The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-10-10
SELECTED STORY.
A World of Iniquity.

The small inland town of Tonvile
was wearing its summer dress. 1t was
q bright Sunday afternoon, and the
congregations of the different churches
were proceeding homeward A SER
mon just delivered had strongly i'm
pressed two friends, and they discussed
1t earnestly on their way.
"You know, Mrs. Moore, there
should not be any sin nor any misery
in the world" said Mrs. Gardiner.
We Christians certainly know what
is right, and we do not claim the wis.
dom and strength of all these new
schools of thinkers who are to reform
society. l believe that the crying evil
of to-day is SANDER"
Indeed, Mrs Gardiner, / came to
that conclusion yesterday. | happened
to be visiting Mrs. Manners when Miss
Post passed the house. She was very
well dressed, as usual. and really be-
lieve that her nice appearance excited
Mrs. Manners to say something dispar-
aging about her. l never thought the
girls manners forward or bold, as she
insinuated. She is pretty and much
admired, and ! hear that Mr.. Arthur
Jamson is very attentive to her. |
hope he is in earnest. She ought to
marry a wealthy man, for she was edu
Gated to expect riches, and you know
her fathers money has taken wings"
Yes, l have heard. Why, Mrs.
Moore, he has mortgaged everything,
and lost the money in the widest spec
ulstions. In this little town a girl has
few opportunities. BY the way, is
Mrs. Francher going to give a garden
party?"
$50 every one is saying, Mrs
Gardiner. l suppose having just
bought house here, she is anxious to
make the acquaintance of the towns.
people. She is very rich, fond of
gayety, and quite willing to do her
share in making the town attractive"
And of course, being stranger,
and ignorant Of our clique system, she
will invite everybody"
Well, Mrs. Gardiner, no one will
feel sighted. The girls are all wild
with delight. like these open air en-
tertainments; you have room to see and
be seem"
Every one in Tonville was willing to
echo this opinion. For days the COM
ing garden party monopolized thought,
time and talk. The girls exchanged
visits, debated about costumes, as.
sisted each other with needles and sug-
gestions, and sang the praises OF the
considerate, generous Mrs. Francher.
One afternoon Jessie Post stood in
front of tall mirror trying on her
dresses and discussing them with her
mother. Jessie was slight brunette,
above medium height, graceful aud
very handsome. Her brown eyes were
often turned appealingly 10 Mrs. Post,
who seemed absorbed in a mental cal
culation.
Well, dear, send and get it, Miss
Parker can make it in time if l help
her."
Jessie Rugged and kissed her mother,
danced around the room and then ran
off to her desk. Mrs. Post sighed. 1t
was extravagant TO give the girl new
dress for the party, but then she was
undeniably the beauty of Tonville; Mr..
Jamison would be among the guests,
and he would appreciate her appear
ance in becoming costume. Mrs
Post was an invalid, Mr.. Post was busy
in the city, so Jessie was the only
member of the family who could &C.
cept the expected invitation. Her or
der was punctually filled, the dress
maker gave her two days, and the soft
creamy draperies, ready to put on,
We're hung in Jessie's wardrobe.
Strange to relate, all of Jessie's young
friends received cards for the approach.
ing fete, but none were placed in her
box at the modest post office of Ton.
VILE. The postmaster was careful and
reliable, and day after day when the
mail was brought home Jessie turned
over the letters hoping to grasp the
welcome envelope. She was perfectly
familiar with the appearance of the
dainty square of cream-white paper,
having examined the cards ostenta.
tiously left on the center-tables of Ton
vile, Mrs. Francher's monogram and
the Tiffany Company being rivals for
admiration, to say nothing of the en-
graved invitation within. Mrs. Post
urged that the invitation had been sent
and lost in some unaccOuntable man
ner. Jessie's face frightened at the
suggestion, but on second thought it
seemed improbable that one envelope
should 60 astray, while scores reached
their overjoyed owners.
Meanwhile the eventful day dawned,
and Jessie's colorless skin and sunken
eyes proved her bitter disappointment
and modification. She had not con-
fided her trouble to any one; her mother
alone knew the cause of her suffering.
The hours slowly passed, and at length
the constant sound of wheels announced
that the guests were thronging to Mrs.
Francher's lovely house and grounds.
AS Mrs. Post lived on the same street,
it was almost necessary for every We
hicle to pass her door. Thus Jessie
saw a il the prominent people of Ton
vile, laughing, chatting, pleased and in
gala attire on their way to the merry
making. The girl seemed spellbound.
Her mother tried to interest her in her
ordinary duties, but could not draw her
from the window. Finally wagon in
which sat Mr. Arthur Jamison was rap.
idly driven past the house. Jessie
gazed after it, and then without speak
ing went to her own room.
The afternoon was as perfect as ma
ture could make it, and art had trans
formed Mrs. Francher's grounds into