The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-09-21

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secret as it has been hitherto"
l tried to dssuade my father from
his scheme. tried to say that l would
not take the money. But he was so
set upon it, so eager, so insistent, that,
to please him, l at last gave way.
And so it is without any one knowing
it l am now absolute mistress of large
fortune-a fortune which with its accu
mutation Of unspent income is growing
every year. And still live with Phyl-
lis in the same smell house and the
same small way. And the right man
has not come and married me. And
know that now he never will.
Yes, know it--too well. There is
only one who could be the right man
for me. And he. But no, will not
say it. will try not even to think it,
1t is mean, pitiable, wicked to be jeal.
Gus of my little sister, and in this case
absurd also, for even if there were no
Phyllis how should handsome Rupert
ever give thought to ugly me? 1 will
choke down this foolish envious weak
ness, and when he speaks and makes
Phyllis happy will be glad and rejoice
with-with-all my heart.
Az last l think have found out why
Rupert has not spoken to Phyllis. 1t
is curious that have not thought of it
before. Rupert has no money, nothing
beyond his pay as managing clerk in a
country solicitors office. 1t is only
$3.50 year, and he does not like-does
not think it fair-to ask her to marry
him when he can offer her nothing bet
ter than that.
n INC a
balances2
Someone9 Who9 Why not 1?
How can I hesitate? l will go up and
see my solicitor today.
have been. L have seen him. 1
am sure he thought me quite idiotic.
At first he tried to poohpooh my
scheme, but when he found me insis-
tent he agreed to do what / wished.
The only difficulty was to give Rupert
the financial lift he needed without let
ting him know the source from which
it came, but after some reflection my
solicitor thought it could be managed.
He is personally intimate, it seems,
with the head of Rupert's firm, and he
considered that if sufficient capital
were forthcoming arrangements might
be made with him for taking Rupert in
TO partnership. This seemed as practi.
cable scheme as any. And L have
left it with him to make the necessary
arrangement, STIMULATING that sufficient
capital must be laid out for Rupert's
benefit to insure a return of at least
81, 900 per annum.
Three weeks have passed since then.
hear from my solicitor that matters
have been satisfactorily arranged. l
should have guessed it even if l had
not heard from him, for Rupert, who
has been here every day for the last
four or five days, has been, as 1 could
see, bubbling over with joyful yet half
suppressed excitement. He has not
spoken to Phyllis yet, but he is coming
again this afternoon, and am sure he
means to speak then, for there was
something in his manner of announc-
ing his intended visit for today that
said so plainly. All, there he is now
coming up the road 1 must run and
find Phyllis. Phyllis must be alone to
receive him when he comes in. How
tiresome! How annoying! 1 cannot
find Phyllis anywhere. What can have
become of her? There is Rupert ring
ing the bell now. Phyllis! Phyllis!
She is no where in the house, it seems.
She must have gone out, and yet she
knew Rupert was coming, and she
must have guessed from his manner
why. Perhaps she did not expect him
quite 80 early. L must 60 down and
talk to Rupert till she comes in.
How blue the sky is this afternoon.
How bright the sunshines. How
sweetly the birds are singing. Truly
life is delicious on day like this, and
there is an Intoxicating joy in every
breath one draws. l love every one
today-every one-every one. Do you
know why? 1t is all because some one
loves me.
Yes, would you believe it2 Rupert
loved me from the first. And Phyllis
knew and she never told me. Sly little
Phyllis. But Pm glad did not know
before. Else could never have
bought that partnership for Rupert.
And should l ever have heard the
truth then?
Do you hear that robin chirruping in
the apple tree? never noticed little
Bobby's note before. 1t is strange how
unobservant one is. But now you
come to listen, you cannot fail to re-
mark it, can YOU? Hark! There he goes
as plain as plain can be. "Hap-py-
hap-py-hap-py."-London Truth.