Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-08-21

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Leland rather complacenly ave sad IT, and
III stand to it. I'll bet you my cane, which would
not lose for worlds, against your boots, which are
not worth sous, that before this day week. III
brink her to onr lecture, wearing feather of my
selection or of your selection, if you choose we'll
pick it out tomorrow"
Done" answered Gowan. 81 om sure of the
cane"
Not so sure" said Hand. "Nevor trust Dick
Leland not to win bet. The grl will wear the
feather if he has to hang for it. Gracious what u
GOOD Joke twill bel LII rive YOU the benefits of
my taste, Dick | am used TO shopping"
The tick OF the last praycr-bc warned them not
to loiter longer, and with devotion in their he rts
angleward truly. but hardly heavenward- they has
tened 10 their seats.
The following morning witnessed the Eruption
Into the shops of various as'onshcd millncrs of
four students. for even Benson, spite Of his "de
cayed hopes" had been persuaded not to lose such
an opportunity of cultivRting his taste. Great WAS
the curiosity Of the uiuers' girls who listened to
the half suppressed remarks of the young men, no
two Of whom inclined to the same hue, and who
turned over with awkward fingers, the contents Of
every box in pltiable bcwildermcnt
take blue orc. Leland - her eyes are blue as
the heavens mHtcE thom,'
Yes, yes llnnd, we all know your taste. Come
. l}cnis m, give rs yours
Il prefer white pure unsul|ied whitc.'
"No, no" cried Gowan, "hove it green! She
iCW be green if she ever wears it."
"llold your tongue, Guwan, don't speak so loud
All the milliners' girls in town will be canting a.
bout us Come, fellows, toss up a copper don't
care what it is. Ill make her wear it, be it green,
black or gray"
"Sclrlet then--il's good warm winter color,
and here's splendid one. Now, Dick, if you can
make the girl wear that, I'll wear one too"
The feather was purchased. although the MILL
ner exalted her price in proportion to the incxpcri-
ence Of her customers, but the twelve dollars was
willingly paid by Leland, who had beaten her down
front fourteen, and hatered himself he had made
an excellent bargain As they left the store, the
lady in question passed. Gowan bowed unnoti-
ccd.
Cut direct Gow0n- thought you were acquaint-
ed with her Don't feel bad, man. She won't cut
you so next week, when she knows you're ma
friend. TIL stop ana tell her so now y
Leaving his companions petrhcd with astonish-
ment on the sidewalk, Leland turned and with a
most graceful bow and winning smile joined the
equally astonishcd Indies.
Good morning. Miss Fox am sincerely clad
to see you once more! Indeed should never have
recognized your face, had not my friend Gowan
mentioned your name as we passed. How you haze
altered since you were ten or twelve years old :
Pray Introduce me to your friend Oh you do not
recognize me | forgot that time had worked as
great change in me as it had on you. 1t has
stamped my face with manhood, while in yours it
has only added new charms TO the features which
were then perfect You: old dlncing-schoo friend
Dick Leland forgot that You could not he expected
TO remember him. though the Impression made on
his heart was less ilectlng'
Dick Leland |" said the lady with troubled
wondering look, as she tried in vain TO remember
her quondom beau. How to answer him she hardly
knew, but another glance at his fresh. handsome
face, and pleasant smile determined her The at
tentons of such handsome young man in Chap
el-st. not TO be lightly lost, for Miss Fox
not such complete divinity, as TO be absolutely
free from all earthly feelings.
Think you MI Leland for your ready recollec-
ton Of old acquaintance, and if you will extend
your pardon to my slow memory, have no doubt
shall in time, recall such Il friend as goa must
have been. and so you were at dancing-school
with me, ut MADAME Folair's. Poor soul She has
had a sad tine of it, since she married that worth
less scamp
"Sad indeed !" said Leland he was worthless
scamp! But now tell me something of our old
, schoo-mates. ] left for my home ut the South so
soon after, that have entirely lost sight of all
Miss FoNs is almost the only face whose impress
: remains undumed. One other recollect--a pref
ty. graceful grl--Tve lost her name what could
; it have been? You must know dark eyes and
hair and 50 graceful can't You tell -
"Martha Gilbert, perhaps"
"Oh, yes, the very one Martha and were al
ways great friends. 1t was hard with me, with my
boyish tustes to tell which should be the lady OF
\ ]
, long since erased her name from my memory and
left the other undsturbed"
They were now at their own door, and Leland
= promising to call as soon as bis pressing engage
ments permitted, when he hoped he should be able
to recall himself still more to Miss FoX's memory
q took his leave.
4 "Ilang it," said he, as soon as he was out o.
d hearing distance, "Im better out of this scrapl
Il than expected to be. After all, there's nothing
J., like sheer i'm uence to get Il man well through
q the world-and tolerable share of good looks
q too and he switched his little quite compla
y Gently my old friend, Martha. that's the hes
2 Joke Martha G,lbert!! got along well there
a Free admittance HOV such an old acquaintance
i, as ! can call as often rs he likes; she's got mir
q aculous memory she remembers me POUNDS!
h am clever fellow But that feather that's TIT
,s hardest point / rather wish | was out of TIT
1t scrape. But the girl has displayed gullihility e
70 nough already, to hold out prospect Of success
e. Poh! no backing out now! Law, I'd make her wea
Of it in her ear, if I'd said 500
70 Miss FoX's soliloquy, as she laid aside her whit
I'd hat, aud arayed her hair before the Mirror was Nc
A. less complaccnt and unsatisfactory than Mr. lie
lands. "Wh1t a charming fellow Such eyes
TO and curling hair-and such warm, friendly feeling
an strange | don't remember him! think do be
Gin to have slight recollection of him. Charm
SIX ing little fellow be must have been! And so fJn
th of me? Wen, suppose was pretty child, on
hope Pm not changed for the worse. Martl
lis Gilbert! Tho idea of his Gazing anything abol
en- hcE He may be thankful he don't know her no,
wonder when he will call, Pm sure | remembt
TO all about him now =
ne As she had hoped, Leland called that night an
had no reason to quarrel with his reception, an
ow found nothing that required forgiveness the pa
OF Miss FoN's memory, wdlch had grown gradual
of brighter, until 1t had become quite rs brilliant an
ON active as his own. The evening passed in talkn
zee over old tiue5 and their acquaintance progresst
MT with exciting rapdity. Again he called and W;
-ls equally well received and then made an appoin
ment to escort the ladies to hear an interestir
err. lecture on the following Wednesday,
n But the feather! How that feather weighed
MS. Leand's mind He had contemplated il for
hour on that very morning, in the vain hope of Al
nd stractng some available idea from the sensele
/ object, and ended his contemplation, knowing