The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-03-03

gouHu, examined the condition OF MS creuN-lOr MS
surplus cash gone-had the property valued ;uRd
determined to give thousand than its worth, TO
prevent its falling into any eses hands. When
the day Of sale arrived, he placed himself in front Of
the auctoneer and determined by the ierceness Of
his ''bids to Brighten any competitor from the field
The room crowded, and tho sale began. Al
the eloquence Of the celebrated Puff was displayed
on this occasion; and when he paused after his glow
ing description, and asked any gentleman be kind
enough to name a to begin with--suggesting, At
the same time, four thousand ponds, 'sGentlemen,
shall we say four thousand guneas?'' Mr. Cling-
ham Howard, in a low voice that was calculated to
show that he in earnest, and did not stand upon
trifes, nodded his head, and said "sevsn!" The
auctioneer himself was overcome with the success Of
his oratory, and there was a dead silence among the
spectators, "Thank you sr-seven thousand gum
cas-" he said. "Wi any gentleman make an ad-
vance7" looking round, At the time, as if he
considered useless to waste any breath in endeav-
oring to enhance the price. Ills hammer mechani-
calIy went up, and was the point Of falling. when
a weak voice the orators pulpit whispered
''eight.''
The voice proceeded from old wrapped up
in a thick great coat, though it was a warm day in
Juue-a clear eyed, small featured, dimnutiye old
man, who had sat the whole time, taking apparent
interest in the proceedings. All eyes were turned
upon him in a moment, and he quietly repeated the
awful monosyabIe -'eight' Mr. Gilliugham How
ard looked at the old gentleman with detestution in
every feature for he felt that the person, whoever he
was, actually robbing him Of thousand pounds;
and he would have had very few scruples IN send
ing the cnlpril to Botany Bay for 80 Tremendous an
A sort of suiiIn ran rnnud tho assaubl,ya
at seeing the sudden alteration produced his
,enancei and though he had determined not to give
than the original seven, he was ashamed to be
cowed by unknown individual al once; aud after
a row minutes pause, and glance Of inetfabie ha-
tired At the little old man, who had reapsed into his
state Of contented anconcern he looked at the
tIoneer, and sand, Five hundred more!' Say ing
this, he put his hands his pockets, and KEEP, his
eye fixed on his competitor Without moments
hesitation, the old gentleman nodded his head once
more, and said, ''Mr Puff, I'm in a hurry. VIII
this gentleman give ten thousand guineas3 | will''
The auct, Oneer gave one look to Mr. Gilngham
Howard, and saw, from the blank expression Of that
gentleman's countenance, iha. compstton was At an
end, The hammer fell, and seemed like a great
rock Mr. GHnghan Howard heart
"Your name, il you please, sir said Mr Puff
a pen and ink III write order for the
ey. My name Is Thomas Roe, No. 20, Riches
Court"
CHATTER II.
A week had passed, and AFR Gillingham Howard
nursed his wrath, like Tam o Shanter's wife, keep
it warm. The name of the successful purchaser had
struck him with feeling of horror; for as silence
had brooded for fifty years over the history of his
Il,
purchase of Surbridge had givon rise to a whole my
hoIogy Of ancestry like to the antehstoric periods Of
Greece and other imaginative naIions-he looked up
the appearance Of the vertabIe contemporary Of
that fabulous age in the way as Romulus would
have regarded any surviving friend and companion Of
the real bona tide robber or pg-driver to whom he
probably owed his birth It is needless, therefore, to
say that all other feelings fear and disgust pre-
dominated lie determined to withdraw himself in
to still arstocratc seclusion than before, and
on no account recognize the existence of his
neighbor. \ month or Two passed on, and steps
seemed taken the part Of the purchaser to avail
himself of his new acquisition. Day after day Mr.
Dillingham; Howard looked up the tut nf that
crowned the beautiful field beyond his park, and
seeing symptoms Of cutting down, other prep
aratlons for house-buildng, began to indulge in the
pleasing anticipation that The old gentleman had no
intention of the kind; and by cherishins this idea for
time, he succeeded at last in believing, that It
he did in reality turn his ground to any such purpose,
he would be guilty of fresh injustice Three months
had elapsed and the beautiful colors of Autumn Just
unurled themselves in order to be struck at the first
broadside Of a November lrost-the sun was shining
warmly, that the leaves had every reason to be
ashamed of their yellow complications, and young
lady-liIe butterfly awakened by the brightness OF
the day-huttered forward from the porch of Sur
bridge Hail. dressed in all the huas Of the rainbow-
A green bonnet, pink peisse, red shawl and lilac
paruso, scarcely in keeping with the sylvan
scene on which she hurrIedly entered. She was YER
tail and very thin and had been taught TO walk by
a parsian promeaeuse guinea lesson $50 that the
tail of her gown described a half circle every time
she slept, and her progress apparently on the
principle Of the propeller screw. small sketch
book was under her arm, and across her wrist she
bore Il supernumerary shawl 'if he should be there
again. she thought, he will surely speak He look
ed as if he wished to do it the last time. But he's