Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-03-11

brought word from market how CIVIL Mr.
Kirkenshaw had been to him. Some of the
cattle were i'll, and he sent over famous
cowleech. and then he came himself and
brought the old man I'll the news of the
country round. He would sit for hours
talking to him, while Agnes, who seemed to
take but little notice of anything, safe at her
work beside the window. Thomas Kirken-
shaw was tall precise man who dressed as
plain as Quaker. Mighty particular was
he about all his things his CATERS never
were splashed, nor was there a speck upon
his prim cravat. He had, as | said, pref
ty property of his own, wcll-furnshed
house and large garden; he kept a woman
servant at good wages, and had horse and
gig, and plenty to do with in every way
There was only one thing against hm-and
that was himself 1t was his canting, hypo-
critical self that spoiled all that was Thomas
kirkenshaws.
I" | never liked him. He was righteous
talking man. To have heard him you would
have thought that he had studied at Oxford
or Cambridge, but for all that, to my think
ing, there was not a SAVIOR of grace iii any
of his words Somehow or other, however,
he got on the blind side of the old man and
our Michael, and with them it was Thomas
Kirkenshaw this, and Thomas Kirkenshaw
that and Thomas Kirkenshaw everything
and at last, what must father say, but that
it would be rare thing if Thomas Kirkcn-
shaw would marry our Agnes
" was setting on n stocking as he said
these words; but | let 90 my count, and
Father says ], are you in your right sem
SEES to say such thingP
Ay, lass said he; nothing would
please me better than to see our Agnes wed
such respectable man as Thomas Kirken-
shaw
81 was quite vexed to hear him say so );
and all the more because our Michael said,
in his quiet way, that he thought she might
go farther, and fare worse.
What and have you two been laying
your heads together to play into the hands
of a black-hearted, hypocritical villain like
Thomas Kirkenshawr said l. quite in apas-
sion. could not have thought it of you.
Young, and lovely, and good as she is, to
give her into the power of a child of Satan
like Thomas Kirkenshaw
oct is not for you to talk in this way, Al
ice,' says father, knocking his stick upon
the house-hoor, as he always did when he
was put out you, that took part with a
reprobate like Christy Benson. Hold your
tongue, Alice, for Tve made up my mind
Agnes is my daughter, and | wish her no
better than to we'd Thomas Kirkenshaw.'
"The first and last real quarrel that ever
father and had was that night, and all about
Thomas Kirkenshaw; and the hardest words
that ever passed between our Michael and
me we're on the same subject. No wonder
that hated the very swing of his coat-tails.
"Well Agnes had already refused him
twice. bnt, for all that the cunning old fox
knew that he had friends in our house SO
he got new suit of clothes, pepper and
salt made by the first tailor i'll Kendall, with
pair of short, black CATERS, and comes
driving here on a Christmas Eve, in his new
gig, with fine great coat hanging over the
back, with the matter of dozen capes to
it. The very sight of him gave me turn,
and | walked up stairs, out of his way for,
| thought, maybe he is only come for a call
on the men-folks But, no-no! Thomas
was come, in all his new finery, to make
matters sure. He put up his horse in the
stable, and drew the gig under the cart-house
Just as if he had been at home, and then
went in and seated himself upon the settle
close beside the old man. 1t was Christina:
Eve, and cold weather, so / was forced attel
awhile to come down stairs and there
found them all sitting as snug as could be
| Our Michael, when he saw me come in
looked little bit ashamed of himself; bu
not so Thomas Up he got, smiling ant
held out his hand to shake mine but | pre-
tended not to see it. With that, not a bl
abashed, he sets me chair, and says he
as civil as could be,
"'Come into the circle, Mrs. Swailes
we'll make room for you
"'Thank you, Mr.. Kirkenshaw 7 said
coldly, speaking out the Mr.. as plain a
could be, that he might see that ! was nc
friends with him: ] can take care of my
seIfp and with that | seated myself in al
other chair which | brought in, thinking t
myself that ,cOud Join the circle, and tina
maybe by so doing / should spoil all thei
/ plotting and scheming. But they had bee
too deep for me- They had had it all thei
: own way while | was up stairs, and so ha
: got their business done, and father had toll
t him that he meant to give Agnes five hun
, dred pounds down on her wedding day.
which was good lump of money,-an
| promised him his good word, and so had on
I Michael SO, as | was come down anon
= them, they talked of nothing but fairs, an
4; cattle, and their own business and | wa
a perhaps, mistaken, and there might, aite
a all, be nothing in the wind, got tea, and W;
S civil to Thomas. Agnes, poor thing va
e out of the way; she was gone to spend tn
night at a neighbours and our Michael WI
a to go and fetch her home in the tax-cart,
d nine o'clock. So at half-past eight | tol
}, him he should be getting ready; and, wit
i that, up got Thomas Kirkenshaw, and wei
o out with MIN. | thought that he was goin,
;, and so / said, quite civilly, Good nigh
o Thomas Kirkenshaw.'
= GO shall see you again, neighbor, sa,
(; he, and went out.
e " was vexed that he was coming bacl
Is and thought that he was only gone out wit
our Michael to help him with the taX-car
st and you may, therefore, think how angry
= was not to see him, but our Michael con
y in again.
Is "' Thomas has taken the gig to fetch h
|, home, says he, as if he were half ashamC
d OF HIMSELF it's so much better riding in
n gig than i'll a taX-cart.'
J. 81 saw how it was at once, and nev
l. was so angry before