The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-04-30

CHAPTER I.
John Crombie had taken a room at the
new apartment building, The Lorne
having advanced so far in his experience
of New York as to be aware that if he
could once establish himself in a house
associated by name with foreign places
and titles, his chance of securing posi-
ton" would be greatly increased. He
did not, however, take his meals in the
expensive cafe of that establishment, find
ing it more economical to 60 to an out
landish little French restaurant, some dis
lance away, which had been nicknamed
among those of his acquaintance who
resorted to it " The Fried Cat" This
designation, based on supposed resem-
blance to the name of the proprietor, Fri
cat, was also believed to have value as
sarcasm.
1t was with no pleasant sensation, there
fore, that Crombie, waking on gray and
drizzling morning of November, remem-
bered that he must HE him to the Fried
Cat" for an early breakfast. He was in
a hurry that day; he had great deal to
do. His room was very small and dark
he bounced up and dressed himself, in an
obscure sort of way, surreptitiously OPEN
ing the door and reaching vaguely for his
shoes, which stood just outside, ready
BACKED. Nor did it add to his comfort
to know that the shoes were very defec-
tive as to their soles, and would admit
the water freely from the accumulated
puddles of the sidewalks. In fact, he had
been ashamed to expose their bad condi-
ton to the porter when he put them out
every night, as he was forced to do, since
they were his only pair. Drawing them
on hastily, in order to conceal his NORTH.
cation from even his own mind, he sailed
FORTH and though at the moment of put
ting them on dim sense of something
unfamiliar crossed his mind, it was not
until he reached The Fried Cat that
he became fully aware that he had carried
off some one else's shoes. He turned up
the soles, privately, underneath the low
hanging table-cloth, and by brief exami-
nation, convinced himself that the CATERS
did not belong to him. The test was SIM
pie: his feet were unaccountably dry, and
there were none of those breaks in the
lower surface of their leather covering,
which he had so often been obliged to
contemplate.
He saw at once that the porter of The
Lorne had made mistake, and must have
deposited at another apartment his own
very insufficient foot-gear but there was
no chance now to remedy the confusion.
Crombie had barely time to reach the
office where he was employed.
On an ordinary occasion he would per-
haps have gone back to The Lorne and
effected an honorable exchange. This
particular day, however, was by no means
an ordinary occasion. Crombie had made
up his mind to take momentous step
and it was therefore essential that he
should appear at his desk exactly on time.
He was a clerk in an important en-.
craving company. For several years he
had occupied that post, without any OPP.
portunity having presented itself for a
promotion. At the best, even should he
rise, what could he expect To be cashier,
perhaps, or possibly, under exceptional
circumstances, a confidential private Sec
rotary. This prospect did not satisfy
him; he was determined to strike fol-
something higher.
1t will naturally be inferred that he was
ambitious. | am not in a position to
deny this; but all can be certain of is
that he was in love-which is often about
the same thing.
Several times at The Lorne he had met
in the hall ways or in the elevator a young
lady, who was in no small degree beautiful
and charmed him still more by her genera
presence, which conveyed the idea of {
harmonious and lovely character. Sht
had light hair and blue eyes, but these
outward attributes were Joined with {
serenity and poise of manner that indicated
greater stability than is attributed, as {
rule, to individuals of her type.
Once he happened to arrive at the MAR
entrance just as this vision of beauty
emerged to take her place in a coupe
which was waiting by the curbstone. Shit
dropped her card.case upon the sidewalk
and Crombie's heart throbbed with de
light as he picked it up, gave it to her
and received her smiling thanks for hi
little service. Another time, as he wa
descending in the elevator, door opposite
the shaft, on the second floor, stood open
and he caught a glimpse of the apartment
to which it gaze access. The room wa
finished in soft tints, and was full of up
holstery and hangings that lent it a din
golden atmosphere. In the middle of i
stood the young girl, clad in the pales
blue, above which her hair shone like
golden cloud on some dim evening sky.
Slight occurrences of this sort ha,
affected him. He learned that she wa
the daughter of Littimer, the rich, widowe
banker; her name was Blanche.
CHAPTER II.
In these new, stout shoes that did nc
belong to him Crombie trod with buoy
ancy and assurance strongly in contrss
with the limp and half-hearted pace t
which his old, shabby CATERS had formerl
inclined him. He ratified down the stair
of the Elevated station with an slacrit
almost bumptious; and the sharp, conf
dent step that announced his entranc
into the company's Office made the othe
clerks quite ashamed of their own wan
of spirit.
He worked at his desk until noon bu
when the balls Of Trinity rang twelve j
solemn music over the busy streets, h
dropped his pen, walked with decisiv
air the length of the room, and, openin
a door at the other end, presented hin
self before Mr.. Blatchford, the treasurer
who was also an influential director.
"Crombie, eh ? Well, what is 1t ?"
al want to speak with you momen
SIR"
Anything important Pm busy"
UYao cir. uuita imnnrtant-tn m,