.
Mrs Sanders took her AZ Onoa under her