The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-09-12
Seletteo Storp.
A Queer Wedding Gift.

little, silver-haired man, with deep
wrinkles plowed in his parchment-like
forehead, and suit of bright, old
fashioned blue cloth, gaily garnished
with brass buttons, he looked gro
tesquely unlike the surroundings of that
elegant suite of drawing-rooms in which
he sat, like the fairy godfather in an
enchanted palace.
Eunice Dalton, his eldest niece, tall,
lovely brunette, as graceful as silver
birch tree, with eyes and hair dark
enough for a gypsy, sat opposite on
low fanteuil of crimson velvet, her
slender fingers toying idly with the
golden festoon of chain that hung
around her neck, while Nina, the young
est sister, was nesting close to Uncle
Nahum's side, with her golden curls
almost touching his cheek and her blue
eyes fixed with a sort of innocent,
childish wonder on his face.
eyes, Uncle Nahum" said Nina,
"we are really going to be married
Eunice and l. Will you come to the
wedding?"
Uncle Nahum lifted his keen, gray
eyes to Eunice's face. She neither
spoke nor looked up. Evidently she
had no intention of confirming her sis
ter's cordially-given invitation.
No, child, no." said the old man,
evidently little disappointed. cpd
cut poor figure at Your grand we'd
ding. only hope that you have
chosen WE'LL"
"There can be no doubt at all about
that" said Eunice, haughtily. 81 am
to marry Mr.. Lesderner, broker, and
Nina is engaged to Mr.. Falconer, gen.
tleman of Independent wealth."
"And l s'pose you'll have lots of
presents" said Mr.. Dalton. "Silver
and gold and china fol-de-rols, and
goodness knows what all. Well,
well; wish / had something to send
you that would be of use in your grand
way of living"
"Your good wishes will be sufficient,
Uncle Nahum" said Eunice, rather
stiffly.
"But I'll tell you," said the old man
with Frightening face, 1" what l have
got. Your Aunt Rebecca's recipe
books-that's my wife, dead and gone
these ten years-and there amt bet
ter lot of recipes, net in the whole state
of Connecticut. You'd like that, girls,
wouldn't YEP"
Eunice broke out into peal of ire
sistible laughter, needless of the hurt
look which gradually crept over the
face of the old man, but Nina pressed
her lips to his wrinkled brow and stroked
his hand softly in hers.
"Its very kind of you to think of it,
uncle, I'm sure" said Nina, "and
whatever you send we shall accept
gratefully. Here comes papa now to
take you out to Central Park in the car
riage, so let me go and get your hat"
Uncle Nahum did not prolong his
visit to the city beyond day or two.
But few days had elapsed when
tidings came of the sudden death of
the kind old man.
"It's very strange" said Matthew
Dalton, discontentedly, when the legal
statement of his brothers. monetary
affairs was laid before him. 81 thought
Nahum was worth more money than
that"
"We can't always Judge by appear.
ances, sir, you know" said the lawyer.
No." said Mr.. Dalton, coloring
and looking somewhat uneasy, "you
are quite right there"
Two little leather-boun recipe
books, worn and greasy with age, and
bearing marks of frequent usage, were
found in Nahum Dalton's stained pine
desk, labeled respectively with the
names of his two nieces, Eunice and
Nina, ITO be presented upon theil
marriage"
Fiddlesticks! said Eunice, disdain-
fully. 81 don't want this vulgar old
thing"
"Then," said Nina, softly, 81 will
keep them both for Uncle Nahum's
sake"
So, in spite of Eunice's sarcasm, she
put them carefully away among hel
treasures.
"Who knows but what l may want
to make the real election cake one Of
these days?" she said, laughingly.
The double wedding came off gor'
geously at the Dalton mansion, but i,
proved TO be the last glitter of the ex'
piring torch of wealth and fortune.
The cake, all glittering with its sugared
fairies and pictured orange wreaths,
the bridal bouquet, the very band
which discoursed sweet music to the
wedding guests, were obtained on
credit, and not one of the luckless
trades-people were paid.
For the next day Matthew Dalton's
entire and total failure was ringing over
all the town, and with this was also in
volved the ultimate ruin of his son-in.
law, Herbert Lesderner.
From a suit of elegant apartments
at the St. Saffron Hotel Mrs. LesderneI
descended to a second floor in respect.
able tenement-house, and great were
her weepings and wailings and gnash'
ing of teeth. Jerome Falconer strug-
gled bravely against the adverse tide as
long as struggles were of any avail, but
the failure of his father and brother.
in-law induced a withdrawal of conf
dence and credit and his temporary
embarrassment followed.
$50 you've come down in the world
too" said Eunice, bitterly, as she seated
herself in the pleasant room where
Nina was domiciled.
cup in the world, rather" said the
CHEEKY girl. "Why, we are on the