Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-01-25

proportions and corresponding prices. Their
simple supper and the price Of the hack took
all the landady's share Of his money The
agouizing question propounded itself to the
Professor, could marriage be oonsummat.
ed in this country for two dollars and half 2"
BLESS you, yes !" said the party he ven
tured TO confidently address, "You don't pay
in advance, you see. There's where youve
got the dead wood on EN- !"
Tho Professor shuddered to the marrow Of
his bones with the misery ontailed upon him
by his accursed poverty. On looking back
upon it afterward he confessed that the pre-
liminaries to his marriage could only be lik.
ened TO an experience with the hangmau or
the block-he was 80 humiliated, oppressed,
terrified. II was necessary to have a private
interview with the clergyman, even apart
from his beloved Betty. There we're secrets
to be divulged only to the clerical ear. Betty
begun to wonder at all this skulking aud Sc
crecy, but she loved Aohille with blind, un.
reasoning love. When the Professor emerged
from the confabulation with the priest he was
new man. The priest was an Irishman and
a gentleman he did the service for nothing
used the Coloneps ring by way of economy,
and actually lent the bridegroom two dollars
aud a half That made the FIVE dollars in
tact again-it seemed like Providence.
But the next day dawned wet and ominous-
ly gloomy. few little extras ate into bis
capital again, and be had a morbid horror Of
seeing the five dollars diminish. He went
out in the afternoon, resolved to earn money
in any way that honorably offered itself, en-
bracing his beloved Betty, and leaving her to
her case and reflections. These were by no
means satisfactory. Her muslin robe was
torn little, and draggled about the Aqunces !;
the ruff ng at the neck began to wilt and
lose all impression Of the crimping iron
How could she go down to the table in that
conspcuously slattsrnly robe, and what would
she do as it became still more unpresenta-
bic; She had no gloves for her hands her
hat was one Of coarse old straw half high
buskns did not serve to hide her already
soiled stockings Tears OF penitence, of pity
for herself and the wretched man she had
dragged with her into this vortex rolled out
of her eyes down upon her folded hands.
Her sight, mechanically following these, fell
suddenly upon the gem that sparkled upon
her finger, that blazed with all the colors Of
the FIRE works on Fourth Of July, in the
ring Of the good Colonel Jones.
Now behold a happy woman She arose
and skipped about the room in an ecstacy
of relief and joy. She wept; she fell
on her knees aud prayed God to forgive her
all the misery she had brought upon 30 many
hearts. Then she arose, refreshed aud sub
dued aud chastenel. and flew to the bell.
She gained a conference with a good natured
servant of the establishment who had al
ready been kind to her She was directed
to jeweller of good repute.
but il be offers you fifty" said Betty e
adysor-"for they're all skins and swindlers
say you'll take hundred, and split the
difference at seventy five
In the mean while the Professor had walk
.H al a., 90 tha
heavens opened, the rain fell, the wind blew
upon the wretched man, turning his umbrel
Ia inside out, and drenching him to the skin.
In vain did he offer his services for mere
pttancs in ell the capacities and they were
many-for which he was honestly fitted. As
the gloomy day waned, tired to his heart's
core di,heartened, aud on the verge of des
pair. this poor bridegroom went back to bis
bride. At the door he was met by the good
natured employG who had already been OF
such service to Betty and himself. The man
beckoued him aside.
There's party within there that's been
waiting for you an hour or more, sir; and
heard them say in the Office he's detective
A priest came with him"
The Judas" murmured the Professor
'he's betrayed me :"
Very likely, SIR" said the servant but
the Professor had already given one shudder
ing glance into the room aud buried on. H,
leapsd up the stairs two at a time, and burs
into their apartment
"We are lost All is over" he cried
For myself it matters not, but for thee, ms
douce p stite-" Here he made a gesture of
despair, and plnged into the revelation OF
the danger that threatened them through the
persecution of his landlady, the baker, the
laundress, and the person who dealt in sta
tionery. They will throw me into jail
they will separate u.s.
How much do you owe these people
Achille 2" said Betty, anxiously.
"A trihs, my own; but | can not just
now"
"How much, my dear Achille ?"
"A mere nothing my beloved but it is i'm
| possible"
oh Aohille, will you tell me how much
| Is it fifty dollars ~
mo, no, nor half, nor quarter-a paltr!
ten dollar bill would more than pay ever!
| debt l owe in the world"
"Oh, my beloved :" cried Betty, in fervo
of gratitude aud relief, here are five of tn
bank-notts you speak of.
She thrust into his hand q bundle of bills
10 his agony the Professor had not before no
ticed that his wife wore an entirely differen
costume from that in which he had left her
gray, with CATERS and gloves to match, a nea
walking hat, and few more necessities, ha
only cost her twenty five dollars. Her eye
sparklcd; her cheeks glowed. She had tina
indeinable air of superiority and dignit
which characterzes those who are above tn
world. But Achilles brow blackened. H
tapped angrily upon the bank. notes. where
How 2" he began and Betty held out he
empty finger.
The ring of Colonel Jones, she said, wit
epigrammatic simplicity.
The Professor took a long breath of reliei
He offered his wife his arm. Let us 60 an
confront this person, he said.
They found it was the same party they ha
seen at the railway station He bowed yer
low, and advanced to meet the bridal party
The Professor acknowledged this obeisanc
by naughty nod, and put his hand proud
to his pocket
"what is the amount of your claim, h
said
My claim - said the stranger. "Yo
mean your claim, suppose, monsieur II
Count. 1t includes the title, of course"
Grand Dieu :" cried the Count. "Wh
is this 2"
1T is" said the stranger, "tbat I've hun
ed over every internal state in the Union
tell you that your two cousins are dead, al
| you We lhlleu uclf 10 everything AOuI ieh
are accumulating over there.
The Count fell into q chair. 1t was nece
sary to bring him glass of wine.
bore my aggraudizement more calml
You will remember l bad just been throuG
the ordeal with the ring, which you see st
blazing upon my finger. 1t was worth mo
than we thought and We had great trouble
get it back again, but we prize it as Aladd
did his lamp.
In conclusion, my dear friend said Il
Countess, l must confess that when all the
things happened it was not leap-year, aft
all. Mrs Frank McCdrthy in Harpei
Weekly
Two POeticaI wills.