Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-12-11
For Money.

was leu all orphan Wu0A a l1OIO
baby, and received into the home of
an uncle. My family had been rich,
but their wealth had been dissipated,
and I was poor as well as parentless.
My uncle was keen, cynical, world
", poor man. He lived on the rem
nants of a fortune and the traditions
of family greatness. His wife was
dead.
AS grew up insensibly acquired
low estimate of women. My uncle's
influence all tended to this result, and
there was nothing to counteract it. I
was taught that my future position
and comfort depended upon winning
a wife who possessed fortune.
No matter what the woman may be,
my uncle would say, unless, indeed,
she be strikingly vulgar, money COW
ers all other defects. But don't marry
a widow, my boy
Every year since my childhood I
had been accustomed to visit Lyme
Hall.-There dwelt an aged pair who
had been my mothers earliest friends,
and were, in fact distant relations.
They had always manifested a warm
affection for the child of their dead
niece. They made point Of receiv-
ing these visits-they were wealthy
and without heirs, and my uncle was
averse to any neglect Of the connec-
ton, while L really enjoyed few sum-
mer weeks in this quiet retreat.
II was here I met Harriet Marsden.
Harriet is here, Mr.. Lyme said as I
shook hands with him. You will be
glad to meet her, I am sure. She will
make the house less dull than it must
be to a young man with only the
'Fauld wife, and myself to welcome
him.
Before I had time TO reply Mrs.
Lyme entered, and she too fastened
to tell me that Harriet had arrived,
evidently expecting that [ should ex
press my qualification at the an
nouncement. My curiosity was rous-
ed, but before I could seek it's gratifi-
cation visitors entered, and presently
slight graceful figure entered the
room. Introductions followed; there
was a little tumult Of pleasant voices
while leaned back quite unobserved
for the time, and feasted my senses
on the perfect oval of that fair face,
the deep, gray eyes, the pure brow,
shaded by dark brown bands of satin
smooth hair, the graceful ease of the
figure, and the melody OF the clear,
liquid tones of a voice that reminded
me Of one | had heard chanting cho-
rails in dim, old German church.
That night Mr.. Lyme was attacked
by slight illness which confined him
to his room for week, and kept Mrs.
Lyme in close attendance upon him.
Miss Harriet, as everybody at Lyme
Hall called the beautiful guest of my
old relatives, and I were perforce
thrown into constant companionship.
We were together all day, save when
Harriet took her place for an hour or
two in the sick room, and I stole off to
my room, or for solitary ramble.
and thought Of her. Ere the week
ended l knew l was madly in love with
Harriet, and felt strong enough to
sacrifice anything that [ might win
her.
at the end of that time I sought an
interview with Mrs. Lyme. I knew
SO little of Harriet that I dared not
speak the words that trembled on my
tongue. I WANTED to know what OBJ
stacles, if any, stood in the way Of the
fulfilIment of my wishes.
The information obtained at this in
rerview made one thing certain to me.
Ny uncle, on whom was my sole de-
pendence at present, would never
consent that should address Harriet
Marsden, poor and q widow.
I seemed to shrink beneath his