Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-02-21
sG.REEN MoU Mt J FR EEMAN N.

with their first acquaintance, but she shrunk
with such evident agitation from ,ha subject that
he found it was not to be touched upon. Uponl
another occasion, also, he saw the same Ssult.
Mr. Grant, in speaking of an event to which'sse
desired to call Nevllles attention, mentioned the
year and the month in which it took place. In
reply, Neville remarked that he had no recollec-
ton of the circumstances, having been at that
time at sea, on his return from St. Domingo,
Laura was present as he spoke, but her face be-
came very pale, and she rose and left the room.
"That poor child" said Mr. Grant, as she dis
appeared, "can bear no allusion to the period or
events connected with her family misfortunes,
and we always avoid carefully, any reference of
the kind Poor girl she lost a ring some time
ago. which suppose must have belonged to, or
have been given to her by some member of her
family, for shewept and grieved over her loss so
much, that it made one unhappy to see her. She
insisted upon offering most preposterous re-
ward, in the hope of regaining it, but without
success hope, now, that it may never be re-
covered; it did but foster the memory ofpersons
and things that had far better be forgotten"
Neville made some reply, but he certainly did
not say amen to the lastremark.
Several weeks passed quickly by. Neville
observed, once or twice. that he was making a
very long stay but Mr. Grant assured him hewas
mistaken that, on the contrary, he been with
them but very little time; and with great do
cilny, Neville allowed himself to be convinc-
led. fut..t.
One evening about this time, towards twilight
as he sat by an open window, where be had been
lounging, with book in his hand, he suddenly
observed Laura walking slowly up the long ave
nue., leaning upon the arm of handsome young
man, whom he had never seen before He car
ried her parasol and bunch of flowers, and APP
peared in most extravagant spirits. While she
holding her bonnet suspended by one string,
smiled and listened with evident satisfaction
"Who can that mpudent fellow be 2" eacu-
lated Neville, while the color rose to his face
He watched their approach, and as they came
near the house, he retreated to his own room,
7 where he remained for an hour, fully persuaded
| that he had bad headache When he descend
fl ed, upon, summons to tea, his ears were salut-
ed, ere here he entered the drawing room, with
5 sounds of loud laughing and talking and in q
: few moments, that impudent fellow was present
; ed to him as Mr. Henry Grant, nephew to his
: host N
4 Young Grant shook kim warmly by the hand
told him he was glad to see him, and sorry thai
r he had not been able to return home sooner
/ handed him the chair he had himself occupied
! and very ingeniously displaced his cousin Sophy
e from her seat beside Laura which he took pos
session of with a smile and whispered remark
r to his fair ncighbor.
S "Cool that" said Neville, internally "This
e this, is his home. From his easy assurance,
: should Judge it was He calls her Laura, too
g Why what mistake l have been laboring un
: der | thought Henry was a school boy p
care you not well, Mr. Neville 2" asked Mr.
y Grant For Neville, so busy with his owl
(. thoughts had forgotten to say a word since he
: entered the room.
"A little headache madam, he replied, rouseC
= from his reverie. Laura sent him her bottle O
salts, which he put into his waistcoat pocket
e and, as his headache soon disappeared, we are
bound to believe that an application of volatile
salts to the left side is very efficacious in head
ache.
r Henry Grants coming changed, very sensibly
the habits of the family, Always restless him
: SELF he suffered no one to be quiet near him.
S Long rides on horseback were got duplicating
S parties by moonlight upon the river, and Ions
walks to the hidden recesses the woods, where
a surprise, dance, or feast was sure to be the re
f suit the ice-cream pals hidden in the hollow
trunks of trees, and champagne-bottles COOLING il
: the spring. Henry Grant had always been
4 favorite in the neighboreood hut now he out di,
!, even himself in his exertions to please. Tn,
young ladies called hirl Creature and the youn.
men "a first rate fellow, Neville, alone, excepted
: who, upon all these occasions was sure to fine
himself guilty of at least half dozen involunta
: ry falsehoods, as he was sure to be asked tina
G number of times if 'he did not think Henr,
Grant great acquisition p The questions
= were often put to him when he was watchin.
Laura and Henry in the dance, or when the lat
ter, con hospitable cares intent" was whsperin.
into Lauras ear, to inquire if she had forgotten
the corkscrew 2 or to express his fears 'tha
: they had not gotten spoons enough Then thu
f spirit of trutbiulness would get uppermost, and
d in his abstraction, he would often answer mo,
e when he should have said yes ? fne ts
fHenry Grants arrival caused no other re
r suit it had the effect of awakening Neville to
: sense of his own feelings and intentions. Hi
y motive in coming to Virginia, hitherto yelled un
r der cloud ofplausible reasons, were laid bart
to him, without disguise, and the confession full
s y made to his own heart that his happiness nov
: depended entirely upon his winning Laura's at
t fections. All the security which he had uncon
sciously felt before young Grants arrival founded
e upon the incident of the ring, and the recollec
j ton of her betrayal of feeling when she had dis
p covered herself not to be his wife, was gone. HI
# saw now plainly that he had rival land he feared
a successful one. jealousy had made him sharp
S sighted, and he perceived what he believed wa,