Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-08-07


At first their oonvorsation was simply abou
the weather, the cathedral services, and am
other local matters; but presently growing
quite confidential, Carrie began telling hin
their family history.
She did not notice that he started when she
mentioned Mrs. Oumberland's name, nor thai
his keen blue eyes we're fixed more keenly
upon her Afterwards. She was too much en-
crossed with the thought Of their wrongs and
disappointments.
"You say that your aunt is an old resident
OF this town. Has she always stayed here p
| he inquired
"Oh, no |" answered Carrie. "Aunts hus.
band was London merchant, and they lived
In nice house In Bayswater until he failed.
Then Rnnt--I call her aunt, though she ia
really no relation-came here, because she
could get pupils from the people who had
known her, and Johnny could attend the
grammar school. Walter is in London all by
himself, poor fellow"
"Who is Walter 7" asked the old gentle
man.
lie IL aunt's eldest son." answered the
girl, with vivid blush, which did not escape
her questioner.
And has your aunt no friends, no relatives
here, where the years of her early life we're
passed" Z" lac further inquired.
"Oh, yes" answered Carrie "The uncle
who brought her up lives here in large house
somewhere Just out Of the town. have never
seen it nor him either, and do not wish TO-
for he is a hoTnd, cruel, aelfHh old miser ;
aud just because aunt married a London man
instead Of someone he wanted her 10 have
he will not be friends with her. He will not
lend her son little money TO help him OBJ
tain good position, though he il rolling In
riches IL II not cruel of him2 And yet
| aunt and her children are his only near rsla-
| tives."
ut is, indeed, displaying a mean and mi.
serly spirit. do not seem TO remember any
gentleman answering to your description,
though have the honor OF being one Of the
Oldest inhabitants of this city. What is his
nAmeH
Carrie hestaled. For the first time il oc
ourred 10 her that she had been talking very
freely Of Mrs. Oumberland's concerns 10
stranger.
II would rather not tell you, il you don't
mind" she then said with that frank sim
plicity that won her the instant approval of
most persons. AUST speaks very little OF
him. believe she was 80 fond Of him once
that she cannot bear TO think Of him being 40
completely changed, and perhaps she will
think me very imprudent in talking over
family matters as l have done. ! can give
you a nickname for him, though, she added,
with a sudden mischievous CLEAN in her dark
blue eyes. Johnny calls him Old Money.
grub, and think it's a name that fits him
right welll"
The old gentleman laughed, vet with a sort
Of panied constraint, which Carrie noticed
with fresh misgvings
You shall not regret having honOred me
with your confidence, my dear" no said,
kindly, 81 will make no unfair use Of it, rest
assured"
lsat. 4 hau
rie, a. she called her pupils, and they took
their way homewards. Here have been
telling all sorts OF things 10 a stranger, whose
name | do not even know. Well, hope no
harm will come Of il. After all, the worst
that could happen would be that he might
know Old Moneygrub and tell him all about
1t, and that would serve him right. will say
nothing about it TO auntie, ii would only
vex her."
To this resolution she adhered, and though
she met the old gentleman often afterwards
and talked freely TO him OF her own concerns
and Walters, she said nothing more about
Mrs. Cumberland OF her miserly relative.
Bot, about three weeks after her first inter
view with the old gentleman, Mrs. Oumber-
land, who was reading a letter just received
from Walter, uttered 4 joyful cry. which
caused both Johnny and Carrie TO look at her
in pleasurable expectation.
Would you believe it, my dears 2" she eI.
claimed MY uncle has sent Walter cheque
for the money he requires, and has told him,
in the kindest Of letters, that he can have
twice ~ much IL he requires il 2"
"Oh, auntiel" gaspsd Carrie.
well done, Old Moneygrub I" shouted
Johnny.
My boy - said his mother reprovingly.
well, | won't then, mother, il you don't
like 1t, especially ~ he has reformed and
turned out a brick, replied the boy
'You ought to go and see him now, auntie
and thank him; he would surely see you now"
suggested Carrie wondering whether her own
conduct could possibly have had anything to
do with this change.
That IL the strangest part of the affair,
said Mrs. Cumberland. "He begs that we
will not go to his house, nor attempt TO see
him at present but in a few days he will
write to Walter, and will then hope to see US
ALL"
"What q splendid mystery, mother! de-
clare it's as good as some Of the things in my
Boys of Oakwood,'" ," declared the incorrigi-
ble Johnny.
They sat no long discussing the strange,
but delightful news, that Carrie had at last to
fly to her pupils, and was actually five min
utes late, thing that had never happened
before