The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-12-13
Lelia's Christm as.
|

September 20-Is it possible this can
be [, Leila Marsden, who through all
my life of nineteen years, from my
home in Highland avenue, have looked
down on all who toiled for their bread
as people beneath my notice. | repeat,
can it be that / have fallen so low as to
be obliged, homeless and with but one
friend left, to become the teacher of a
common district school?
A few word, will explain it to you.
My father, John Marsden, had made a
laile fortune in trade. AT one time in
his life he stood on the verge of ruin,
and friend of HE, Mr.. Alden, had
lent him money to carry him through
his difficulties. The loan had long
since been paid. Mr. Alden had moved,
and nothing was heard of them till a
few months ago, then we learned quite
by accident that Mr.. Alden had died
poor, and that his son, Kenneth, was
SUI porting his mother and himself as a
bookkeeper. In this l took no interest,
for l despse people who work, but
papa quite bored me talking about them
so much.
OF course, being an heiress and
fairly good-looking, was much sought
after in society l had one admirer
papa did not like; it was Count Roeul
LIE Fevre, who divided his time about
equally between myself and Amy Scott.
i cont think cared much for him, but
l encouraged him just to spite Amy.
Papa declared that the count was a
fortune-hunter, and if l did not give
him up he would disinherit me.
grew angry and that night promised to
become Countess lie Fevre. When l
told papa he looked at me coldly Che
never cared much for me, anyway; he
never forgave me for not being boy)
and said, every we'll"
A week later he died, struck down
without moments warning by paraly-
sis, and when his will was read l found
myself penniess. The house, together
with all his fortune, went without con-
ditiOn 10 Kenneth Alden.
| left the house that night. had
everything that really was mine packed
up, and l went to stay with Mrs. Tenn
pie, the wife of our family lawyer. In
due course of time Kenneth Alden ar
rived. ! have never seen him, the de-
ceitful puppy. Made out he supposed
papa had no children; refused the
money, but took it, notice, when Mr..
Temple explained it would 60 10 char
tiles if he did not; and he and his
mother have gone to live in my home,
my beautiful home / love so well, while
l am teaching school at 50 week, in a
lonely country town, boarding at a
farmhouse mile from the school. l
saw it advertised, and so with Mrs
Temples help l sold my jewels and
fnery, bought a suitable wardrobe, and
now I am transformed into a country
schoolma' am. And the count? OF
course he is engaged TO Amy. Poor
Any!
1t is not so very bad after all. The
children love me. Their ages range
from four TO sixteen. Farmer Jackson
and his wife are more intelligent thar
/ supposed farmers could be. They
have one other boarder, young mar
about twenty five, who copies for law
firms. He tries to make friends, but
don't want any such friends. He i;
quite good looking, however, and his
name is Victor Preston.
All, well! l suppose l shall live
through it.
August IL am richl /, Kenneth
Alden, after working my way through
the business college, and toiling till my
health was breaking down to provide &
home for mother, to come home, weary
and dispirited, to find myself worth
hundreds of thousands in my own right
1t seems my father, who was once rich
lent to Mr.. Marsden money thai
saved him from ruin; now, he dying
and having no children of his own, has
left all his money to me. How glad
am, for mothers sake!
August 20-Ought / to keep this
money? 1t seems l was wrong. Mr.
Marsden had daughter, whom in fl
of anger he disinherited. OF course by
right it all belongs to her, but the law,
yer tells me that even if give il up
she cannot get one cent; it will all 90 tC
charities. Miss Marsden refuses to SEE
me; no wonder. What must she thinl
of mel / have seen her portrait in the
library, tall, queenly girl, in trailing
dark silks, with clear, blue eyes anc
braids of brown. She looks cold ant
proud, and people call her utterly heart
less. shall have to have it takeI
down; it haunts me.
August % have decided. Fo
mothers sake shall stay. Miss Mars
den is going to teach school, hear.
wonder where.
In spite of herself, Leila Marsden hat
become Interested in her work. Hel
duties were monotonous, but she Liked
children and they all worshiped her il
return. They showered her with sim
pie gifts of fruit and flowers, and rarely
tinted leaves, and she took greater pleas
ure from them than she had from he
costly presents of old times. Invitations