Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-07-10
VERMONT PHOENIX BRATTLEBORO, FRIDAY JULY II

drew them out again. Dangling to one
finger by a glittering chain was little
purse of gray suede-the kind women
effect For a moment he looked at 1t in
bewilderment-then memory stung him.
lie had twice picked it up to re-
store it to its rightful owner-the second
time to pocket 1t himself. In the excite
ment he had forgotten it. Opened, it re-
vealed the unaccustomed glitter of gold
and silver and at the sight Norwood
realized how famished, he was. lie trans
fered some of the silver to a breastpock-
ct, replaced the purse, and boarded an
uptown car.
Some hours later, warmed, fed and
comforted, he sat down in u decent
room and made an inventory. The purse
contained $40 in gold some silver, and, at
tached to a bit of ribbon. a little silver
Filipino coin. A card inscribed with
Miss Moore's name in full and num-
Der on California street offered every
facility for the return of his treasure
trove.
That night the young man was too
worn out for reflection, but over his
breakfast the next morning he resolved
to break commandment-and the gold
-clothe himself decently. make a fresh
start in life. and in time liqudate his in
debtedness to Miss Dorothy Moore.
Perhaps his lane had neared a turn,
for a few days afterward he secured a
small clerkship in "A wholesale house, but
so very small was the clerkship that sew
eral months had elapsed before the purse
assumed it's former comfortable proper
tons.
In the meantime, with security against
the necessities of the hour, youth re-
asserted itself, and quiCkened with the
never satisfied longing after the happi-
ness it claims as its birthright. An Illus
DRY picture-born of a dream and shaped
~
the central figure, occupied much of his
thoughts. He assured himself that some
reason was due her for the detention of
her property during so long a period, and
wasted considerable time and stationery
in attempting to give one. without any
conscious wish to stir her Imagination
or awaken her interest, his few unsigned
words of thanks and explanation yet re-
vealed more of his darkest hour than
he was aware. In them were sufficient
food for curiosity and sympathy-sworn
enemies to forgetfulness. or his rea-
son for retaining the little Filipino coin
he gave no hint
a week later a chance paragraph in a
newspaper informed him that Dorothy
and her mother had gone to New York
and might shortly sail for Europe.
In the three years that followed. Nor
woods success pointed the words of the
poet:
There is tide in the affairs of men
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to
fortune"
In the various turnings of his lane he
had made many acquaintance and a
few friends, who occasionally drew him,
unwillingly enough, out of the routine
of business into the social pleasures of
his age and kind. So it CHANGED that
one evening watching his opportunity
to say goodnight to his hostess and es-
cape from a crowded dance, he looked
across the shoulders of the throng and
intercepted the level glance of pair of
brown eyes. Norwood promptly changed
his farewell to a petition, and five min
utes later he was saying to the owner
of the eyes, Let me take you out of this
crush. There is a corner near that win
dow where air is "A possibility"
II know your name well. Mr. Nor
wood" said Dorothy Moore. Cousin
Jack has often mentioned you in his let
ters."
Jack and I were old college friends, -
he replied. but | had lived here two
years before l ran across him again"
What puzzles me- the girl went on,
lis that your face is familiar. too. 1t
struck me when | first saw you a few
moments ago-and yet | know we have
never met before
once" he said. three years ago"
why, lis it possible? didn't
know"
That at our first meeting | was tempt
ed to beg from you-and later on did
wOrse-applied your property to my own
needs-or, To be plain, stole from you?
questioned Norwood.
She made a move of antonishment. and
her fan slid from her lap. As the
young man bent to restore It, some
thing in his attitude or gesture brought
recollection "A flood
then flushed crimson.
1T cant be true" she began. ther
stopped, watching with fascinated eyes
while he took from his breast-pocket a
case. and held out his hand. on the
palm lay a little silver Filipino coin.
And are you really, really, that poor
boy?' she cried impulsVelY. mo won
der your face haunted me. oh, why did
You never let us know-when we owed
you so much?"
Norwood's eyes roved from her eager
face to the bit of silver. II should like
to return it to you" he said Irrelevant
ly. 1T has been a veritable mascot
yet at times a source of sharp misery
''Why do you say that? 1t sounds
dreadfully like a riddle, and l was never
good at guessing them" said the girl
holding out her hand for the coin.
AS her soft fingers touched Norwood
palm his own closed over them, and h,
replied. Because it might have beer
the gift of a"
Friend" she supplemented demure
ly, as he hesitated.
He frightened his clasp. 1T could b,
the gift of a lover" he insisted.
"Oh, hush! murmured Dorothy. ris
ing. Someone is looking" Then sh,
added, But come and see us to-mor
rowland don't forget to bring the-coin.'
1.-THE Ledger Monthly.