Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-01-02

by the twinkle in her eyes, evidently appro.
ciated the fun of the situation. Then the
agent seized old Scamper, and dragged hi II
OF to look at the blood horses and Imported
cattle, leaving Didymus aud the girl togelh-
or.
How do you like the place, Mr.. Dodd p
inquired she.
Like it, Miss Scamper Why, it Is gar.
den Of Eden that is, 1t would be 80 to me,
If had it with an Eve in It,"
The young lady smiled, aud said, "You
like country lie, then, Mr.. Dodd p
Naturally" replied Didymus. 81 lived
in the country until was twenty two. was
born and bred there. | should have bee n
there yet but for the death Of both my pa
rents l went to the city in search of for.
tune l have done very we'll for the last
seven years, and have put little by but to
covet place like thi, is like wishing for the
moon"
"Tue country is the place to live in, and
the city to work 10, J." said Miss Scamper, SEN
teutiously.
"ro live iu, grant you, il you have the
means-a good farm and money TO work it.
OtherWiIe you toll harder in country than in
town, with less comfort and less profit"
Then they discoursed on rural topics, with
marvellous unity Of sentiment, until the
venerable Scamper and the agent got back,
which was at the time the whole party, each
with nosegay furnished by the gardener
from the greenhouses, was ready for a re-
turn to the Springs
There wers yet two days OF the young
mans vacation left, when be determined to
place his fate at Miss Scamper's disposal at
the first opportunity. The chance came that
very night. That evening a number were
seated Gu tho veranda enj1yiug the moon
light. Miss Scamper sat apart from the rest,
IN heavy shadow, with her grandfather. The
old gentleman rose when DOdd came, and
left. Miss Scamper made room for Didymus
at her side, and the two began to talk Of the
day doings.
''By the bye" said Didymus. "bave you
heard that Almont has been sold z"
eyes"
"And to the great heiress, Miss Bolsover.
wonder If she will Keep old maids hall
there =
Mss Scamper laughed a low, silvery laugh.
Il presume she WILL" she sail unless she
chance to marry. Wasn't that a sad accident
At the mill TO day =
VERY. The man has a wife aud FIVE chill
dren. l went over to see how they were to
-ee If they were in pressing need, you know I;
but that part is all right This Miss Bolso-
yer, who must be staying somewhere near,
bad been there Rnd provided for all their
wants. l suppose, rs shs has bought Al
mont, she means to play the Lady B1untitul
here, which is all tue better for Mcky aud
his family
II believe Mr. Dodd, said the lady, "that
you play the part OF Lord Bountiful some
times, especially If some poor woman left
with four children should rouse your sympa-
thies."
"How did YOU know ?" he asked
"a little bird told ne, she said. You
not only paid Mrs. Grants rent, but got her
oldest boy employment, aud then fairly ran
away TO avoid her thanks She was full Of
| your praises"
But she did not know my name" said
| Didymus.
True. But don't you remember that a
veiled lady Eat there the last time you came 2
! That was I. / WAS in Phiiadelp phia on a visit,
and looked up Mrs. Grant, who had been a
servvut in our family before she married
She told me of her troubles, and how a
stranger had helped her. looked at you
we'll, AMI when you came here | knew you in
| an instant"
Didymus felt his heart fulter. Now was
| bis time but his tongue refused its Office.
After little pause, Mss Scamper said, Il
have had very pleasant time here. aud am
almost sorry that leave to morrow"
10 morrow :" cried Ddymus, in dsspera-
tion, seizng her haud, which was not with
drawn. "Oh, Ruth-Miss Scsmper-you
must have seen"
Here he stopped, but the dngers of the la.
| dy tightened little in his grasp. A friend
ly cloud passed over the moon and the re-
cess grew darker.
II love you, Rnth darling he murmured,
and drew her INCREASINGLY toward him.
The people on the veranda were too busy
in conversation to hear a faint sound made
at the sealing of a compact between two
foolish young people. But once it was all
settled, the tongue Of Didymus was fairly un-
loosened, and he went on building his-their
joint scheme Of life He told her of the
money he had laid away. and the big salary
in prospect and the eozy little suburban cot
tage on the Sehulkll, with its acre of ground,
that he would be able to buy.
And there is room for grandfather to live
with Us, he said.
That might not suit him, Didymus," she
replied, though it is kind and thoughtful OF
you. He would prefer his own larger house
in New York"
His larger house?" cried Didymus. 81
thought he was poor"
Poor Sas Seamper poor Why. he has
a two-third interest in the great banking
house Of Gould, Silver, a Co., New York
Paris, and Vienna, though he figures as the
Co. He has his own house, and great ma.
ny more of them"
Didymus, 10 spite of his acceptance, felt {
gulf yawning somehow. This rich banker -
II beg your pardon, Miss Scanper," he
said, "but somehow"
Eyes, Didymus, you believed him poor
But why do you call me Miss Scamper5 VIII!
not Rnthf which is ter-from you AnC
then my name is not Scamper at ALL"
Not Scamper, Ruth! Are You not Mr
Scamper's granddaughter p
"Ol yes, his only granddaughter and al
the near kin he has. But my mother WAS hi
only daughter--we are both orphans, Diiy
mus-and of course take my fathers name
hope you won't buy that cottage, since yor
like Almont; for l am Ruth Bolsover. y
THOS Dunn EnQHSh