The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-09-21


'But he is so subducd in his STYLE" was
the remark of every body. lie never
danced, and when he was pressed to
sing. he always cvadcd the request by
pleading a slight hoarscncss. There used
to be a slight dash of frivolity in Toms
conversation and conduct. and he would
abandon himself to all kinds of mcrri.
ment ; but now he was rather grave,
quiet, and dignifed, and several ambi-
tious young men made most melancholy
attempts to form themselves upon his
style. Another of his changes was.
that he wore his hair cut very short, and
his fine classical head was improved BY
it. In fact, Toms new style was infinite
ly more interesting, becoming, and dis.
tinguc than his old. Certain pious la
dies got their heads together, and, after
discussing the matter. came to the con
clusion that Tom Dillar was preparing
himself for tho ministry. This snspi-
cion even gave new interest to him.
and he became more than ever an object
of observation. But this theory was
soon exploded for if Tom were ongag
ed in so pious an occupation. under
whose auspices was he studying On
hearing the report. Tom smiled sarcas-
tically, and raise his eyebrows as pco-
pie do when they are both surprised and
amused, but did not deny it. But. if
he was not studying for the ministry,
what was he doing and how did he live?
Where did he get his money ? for it was
known that Tom paid as he went. and
not a soul Of his acquaintance could ac.
cusc him of Borrowing
These questions began to grow cx-
trcmcly interesting and puzzling. for the
manner in which Tom had been cleaned
ont by his speculation in Pottawattamy
Coal Stock, by his friend. Pete Van Sill
Ger, was as notorious as his subsequent
poverty and retirement from the world.
All sorts Of expcdicnts wero resorted to
for the purpose of discovering the secret
of Toms income but the mystery baf
fed the kccncst Investigation. and the
consequence was, that the widest con-
ceivable stories were told about him. and
he was regarded with looks of suspicion.
and treated with cold disdain by certain
ladies who had marriagcablc daughters.
The excitement at last reached its calcn-
turc when it was discovered that Julia
Laurens, daughter Of the celebrated and
wealthy physician of that name, and
granddaughter of old Ormolu the auc.
tioncer, one of the most beautiful and
fascinating girls in society, had actually
fallen in love with Tom, and that he had
been forbidden her fathers house because
he refused to tell how he gained his III
come.
The report of this interesting crcum
stance invested the mystery of Tom.
prosperity with a romantic interest, and
the excitement became absolutely furi
Gus. 1t was impossible to enter house
without hearing the subject discussed
and even merchants talked about it on
Change. The different theories which
were broachcd werc highly instructive
nasmuch as they revealed the many diff
fcrcnt methods by which a man may con
trive to live without labor but it st
happened, that moi one of them came
within thousand miles of the truth
Tom had. in fact, discovered placer, as
he termed it, which he alone knew how
to work; and most discreetly did he keel
his secret, until. in lucklcss moment
the mcrest accident revealed it.
The women, poor simplc-mindcd crca
lures. knowing but little of the world
hal b.s al,
Tom. the most plausible Of which was
that he had entered into league Will
thc-- some other ladies, who had !
less particular acquaintance with humaI
possibilities believed that he got his mon
cy by writing poems for the magazines
while others said that he gambled. Blu
TOMS regular habits and his placidity o
temper were adverse to the last supposi
ton. The men, of course, gave shrcwd
or gucsses; and one party maintained
with some plausibility. that Tom Dilla
was employed as Russian spy. Th,
difficulty in this case was, that he neve
received any foreign letters, was notori
ously ignorant of political movements
and never mingled in any society where
he would be likely to pick up any infor
nation that would interest the empcro
of Russia. Another party maintaine,
that he speculated in stocks; but the the
ory was easily knocked in the head; Ton
had not been in Wall-strcet since his spec
ulation in the Pottawattamy Coal Stock
Some ill-natured people limited that h'
was employed in circulating counterfeit
money; but he was closely watched. anC
was never known to pass off bad bill
lie was accused of picking pockets, o
buying lottery tickets, and other disre
putablc practices: but the strict integrity
of Toms conduct, aud his perfect frank
ness on all subjects concerning himself
except that impenetrable mystery of thu
source of his income, put every unsen
erous suspicion to rest. lie was watched
when he went from party, or the opera
and was always found to GO directly Il
his lodgings. and there, too, would he b.
found in the morning. Julia Iaurens
father had employed police officer T.
dog Toms footsteps, and discover wha
his haunts were; but the man could learl
nothing more than was already known
There was ono rather striking pcculiari
~, however, about Toms movements
which might lead to the discovery of tn
mystery Nobody had seen him, exccp
on Sunday nights, between the hours o
seven and ten, Evcrj place of amusc
mcnt in the city was ransackcd in vain
dnring these hours, but no sign of Ton
Dllar could any where be found, and HI
continued to be a subject Of talk in SO
cicty, where he was still well reccive'
iu spite of all the evil things that wer,