Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-11-25
MONTPELIER, NOVEMBER a5, 1912.


privileged truth ellers nre quite necessary ofliie
to young ladies, in the full idle Of society and we
really thinK II would I've worth while for every
dnzen OF lien 10 unite TO keep person of this
Kind, on salary, for the benefit Of the whole
however Tint is nothing TO our present purpose.
We must return to our fair heroine, whom we
left at the close oflhe last conversation standing in
deep reverie, by the window.
1t is more Than half true, she said TO herself
: more ihnn halr Here om, twenty years old, and
] ne' er have thought ofanythng, never have done
anything, except 10 amuse md crafty myself; no
purpo'e-no object nothing high-notling dig
nfcd nothing worth living Tor only n paror
ornament, heigh-ho! Wen, really do believe
could do something with this Elliot; and yet
how dread to tryp
Now, my good readers, If you are anticipating
love story, we must hasten to pm, in our dis
clnlmer you are quite mistaken in the ease. Our
fair, brilliant heroine was at This time Of speaking
as heart-whole as the diamond on her bosom,
which reflected the light IN too many sparkling
rays ever 10 absorb il. She Ind, 10 be sure hall
IN earnest, hill IN jest, maintained hnntcrug pIa.
tonic sort Of friendship with George Elliot sl!e
had danced, ridden, sung and skcched with him
but so had SHE with twenty other young men, aud
us 10 coming to anything tender with such qnirk,
brilliant, restless creature, Elliot would MS soon
have undertaken to srnlimeninli2c over II glass ol
coda water. No, there was decidedly no love in
the cnse.
" u.
day or two after, us they were readng together.
its "A knights ring, said she playluY, as she
drew u oil, md pointed to coral cross in the
gold ring Of the red crossed knights. Come
now I've good MUD 10 bind you TO my service
with it,
DO lady fair said Elliot, stretching out his
hand for the ring.
Know, them said she, VI you take this pledge
you must obey whatever commands lay upon
you in itg name.
i swear!' said Elliot, in The mock heroic. and
she placed The ring OH his finger.
An evening or two inter- Eliot attended Flor
ence TO II party at Mrs. BIS. Every tling was
gay and brilliant, aud there was no lack either Of
wit OF wine. Eliot was standing IN little alcove
spread with refre,hnents, with glass Of wine in
his hand. | forbid it the cup is poisoned said
n voice III his ear lie turued quickly, and Flor.
at his side. Every one WINS busy with
laughing and talking, around, aud nobody saw The
sudden Start and flush that these words produced,
ms Elliot looked earnestly in the ludys face. She
smiled. and pointed, payiully, 10 The ring but al
ter all, there vas in her face expression of ny
ilation aud interest which she could not reprrss
and Elliot felt, however playful the manner that
she wns in earnesi,-und as she glitltd away in the
crowd, lie stood with his arms folded, and his eyes
fixed on the spo where she had Disappeared.
is it possible that am suspecled-llut there
things said Of me, MS if 1 were in danger p
were the first thoughts that flashed through his
u
Ell, given up, aud ,ost, TO the eye Of every locker
ON, before he begins to suspect himself! This
was the first time tint any defined apprehension
oil loss OF character had occurred 10 Elliot, and he
STARTLED ms if from dream.
What the deuce is the matter with you Elliot,
you took as solemn us hearse! said young nun
near hy.
Has Miss Elmore cut you 7; said another.
'Come, man, have n glass, said third.
Let him alone he's bewiiched,' said fourth
! saw The spell he had him. None OF us Gun
say but Our turn may come next
An hour later that evening, Florence was talk.
ing whh pr usual spirit to group who we're col
leclet around her. when, suddenly looking up, she
saw Elliot standing IN an abstract hummer, at one
of the windows that looked out into The balcony
lie is offended, dare say she thought; hut
why should care? For once in my lite have
tried to do right thing, good thing; have
risked giving offence for less than this, many II
time Sill, Florence could not but feel iremulous
when, few moments after, Elliot approached her
and offered his arm for promenade. They walk
ed up and down the room, she talked voubly, and
lie answering yes or no, anything else, at cross
purposes I'll ut length, as il ly accident, he drew
her into the balcony which overhung the garden
The moon was shining brightly, and every lling
without IN its pacld queiness, cOHtrasled strange
ly with the busy, hurrylg scene within.
n Miss Gilmore, said Elhor, abruptly, may ask
you sincerely, had you any design in remark
YOU 'h""o ~ ''e w NV '"i l"it W me evening
Florence paused, anu though hhhllnally the
most practised and se'l-possessed OF women, the
color actually rcceded from her cheek she an
swered-
Yes, MIR. Elliott must confess ii.al had
'And is il possible, then, that you have lie ard
anyIhlng:'
Il have heard, Mr.. Elliot, that which makes me
trembIe for you, aud tor those whose lie know
is hound up in you; aud tell me, were il well or
friendly IN me 10 know that such things were sad
that such danger eAsIed, and not 10 warn you
Of Z:
Eliot stood for few moments in silence.
III" t,iy e"' Tii;', I t,I I :; r,, t
soi, slae.,d 'ro, , I ~ '"9
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