Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-01-27

on landing, treated Miss Brown with respect
ful attention, accompanied her home to
Squire Johnson's door, and cordially babe
her good night.
The casual glimpses which the young men
of Pond village bad of Miss Brown during
the remainder of the week, ms she OCCASION
ally stood at the door, or looked out of the
window, or once or twice when she walked
out with Susan Jones, and the fair view they
J all had of her at meeting on the Sabbath.
served but to increase their admiration. and
TO render her more and more an object of
attraction She was regarded by all as
prize, and several of them were already
planning what steps it was best to take in or
der to win her The two most prominent
candidates, however, for Miss Browns favor.
were Charles Robinson aud Stephen Jones'
Their position and standing among the young
men OF the village, seemed to put all others
in the back ground, Charles, whose father
was wealthy, had every advantage which
money could procure. But Stephen, though
poor, had decidedly the advantage over
Charles in personal recommendations. He
had more talent, was more sprightly and in
telllgcnt, and more pleasing in his address.
From the evening of the sail ON the pond
they had both watched every movement of
Miss Brown with the most intense interest;
and as nothing can deceive lover, each had
with an interest no less intense, watched
every movement of each other They had
ceased to speak to each other about her. and
II her name was mentioned in their presence
both were always sure to color
The second week after her arrival through
the influence of Squire Johnson, the district
school was offered to Miss Brown on the
other side of the pond, which offer was ac-
copied, and she went Immediately to take
charge OF IT. This announcement, at first,
tarew something of damper upon the spir-
ITS OF the young people Of Pond village
But when it was understood that the school
would continue but few weeks, and being
but mile and half distant, Miss Brown
would come home every Saturday afternoon
and spend the Sabbath, it was not very diff
cult TO be reconciled to the temporary ar
rangement. The week wore away heavy.
especially to Charles Robinson aud Stephen
Jones. They counted the days impatiently
TIL Saturday, and on Saturday they counted
the long and tagging hours till noon. They
had both made up their minds that il would
be dangerous to wait longer, and they both
resolved not to let another Sabbath pass with
out making direct proposals TO Miss Brown.
Stephen Jones was too early riser for
Charles Robinson, and in any enterprise
where both were concerned, was pretty sure
to take the lead, except where money could
carry the palm, and then, of course, il was
always bore away by Charles. As Miss Luz
cy had been absent most of the week, aud
was 10 be at home that afternoon, Charles
Robinson had made an arrangement with his
mother and sisters to have a little tea-party
IN the evening, for the purpose of inviting
Miss Brown, and then. of course, he should
walk home with her in the evening: and
there, OF course, would be good opportuni- |
~ to break the ice, and make known to her
his feelings and wishes. Stephen Jones.
however, was more prompt in his movements. |
lie had got wind of the proposed tea-party.
although himself and sister for obvious re;l-
sons, had not been invited, aud he resolved
not to risk the arrival of Miss Brown and her
VISIT TO Mrs Roblnson's before he should see
her. She would dismiss her school at noon,
and come the distance Of mile and half
round the pond home. His mind wps at once
made up. He would go round aud meet her
at the school house, and accompany her on
her walk. There, in that winding road. a.
round those delightful waters, with the tall
and shady trees over head, aud the Wild
grape-vlnes twlnIng around their trunks and |
climbing to the branches, while the wild
BIRDS were singing through the woods, aud
me wild ducks playing in the caves along
the shore, surely there, if any where in tho |
world, could man bring his mind up TO the
point OF speaking of love- a arasi lf
81 Accordingly little before noon Stephen
washed and brushed himself up, aud started
Oh his expedition In order to avoid obser-
vation, he took a back route across the
held, intending to come into the road by the |
pond, little out of the village Asill luck |
would haveit; Charles Robinson had been
out in the same direction, and was returning
with an armful of green boughs and wild |
flowers, to ornament the parlor for the eve
ning lie saw Stephen, and noticed his
dress and the direction he was going, and he |
at once smoked the whole business. His
hrst impulse was TO rush upon him and collar
him, and demand that he should return
back. But then he remembered in the last
scratch lie had with Stephen two or three
years before he had little the worst of it,
and he instinctively stood still while Stephen
passed on without seeing him. 1t flashed
upon him at once that the question must now
be reduced to game of speed If he could
by any means gain The school house first and
engage Miss Lucy to walk home with him,
he should consider himself safe. But if Ste
phen should reach the school-house first, he
should feel a good deal of uneasiness for the
nsequences-Stephen was walking very