Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-06-11
ISLAND POND, VERMONT, JUNE II. 1886

of aromatic leather. This book was
headed, page for page:
F. Robinson, DIR. f. Robinson, Cr
The pages under 'F. Robinson, DIR. "
were full of dates and figures. Those
under "F. Robinson, Cr.n were blank.
For half an hour Brown totted up column
after column of figures, putting his cigar
calmly and with as impressive face as
if he had been counting grains of sand
instead of gold.
'Gad" he said, when he had made 0
total. ''He's too greedy"
And he closed his book, threw his cigar
! and the balance-sheet into the CRATE,
rinsed his mouth out, and went to bed.
Three weeks later L'Amerique steamed
up the harbor The first shore visitors
to board her at her pier were Brown and
Robinso on. The greeting between Rob
inson and his sister was charmingly ten
der. Miss Robinson's reception of Brown
was delightfully."- gentle and contiding.
Miss Robinson might have been few
years younger but she could not have
been more innocent and trustful if she
had tried. Happy as she was to meet
her old acquaintance, for whose sake the
devouring worm had ever since been
preying upon her cheek, she insisted on
Dear Fred " putting her in the coach
Brown whose glllantry was natural, PEI
formed that Office for her maid. 1t was
raining and he insisted on the maid 5
sharing the coach with them. His valet
remained to battle with the tide-waiters.
For the next month nothing was
talked about in certain set but the ap-
preaching union of Brown and the Rob
insons. 1t was a splendid match for
them was the universal verdict. Brown
was millionaire. Miss Robinson had
about enough year to pay her board
abroad and dress her decently and every
one knew what Fred was. A good many
people went so far as to express sorrow
for Brown. He only smiled when his
valet gave him the go~sip he had picked
up, and went on visiting Miss Robinson
and lending Fred money as of old.
One morning when Miss Robinson
ring for her maid, one of the attendants
of the house-she had suite of rooms
in a quiet house on the avenue-re-
sponded.
"Whcre is Jennie?" she asked.
"She went out an hour ago, miss, " an
swered the Slavey, "with Mr.. Browns
gentleman.
Mr. Browns gentleman" had brought
so many errands to the house that he was
as well known as his master. Miss Rob-
inson expressed her anger got up and
dressed herself, and was in a fever of
fury at the neglect of her servitor, when
the door was opened with crash and
her brother hustled in. He had letter
and an envelope crushed in his hand,
and his usually impassive face was white
and haggard as an old mans.
"You foolp' he roared, ''look at that. "
And he threw the paper at her with
such force that, striking her on the
cheek, it drew from her cry of pain.
She wasa methodical woman, however
and without stopping to reproach him
for conduct for which she knew there
must be a reason, she opened the letter,
smoothed it upon her knee, and read:
New York., 1SS-My Dear Robinson:
You will forgive me, trust, for so CONNER
cial an action but | beg to submit to you a
little memorandum of our account. If you
wish a bill of particulars you can obtain it
from my lawyers. The balance sheet at
present stands:
FREDERICK ROBINSON, DR..
to
GEORGE WALTER BROWN.
To cash in years months 1S days, $49, $50.
In view of the extent of the account, l am
under the necessity of closing and Of asSum-
ing no further credit You will, hope, con-
slider this a receipted bill. Yours very truly,
BToWn.
P. 81 have written to Miss Robinson
personally.
There was rap at the door. 1t was a
letter to Miss Robinson. She tore the
envelope with nervous hand, and slip
of paper dropped to the floor. Her
brother caught the figures $4,000 on it
and grasrei at it. She covered it with
her foot and read
My Dear Miss Robinson: You will par
don me, am sure, for asking you to accept
the incloSed. The expense you have been
put to upon misconception ought not to
| fall on you. Yours very trIly,
Miss Robinson picked up the slip of
paper and put it in her bosom. 81 want
to dress for breakfast, Fred" she said
"What can have become of Jennie?"
"Bccomc of her" snorted her brother,
beating a dainty japanese stand to wreck
with one furious blow. "Why, they
were married at o'clock this morning,
and are off for Europe by this time
Neoo York Mail and Express.