Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-11-11

sick, EvelineP Thy hand is very cold"
Eveline burst into a passion of tears.
'Sick!" she gasped. Eyes. No! l
don't know. He has gone away, Mrs.
Minton. He never came to tell me good
by"
"Does thee mean my son Ezra, child"
"Whom else should mean?"
"Did thee expect him, Eveline?'
II didn't know. l thought perhaps
oh, have been trying so hard to be worthy
of him! l have left off going with those
girls. I've refused the foremans invita-
ton to drive with him. I've been reading
Macauay's History of England and Glib
bon's Rome of evenings. and | loved him,
Mrs. Minton-oh, | did indeed-and he
never came to tell me goodby! suppose
| oughtn't to tell you this, but | cannot
help it,"
Friend Mary moved uneasily in her seat
Her heart warmed toward the impulsive
young girl She began to think that perhaps
she had been too precipitate in her decis-
ion. Suddenly Eyeine started. SO did
Friend Mary.
"There is some one coming up the
steps, said she; "several people. Dry thy
eyes, my childn'
1t was two of the factory girls eager and
time to salute Friend Mary Minton before
they addressed Evelne Calverly:
"Evy! Evy! your ticket has won a
prize No. 3003! A hundred dollars
They read out the list tonight. Oh,
aren't you a lucky girl, though! We only
wish it was u.s."
Eveline's glance involuntarily sought
the floor, where lay the two torn pieces of
the ticket Jane Chertsey made a grasp
at them.
''Why what has happened?' exclaimed
she. "But the number is all right. We
can paste it together again.
Eyeline looked at Friend Mary Minton.
"Give me the pieces, Jane" said she,
and in another second they were blazing in
the fire. 81 will have nothing to do with
the lottery, good or bad she added. "Tm
sorry l ever bought the ticket"
"But, Evy, you've burned up hundred
dollars" screamed Lucy Lane.
"Tve burned up a temptation" cried
the girl. "Do you think l would sell my
soul for hundred dollars?'
And once more she burst out crying.
Friend Mary sat late that night by the
kitchen fire. She was thinking. Early
the next morning she arose and dressed
herself and trotted down to the railway
station in time for the seven o'clock train.
II was never on the cars BEFORE" she
murmured, "and it's just like riding be-
hind flying dragon; but for Ezra's sake
must risk it. He wont leave Edgheld be.
fore night. l must see him first!"
Great was Ezra Mintons amazement
that afternoon when the quiet Quakeress,
in her dove-colOred gown and poke bonnet,
came into the house of her sister, Friend
l, L.,
while he made sundTy preparations for his
journey.
Mother, what has happened" he
cried.
Nothing has happened, Ezra" said
Friend Mary, her cheeks very pink, heI
blue eyes sparkling. 81 have travelled on
the railway train. The Lord has been
very good TO me, and l have not been
dashed to destruction, and | think, Ezra
that thee had better change thy plans
"Change my plans, mOther!"
"Eveline has been with me, Ezra. She
loves thee, l think, and l am far on the
way to loving her. There is good metal in
the child. Thee must come back home
with me, Ezra"
"Do you mean it, mother-that she
loves me?"
"COme and put the question to her thy
self, Ezra" cooed Friend Mary. 81 fee
that have done her some injustice. The,
must set that right. Oh, my boy! my
boy! l always felt that should be jealous
of thy wife, be she whom she might. But
Ezra, don't feel so any more
She stopped and kissed his forehead.
"Thee must make haste, Ezra. The
flying dragon goes back at seven. do no
know that Eveline expects thee, but"
Ezra Minton went back with FrienC
Mary. And though she had lost her hun
bred dollars, poor, lonely little Eveline haC
gained double recompense-a loving hus
band and a mother-n-law who helped he
in all weak places and fully appreciated
her strong points.
For softly spoke Friend Mary, {"
am always willing to confess when l hay,
been altogether in the wrong. "-TOrOnt,
Mail.