The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-15

The interior OF the academy was very
beautiful. The principal MAS yer! pleas
ant aud after deciding on their studies
they went back 10 Porler's, stopping on
the way To buy their books aud pro-
visions
IN the afternoon oi the nrAt day,
Bertha said she had headache and lay
down. Luck started for the lake, WHERE
he mel Nelson and went for roW. II
was beautiful day aud the water was
calm. Nelson rowci near the shore under
the shade of the trees. The afternoon
passed much too quickly to suit the
yohng couple.
When they returned Bertha had supper
ready.
~ Lucy. where have YOU beenT
asked Bertha.
"Out for row with Mr., Porter" said
Lucy calmly.
Bertha was surprisSi and hurt because
she was not invited, but she said no morc
about II. They sat down and read awhile
before retiring, The next morning u was
raining when they got up, and continued
all DAY. They studied on the long hard
lessons and Bertha said She wished she
had never come 10 the academy at all.
The girls studied hard and went rowing
and to entertainments and Il did not
seem hut little while before the term
was ended and the girls were ready to
GO home, During the term Nelson had
been very polite TO the girls, but no one
could help noticing that he cared great
deal for l.ucy and She did for him. lie
often took her to ride and 10 enter
tainmcnls. One evening while they were
walking under the elm trees in front Of
the academy, they noticed that there was
bright glow ON the back side Of the
academy. They hurried around there and
saw that the academy was ON lire,
Nelson ran TO a fire box and gave the
alarm. but although the fire engines came
quickly nothing could be done to save the
academy because water pipe was
broken. and as a result the academy and
Deacon Portcr's house were burned to
the ground
Deacon Porter was the Saddest man in
town; also the angricSt. lie tried TO
have his debtors make new notes and
dared them 10 do their worst. Nelson,
after saving goodbye To Lucy, which was
an he dared 10 do as his prospects did
not appear very bright, started for Chi
cago to find relative and perhaps em-
ployment. On his arrival he could not get
a trace Of his relative and began to look
for work with Just eleven dollars in his
rocket. He walked the streets day after
dav only 10 be met with refusal every
where ~ applied. When his money was
gone hr visited the recruiting station and
was accepted as a cavalryman and as
signed To regiment which was starting
for the Philippines.
The girls sent home for some money,
which was promptly forwarded, and they
returned home Bertha had been keeping
company with young farmer before she
went TO the academy and She had not
forgotten him. One day he told Bertha
that he was going TO Manitoba to settle
on some free land
John Davis. who had proSpercd in
Manitoba and bought another section,
came back for Bertha and to induce Mr..
Smith 10 sell his farm and live on his
new section, to which Mr., Smith agreed,
moving right away after John and Bertha
were married at the old home.
Nelson had been year in the Philip
pines chasing the ladroneS and had risen
10 the rank of lieutenant; his prospects
Frightened and he wrote to Lucy. In
six months the letter was returned
marked present address unknown.
This was bitter news for him and he
became morosc and reckless
Iucv had never ceased to think OF
Nelson, but could not explain his GOODNESS
in not writing to her. She knew he was
in Chicago, but that was the last she had
heard of him. So when She saw an ad-
ycrtiscment for governess in Chicago,
She was quick to apply and hoped with
all her heart that she might get ii as there
was chance to see Nelson.
On her arrival at Chicago She was met
hy the colonel'S coachman, Dan OBrien,
who took her to Colonel Anderson'S
house The only occupants of the house
were the colonies daughter and his
father and the housekecpcr. Lucy grew
very fond of Pauline and found her
pleasant little scholar, Pauline wrote
several letters to her father in the Philip
pines and did very well for q small child,
Nelson was a favorite with the Colonel,
and IL was through one of PaulineS
letters that he got q trace of Lucy Inc
child was telling about her new COVER
ness. Lucy. and Nelson read it.
When the Colonel went home he took
Nelson, now a captain, with him. 1t was
a happy scene in the Colonies house on
their arrival and it was still happier in
about week. What happened then may