The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-04-27

Some deaths are mercifully swift, and
others are painfully slow and lingering
The moral follows the physical law, and
in the death of friendship are repeated
the same conditions as those which sur
round the gradually weakening vitality
of the body-or those which cut the tie
between breath and spirit with stroke
as sudden as a lightning flash. Ever
influenced by Mrs. Anne, the old lady's
love for her gradually died, till at last
the psychological moment came-the
times were fully ripe, and Oracle might
be tffectually introduced. Destined to
be the successor, there now only
wanted the occasion. Miss Sparkles
must be dispossessed, but she must be
put in the wrong, and in a manner
made to cut her own throat. 1t was
only little thing. The largest events
generally do hang on little things, and
tragedies which fill the world spring
from initial circumstances no bigger
than mustard seed. Among the do.
nestle duties which Miss Sparkles had
hitherto performed with such signal
succt So was that of the care of the linen.
Mrs. Grahame had fine stock of linen,
and was as proud of it as good house
keeper should be. During the daughter
like epoch of Miss Sparkles' manage
ment, no reasonable fault could have
been, or ever had been, found with the
manner in which she had fulfilled her
charge. But now, when Anne's niece
Oracle came in as the successor, sud-
denly, eric! cracl as the French say,
the keys of the linen closet were de-
| mo ho nf
handed over to The newcomer.
How have l deserved this?" said
Miss Sparkles, flaming, as was not un-
natural. 81 have done my duty. Why
do you dispossess me?"
"That is my affair."" said Mrs.
Grahame. Surely 1 can do what
like with my own?"
Well, the bright-eyed little girl bore
this, her first snub direct in favor of a
rival, with as much patience as she
could command-which, truth to say,
was not an overwhelming amount. She
did make it rather uncomfortable for
her rival, and show her temper with
perhaps less discretion than honesty
less prudence than sincerity. At all
events, she gave the occasion that was
wanted, and put herself so much in the
wrong that Mrs. Grahame found the
| fitting handle for the shaft she wanted
to throw, and gave Miss Sparkles her
congo.
So now, turned out from the soft,
warm nest on to the bare and prickly
perch, the poor little girl was cast into
space, and if she fell to the ground al
together, neither Mrs. Grahame insti-
gated by Anne, nor Anne influenced
by greed and jealousy and the worst
form of nepotism, cared. 1t was the
fashion in the house to speak Of Miss
Sparkles as ungrateful, wild-tempered,
neglectful, impossible. 1t was the fash
ion TO pretend that all and sundry had
borne many things because of her flu
rious passions-because of her neglect
of duty; and that they were all well
quit of her, an incubus as she had be-
come. And Oracle took her place gal
lantly, and played into her aunt's hands,
as it was intended she should.
In the neighborhood where this little
story was enacted lived wealthy man
not only little, but great deal, older
than Miss Sparkles. He had always
admired this bright, vivacious, clever
little girl, with her ready wit and I'M
firing helpfulness, her good humor,
general ability, keen perceptions and
perspicacity. He had admired and
loved her, and in some sort envied his
neighbor, Mrs. Grahame, for the pos
session of such a pleasant little singing
bird for whom he, too, would have
been fain to find a suitable cage. But
it never occurred to him to disturb eX-
listing arrangements, and he kept him
self too tightly in hand to allow himself
to regret, to desire, to plan. When,
however, the pretty girl was dispos-
sessed, and 80 unfairly and so uncere.
moniously treated, he reconsidered his
own position and hers, and thought it
over within himself, wondering if ii
would be possible-ifit would be wise
if it would be right? But, nothing ven-
ture, nothing win, and at least he might
sound Miss Sparkles herself, and b ear
what she thought about the matter.
Would she? Could she? He was thirty
five years older than she, but he was
hale and hearty, and at sixty he matched
her twenty-five with not too bad a
grace. At all events he loved her and
was willing to give her his name and
his fortune, if so be that she could love
him and content herself as his wife.
And when he asked her, the little
girl, bruised and sore and desolate as
she was, unprotected, friendless, home
less, turned to him with that gratitude
which, when mixed with respect and
personal liking makes no i'll substitute
for love, and said, Eyes, she loved him
well enough to be his good and faithful
wife, and she would spend all her
strength and energy in making him
happy, so that he should never regret
the trust he had placed in her."
And thus, as is often in life, her
trouble became her wellspring of joy,
and her fall was the platform on which
she found her prosperity. The mar
riage turned well-in all respects
grandly WELL Miss Sparkles, with her
brightness and her vivacity, brought
the sunshine of youth and gayety into
her husbands erstwhile gloomy house.
Loving no one else, she loved him with
her whole heart, and never knew the
moment when she regretted her mar
rage. Nothing could be more harmo-