Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-03-15

less "oId ! hau spoken.
81 wish you had ' exclaimed Mr.. Cal
vert
81 thought it needless but hoped that
sooner or later might have this opportun-
ity Of making an explanation and apology "
Unfortunately, it is too late
why = asked the young lady in a tone
Of suspense for she could tell by Mr. Cal
vert's look that something serious was
troubling him
Because, was his reply, 81 kept my
promise to you, and assigned TO you the
requisite number Of marks uudeservedlv. +"
"Oh, Mr. Calvert, how could YOU y
ut is rather superhuous to ask me that
question, seeing that you obtained from me
a binding promise"
Miss Faber looked at him in consterna-
ton, but though her lips were parted as if
TO speak no sound came from them
1T is a most unfortunate circumstance,
Mr. Calvert said after pause.
1t is simply dreadful ~ was her reioin-
der, for ! am nothing better than an i'm
postor. ! obtained the scholarship wrong
fully, and was appointed to my situation
by the same unfair means"
In his agitation, Mr. Calvert had risen
and was pacing up and down.
1T is bad very bad he observed after
a little as if in solloquy.
~ WIS hibilitub lilt reuter- anu Nblbntl
entered the room, so that the conference
was stopped. a few seconds later the
hostess also came into the room and engaged
IN conversation with Mary till the colonel
said they must CO. which was soon after
ward.
CHAPTER W.
On returning to his room Mr. Calvert sat
down to ponder over the events of the
evening. He had never before been so
convinced Of the fact that he loved Mary
taber, but he felt as confident as ever that
he ought not to ask her 10 be his wife
He had given up his rooms in Merton,
and most Of his belongings had been sent
to his future residence, but he had with
him, in addition TO his usual travelling lug
gage, a small box, which contained some
books and papers. Among these were the
papers which Mary Faber had handed in
at the examination and which had lain un-
disturbed ever since the time when he had
tied them up after glancing at them and
seeing how bad they were. He remember.
ed noticing them when he was packing the
box, and he now felt prompted by a sudden
/ desire to read them through. and discover
the extent to which he had been cupable
Tie forthwith unlocked the box, and taking
out a little roll he placed his candle in a
| convenient position ON his dressing table
aud sat down to read Mary'S papers. Soon
his brow contracted, for the errors were
! numerous. aud the conviction was forced
upon him that she had failed badly But
a, he went on his expression gradually be
/ came less gloomy, till at last the old clouds
burst from his face. The mistakes had be
come less frequent. aud it was clear that at
first the writer had been nervous and ex-
cited. Still the papers we're far from be
lug good, aud when he reached the end
Mr. Calvert wa, in some doubt whether.
according to the standard that had been
fixed for the examination. she would have
passed or not In some excitement he
took a pencil and began to read again. as
signing the just marks as he went on.
Then, breathing quickly, he added up the
results and found that she actually passed
though only bv a few marks. He gave
sigh Of relief and with radiant look he
laid the papers down. The consciousness
that after all no injustice had been done
gave him feeling of intense satisfaction
There was naturally reaction from his
former unhappiness, and he was greatly
eated. He was now ready 10 excuse Mary
entirely for her indiscreet conduct which
he knew was due solely to her anxiety about
/ her father, as she had said Then. poor
!irl, she had actually held a better opinion
about himself than he deserved believing
/ him incapable of failing i'm the DISCHARGE of /
/ duty God bless her :" calculated Mr.
Calvert
How quickly time had passed while he
sat pondering over the past and the future!
1t was only little after ten when he en-.
tered his room. and on looking at his watch
he found it was one o'clock. But sleep was /
out of the question After his candle had
burned out he drew m his blind for the
darkness was fast disappearing He look
ed out and watched the widening dawn of
the dav which he knew must prove the
most momentous of his life. 1t happens to
few men of Mr.. Calvert's age to achieve |
the honors and success that had fallen To |
his lot but at the present moment he felt |
that there was no event in his past life but
was insignificant when COMPARED with the
crisis which was at hand and which was
filling him with iov and fear.
When Mr. Calvert went out of the house
in the morning no one WAS M. and although
he walked III the direction in which Col. |.
Faber had told him he lived he did not in
tend to disturb him at that early hour. He /.
purposed walking past the house into the /.
country and to call on his return. But as
he drew near the little cottage he noticed
Mary in the garden. and without hesitation
he opened the gate and went toward her
As he drew near her he was startled by the
/ pdltleSS Ol ltl lace. anu II was easy Tor d
him to see that. like himself. she had not
slept Her look was so sad that if she felt
any surprise or pleasure at his appearance
it was not manifest in her face. Mr.. Cal
vert felt so much distress at her sorrowful |
face that after he had taken her hand and
hidden her good morning he stood silently
| looking at her. 1t was Mary who smoke /.
| first
Ever since we parted last night. - she |
said, Il have been thinking of what YOU
told me- and have resolved that, so far as
/ lies in my power, | shall make reparation
/ for the wrong that | caused to he done
| intend to give back the money of the schol- |
| arship. / have not got so much. but by 1
selling all we possess think shall be able |
to make up the sum, and | know that NV
/ father will support me in irving to do what
| is right | shall also resign nv situation
which obtained owing to the result of the |
| examination. for will not continue longer
/ to be an impostor.n
/ Il am come. " replied Mr.. Calvert. "to |
/ tell YOU that no Injustice has been done
/ For the first time last night | read over
/ your papers, and found that. had | done
/ would. / must certainly have Included your
| name among the successful candidates ON
YOUR own merits Sc She looked at him with
! out speaking. for her trembling lips were
/ incapable of forming words but he could
see 6v her trustful ewes that She did NOT
| doubt the truth of what he told her
We shall 20 over the papers together 20
| continued Mr.. Calvert, "and Won will see
/ that Won underestimated vour knovIed,,a
/ as think had YOU been less nervous while |
YOU wrote them YOU could have done much
/ better. But though YOU were undoubtedly
entitled to your distinguished place in the |
/ class list. it is nevertheless true that you