Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-05-07

kindness"
There were several other spelling
matches held in the Pickett school
house during the winter, but Debby
did not attend them, and George,
who entered college in the spring,
saw her only at long intervals during
the next five years.
At the end of that time Debby's
old grandmother died, and after sell
ing the farm to a Norwegian who had
recently come into the neighborhood,
left her old home forever, telling no
one whittier she was bound.
Seven years later, George Chan
ming, who had become a lawyer and
was enjoying an excellent practice at
Detroit, was disturbed one morning,
while engaged in his office on brief,
by the entrance of tall, cookbook
ing, well dressed lady, who, instead
of returning the business-like bow
with which he greeted her, advanced
toward him with both hands out
stretched.
'You don't know me?" she cried.
"You don't recognize Deborah Raw
ley?"
"Deb little Deb of Grundy Coun-
ty!" exclaimed George. sit can't
be possible"
"Be a little more respectful, sir,
in addressing me-" laughed Deb.
"Dr. Rawley, if you please" drop
ping him a little courtesy.
"Dr. Rawley!" repeated George.
''Oh nonsense :"
"It is true" said Deb, still laugh
ing. "Sit down and I'll tell you
about it"
And then in few words she gave
him a history of her life since she had
left her old home.
With the proceeds of the sale of
her farm she had gone to college in
Michigan and taken the medical
course, graduating at the end Of three
years with high honors.
Her money was exhausted by that
time; but an old professor who had
taken a warm interest i'm her from the
beginning paid her expenses to New
York, where she spent a year i'm the
hospital, learning much that she
could never have learned anywhere
else. Then she began the practice
of her profession at Chicago, had
soon been able to pay off her debts,
and now, after three years of hard
work, was taking a much needed va
cation of a few weeks among the
lakes and rivers of Michigan.
"LoolI at me" she said. 81 am
not yet thirty, and / am in the pos
session of a good practice, and | am
on the road to fame and fortune.
Don't you think | have reason to be
thankful to you, Mr.. Channing?"
"To me p said George. "What |
do you mean? I've had nothing to do |
with your success. 1t is due entirely |
to your talent and perseverance"
"No," said Debby," lit is due to
the kind words you spoke to me at
that spelling match, nearly II years
ago. had never had any attention
or tenderness shown me in all my |
life before, and when you in kindness
of your heart honored me-poor, de-
spised and shabbily dressed as | was
with first call, knew how to APP
preciate it. And when you told me
that had surprised you,
| made up my mind to surprise you
still more some day. lived on those
words for five years, studying harder
than | had ever done before, and the
chance came to me to have the in
struction | so ardently desired.
seized it at once, and behold me a
fourishing physician y
She ended with laugh, but there
were tears in his bright, dark eyes.
81 refuse to take a particle of
credit to myself" said George with
great earnestness. "Please don't
accord it to me even in your tho'ts."
Honor to whom honor is DUE
always" she said, rising to go. "If
it hadn't been for you l should prob
ably have vegetated on that little Ill
nois farm all my life"
George went to the window and
her as she walked away.
There was look of pain and chagrin
on his handsome face.
81 would give a thousand dollars
this minute" he said speaking aloud,
'if / could only feel that had asked
her out of kindness. / couldn't look
her in the face when she was telling
about it, and / felt as if deserved a
lucking under the nearest pump.
NV conscience will never be easy
lntil l tell her the truth, though of
course she will despise me forever
after"
But though he made it a point to
see Debby whenever business took
lim to Chicago, he never had the
courage to make his confession. And
perhaps it was just as well that she
never heard of it.