Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-01-11

"Why, work there and the servants told
me. Besides, I've seen him go there court
ing"
~ don't believe it. You ought to be
ashamed of yourself, and she rushed away
to hide her gathering tears and frightened
face.
She wrote to him, asking him to meet her
that night, but he replied with an excuse that
made her heart sick. He would meet her to-
morrow Saturday afternoon in Kensington
Gardens il she liked, he said and to this
she consented, and for the first time, and for
his sake, was false to her charge of Frankly.
"You run about, Master Frankly, dear" she
said. "I want to talk to friend of mine
But don't go out of sight" and then in her
bewiderment she forgot all about him. AL
fred Hill looked rather bored than otherwise
but he was smiling and shiny as ever. She
hardly greeted him when he appeared, but
she looked at him with the admiration she
had ever felt for him intensified by her fear.
He sat down beside her, and, elegantly
crossing his legs, began tapping his highly
polished boots with his bone-headed cane.
Alfred" she said, crossing her hands and
looking him straight in the face, ''is it true
that you are going to get married directly"
"Who's told you so ?"
ut isn't any account who told is it true
that you are going TO marry Miss Brooks be-
cause she plays on the piano and has money,
and" The tears came into her eyes, and
her lips quivered with anguish. "Oh, it isn't
true know it isn't !" and she touched his
hand in her dismay, and looked up into his
face with all her hearts story written in her
eyes.
II don't see why it shouldn't be, and so
there's the long and short of it, It's no use
making fuss about it, my dear girl"
but it isn't2 it isntI" she said appealing
ly.
"Well, yes, it is true" he said, slowly, not
daring to look her in the face $50 you may
as well know it at once
She stood up before him. True! Do
you mean to say, Alfred, after all that has
passed between u.s. that you are going to be
married to some one else p
81 really don't know what you mean by
what has passed between us You really
couldn't think was going to marry you?'
"Why couldn't l ?"
"Well, don't wish to hurt your feelings,
but consider the difference in our positions
One walks out with pretty servant girl, but
one doesn't marry her"
you are not a gentleman, as you think
yourself Alfred Hill, " she said slowly. You
are dressed like one, but you are just bit of
a clerk, not any better than respectable girl
like me you are not gentleman. A gen.
a
and win her heart, as you have done" Ma
ry often wondered she fought her battle ss
she did but she seemed to have no feeling
then only to realize that which would come
hereafter.
I'm very sorry that you let yourself fall
in love with me-" he said, tapping his boot
again. II thought you would have more
pride, at any rate until you we're asked"
more pride What do you take me for 2"
she asked her cheeks flushing. "Do you
think I'd walk out with one, and talk to him,
and let him talk to me as you've done, if
hadn't cared for him ? I've too much pride
for that, and shouldn't be fit company for
any honest man if hadn't. And you know
as I've liked you, for you made me say it, and
you know it; but it isn't you as l like, but
the man l took you for, and he isn't here at
all"
WELL I'm sorry you are disappointed in
| your hope OF bettering yourself by marrying
one above you, and think after all you've
said, we'd better part"
THE sooner the better" and she let him
| go and then she sat down and almost sob
bed her poor foolish heart out, and spent the
bitterest hour Of her life beneath the trees
! from which the leaves were falling Sudden
| ly she looked up for Frankly; he was nowhere
to be seen. She called at the top of her
voice no answer. With a fear that dead
ened all other feeling she ran to and fro in q
| wild endeAvor to find him. She asked the
| policeman at the gate he had not seen him.
| An hour passed in fruitless search, and then,
| pale with fear and trembling in every limb,
| she went home to relate the terrible news.
| just she got to the door she saw through
the gathering shadows Tom Dawlsh, and in
| his arms little figure, which her heart told
her was Master Frankly.
81 met this young gentleman as he was
running away to be a sailor, and luckily
| brought him back"
Running away Why, how were you 60
ing to get to the sea ?"
II was going to walk there, said Frankly,
stoutly.
you would have killed your poor NAM
ma"
Mamma" asked Frank Poole, the next
day, would it kill you il l ran away to
sea ?"
Eyes, dear, 1 think it would"
"Oh, we'll, them" he answered patroniz-
ingly, II won't"
l: was spring time again when Tom Daw-
lish asked Mary the question once more. He
had good situation and prospect of a rise,
and he'd always been daft on her, and he
wanted to know if she could love him. She
looked up at him with face that had grown
thin and pale and answered truthfully and
simply:
II don't think as do now, Tom; but if
you like to wait think it'll come"
"Bless you!" said Tom, 'Td wait seven
years rather nor lose you"
But he had only to wait one. Hes gold
and tother was gill;" said Mary on her we'd
ding day, and she was right.