Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-02-24
BY E. p. WALTON &

: I :. ! :: !:
for hillng
in &C hypu-
thetid Is in the
air.
1t the latter
kind on VI gave me
so lree-aM made me so
completely ~ - own actions.
How ! did worry that blessed old woman
how Laura lecinred and scoded how the
governor slormed and how | was forgiven
the next minnie, aud we were as happy
again as the day was long
But at length the time of separation came.
had grown great hulkIng fellow, strong
enodgh to make my bread as porter, II
that had been needed; aud so a situation
was found for me in counting house at
Barcelona, aud after lecture and hear
" cry from sister Laura, blessing aud a
kiss from mamma, aud a great sob kept
down by hurricane laugh from the Cover
nor, ! went adrIt.
-Four years passed rapidly away. had
attained my full height, and more than my
Just share of inches. had already ENJOY
ed a fair moGicum of whiskers, aud had
even made some progress ~ the cultivation
OF PAIR Of moustaches, when suddenly
the house was connected with failed
What 10 dol The governor insisted up
on my return 10 England, where his inter-
est among the mercantile class was consId-
cradle; Laura hinied mysterlously that my
presence IN the house would soon De a mat
ter Of great Importance to my father; and
mamma let out me secret by writing to me
that Laura was going to " change her con-
dllion.'
was glad to hear this for | knew he
would be model of fellow who was Lau-
ra's husband and, guplng down my PRIDE,
which would fam have persuaded me that
II was unmanly TO GO back again like the
III sxpence, set out on my return home
The family, knew, had removed 10 an
other house but being well acquainted
with the town, had no difficulty ia finding
the place. II was range of handsome
buildings which had sprung up 20 the FASH
lonable outskirts during my absence; and
although 1t was far ou iu the evening, my
accustomed ewes soon de- cried through The
gloom the governors old iashioaed door
plate was about to knock, really agi,at-
ed with delight aud struggling memories,
When temptation came ia my way.
One of tie area-windows was open, gap
ing as if for my receptions A quantity OF
plate lay upon table close by. Why
should | not enter and appear unannouaced
IN the drawing room, a sunburnt phantom
OF FIVE feet eleven VIII, should mol pre-
sent the precise and careful Laura with d
4 Il I.,r i.l
conveniently at the service OF any area
sneak who might chance 10 pass b, Why!
That is only figure of speech. ! asked
no questions about the matter; the idea
was hardly across my BRAIN when ny legs
we're across the rails In another moment
had crept ia By the window; and chuck
ling al my own cleyerness, aud the great
moral lesson was about TO teach, / was
stuihng my pockets with The plate
Whle thus engaged, the opening OF a
door 10 the ball above alarmed me aud,
afraid Of the failure OF nv plaza, stepped
lightly up the stair. which was partially
lighted by the hall lamp. A. was about
30 emerge at the top, servant grl was
coming out OF d room on The opposite side.
She INSTANTLY reireated, shut the door with
bang, aud | could hear a bali suppressed,
hysiercal cry. | bounded on, sprung up
the drawing room star, and entered the
6rsi dooc at a venture. All was DARK, and
stopped for moment TO lIsIeG. Lights
were hurrying across the hall, and ! heard
the rough voice OF a man as II scoidlng aud
tlunung some person.
The girl had doubtless given the alarm,
although her information must have been
very ndistuct; ior when she saw me was
in the shadow OF the stair, aud she could
have had llule more than vague impress.
SION that she beheld human figure. How
ever this NAV be, the mans voice appeared
To descend the stair TO The area room, and
presently | heard crashing NOISE, not as II
he was counting the plate, but rather thrust
ing It aside en- mdSse Then heard the
windows closed, the shutters bolted and an
alarm bell hung upon them, aud the man re-
assembled the STAR. hall scoldlng, hall laugh
ing at the glrFs superstition. lie look care
notwithstanding, 10 examine the laslenngs
of the street door, aud even TO lock IL, aud
put the key ia his pocket, He then retIr'
ed into a room, and all was silence
began to feel pretty considerably queer
The governor kept no male servant that
| knew of, aud had never done so. 1t was
impossible that he could have introduced
this change into his household without IN,
being informed of it by sister Laura, whose
letters were an exact chronicle of every
thing, down 10 the health of the Cat, Thu;
+ was puzzilng. Aud now that had time Il
think, the house was much too large for
family requiring only three sleeping rooms
even when was at home. 1t was what /:
called double house, with rooms on bott
sides of the hall ; and the apartment, on the
Threshold of which | was still lingering
appeared from the dim light of the windows
to be OF very considerable size. ! now rec
objected that the quantity of plate | haC
seen-a portion Of which at ihls momen
felt preternaturally heavy in my pockets
must have been three times greater THAI
any the governor ever possessed, aud tina
various pieces were of size aud massive
ness had never before seen ia the estab
llshment
la vain | belhought myself that ha,
seen and recognized the well known door
plate, aud that the area from which enter
ed was Immediately under; IN vain | argu
ed that since there was Laura TO be married