The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-01-03
That Turquoise.

OuT CuSlOm ldItl1 las UCtH W W w
New York for a few weeks every
spring and autumn. A year ago last
April my husband, owing TO the serious
illness of bis partner, was only able to
leave the Office long enough to take me
on and see me comfortably settled in
our accustomed hotel. He was then
obliged to hasten back to Boston, prom
Using to return for me in a couple of
weeks if possible. Tom and l have
been married six years, but as neither
of US is yet thirty, we are young enough
to enjoy life and society thoroughly
the more 50, perhaps, as we have no
children. A visit to New York is al
ways more or less of a spree to every
good Bostonian. l, for my part, after
six months spent under the shadow of
the gilded dome, always feel the neces
sity of breathing an atmosphere some
what rarer than the one encircling
Music Hall, the art museum and Beacon
street.
l hesitated, however, last spring, for
it seemed selfish to broaden my own
outlook while poor Tom bad to drudge
on in State street. He urged me, how
ever TO 90, assuring me that L needed
the change and also some new gowns.
/ felt quite sure | needle d the gowns,
for l am never satisfied with anything
\ have made in Boston. There was no
Hear of my being lonely, for my New
York friends are almost too assiduous
in their attentions, leaving me scarcely
moment to rest. / have come to the
, Conclusion that the east wind nips New
England hospitality in the bud; for the
farther one goes from its cutting inf1u-
ence the more genial is the welcome
extended. Although to the manner
born, do not approve of the Boston
conservatives, who really out-English
the English in their dread of making
an undesirable acquaintance.
Tom and l have gone through the
world, making. host of chance ac-
quaintances, many of whom have rip
ened into friends. l know many peo-
pie in many sets in New York, and
therefore thought it wiser to stay at
our hotel-which | shall call the Ley
den-rather than to accept any invita-
tons to visit. We were well known at
the Leyden, and l knew everything
would be done for my comfort, as, in
deed, it was. Tom settled me in large,
sunny rooms on the third story, and
then left me to my fate.
1t was Friday, my third day of grass
widowhood. had been to small din
ner party at the Brentwoods, and, leav-
ing early, had reached my room soon
after ten o'clock. / was by no means
sleepy, and, as / had CHANGED that
morning upon "The First Violin," a
book it happened 1 had never read,
was anticipating couple of hours
quiet reading, for l was really inter
ested in the story of Eugen. l changed
my dinner dress for loose gown, took
off my Jewels and arranged my hair for
the night. 1 had worn black lace and
my diamond necklace and earrings
my mothers diamonds, given me on
my wedding day. l was not careful by
nature, or l never should have had such
valuable jewels with me at hotel. By
some chance, on this evening, after TAX
ing them off, l unlocked my trunk and
Tut them in my jewel case. At the
same time l took 5000 from a roll of
bills, putting the rest back and locking
the trunk. The money / had promised
my dressmaker in the morning, so l
laid it on my bureau in readiness. l
then settled myself in comfort and was
soon lost to America and deep in the
musical interests of little German
town. 1t was after midnight before 1
could bring myself to lay the book
down and 90 to bed. should not
then have done so had it not been that
heavy eyes warned me l would be in no
condition to fulfil my mornings en-
gagement were | to read longer. AS
usual, / dropped to sleep almost imme-
diately, for, having good digestion and
relaxed nerves, there was nothing to
keep me awake.
/ could not have been in bed an hour
when l awoke suddenly; for l am al
ways light sleeper. 1t seemed to me
that coil of wire had struck my win
dow. A strange reverberation was
still ringing in my ears. l do not think
l am coward, even if l am woman.
leave you to judge of that; but l did
long for Tom, confess. l sat up in
bed, almost without breathing felt
as if something or some one had moved
in the room. 1t was one of those mo-
ments when every nerve in the body is
strained, as it were to listen. / could
hear nothing, however; still, the noise
4 had heard seemed too real to be put