Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-02-24


to the intermiiting fever called leal-
ousy-causelessly, as he would him
self declare, when a remission of The
disease gave room for his natural
sense to act-causclessiy and penn
tently. but stili periinaciousl y jealous.
| have said that he was fine young
m n, tall, dark and slender; should
add that he was good son, kind
brother. pattern of sobriety and in
dustry-and possessed of talents and
requirements far beyond his station
But there was about him an ardor, a
vieor, a fiery restlessness, commonly
held proper to the natives of the
south of Europe, but which may,
sometimes, be found among our own
peasantry. A his pursuits whether
Of sport or labor, took the form of a
passion. At ten years old, he was
far beyond all his fellow pupils at the
Foundation School, to which, through
the kindness Of the Squire Of the
parish, his mother had been able to
send him. aud had even posed the
master himself; at eighteen, he was
the best cfickeicr, the best gardener
III the County; aud some odd vol
umes Of Shakespeare having come in
TO his possession. there was danger
a twenty Of his turning out dra-
matte poet. had not the kind encour
agement of his master to whom some
OF his early scenes were shown by his
patron aud admirer, the head garde-
ncr. acted as a salutary check. In
deed, 50 strong, at one time. was the
poetical Juror, that such a calaslro-
phe might, probably, have ensued,
Notwithstanding Nil .escombe's Judi
cious warnings, had not love, that
master passion, fallen, about this
time, IN poor Roberts way, aud en-.
crossed all the ardor of his ardent
temperament. The beauty and pla,
fitness OF his mistress. whilst they
enchanted ms fancy, kept the Jealous
lrriiabilly Of his nature IN perpetual
alarm He suspected "A lover in ev-
cry man who approached her aud
tic firm refusal of her father to sane
ton their union, till her impatient
wooer was ltle more forward in
the world, completed his disquiet.
Affairs were in this posture, when
a new parsonage arrived at Hilton
C,oss.
In addition to her other ways and
means. Mrs Kent tried to lessen her
rent, by letting lodgings-and the
neat quiet, elderly gentle woman
the widow Of long deceased rector
who had occupied her rooms ever
since Robert was born, being at last
gathered To her fathers, an advertise.
ment OF pleasant apartments TO let,
in the airy village OF Hilton Cross,
appeared in the county paper This
announcement was as true as If il
had not formed an advertisement il
a country paper Very airy wa,
the pretty village Of Hilton Gross
with it, breezy uplards and lis open
common. dotted, as it were, with
cottages and clumps oftrces; and We
~ pleasant were Mrs Kent's apart
meuls, for those who had sufficient
taste TO appreciate their rustic SIM
plicitv. aud sufficient humility to oy-
crlook their smallness. The iult
chamber, gliiering with Wilderness
its snowy dimity bed, and fresh
sheets smelling of lavender the sill
ting room, a thought larger, carpeted
with India mating lis shining cane
chair and It's bright easement, wreath
ed on the one side 10y a luxufian'
lcssamine, ON the other by the tai
cluster musk rose, sending It's bunch-
Is of oduruus blossoms into the very
window the little flower court an.
dernealh, full of holh hooks, clover
aud dahlias and the large, slopina
meadows beyond, leading w to Far
mer Bells tall, irregular house, hall
covered with a Haunting vine his
barns, and ricks and orchards. all this
formed an apartment too tempting &c
remain long unlenanted, IN the bright
month of August Accordingly, il
vas almost Immediately engaged by
"A gentleman 10 black, who walked
ever, enc fair morning, paid ter
pounds as deposit, sent Tor hi.
trunk from the next town, and toob
possession on the instant.
Her new inmate, who, without
positively declining to give his name
had conirlvcd To cyade all the ques
tons which Mrs. kenfs simple Gun
ning could devise, proved a perpetu,
al source of establishment, both lc
herself and her ncigbhors. lie wa,
"a hNli7 ihfAtf lAiit iiihilf hNdi uEOi
forty, with considerable terseness Of
feature a forehead of great power
whose etIec. was increased by slight
badness on the top of The head, and
an eye like a falcon. Such an eye =
1t seemed 10 go through you-tc
strike all that it looked upon like a
coHp-de-soieiL Luckily the slrang-
er was so merclul as generally t.
wear speclacles, under cover of which
those terrible eyes might see and be
seen without danger. His habits
were peculiar as his appearance. lie
was moderate, aud rather fanciful ii
his diet; drank nothing but water
or strong coffee, made, as Mrs. Ken
observed very wasleiully, and had
as she also ren arked, a great mum.
Der of Notwithstanding books scat
tered about his apartment; Lore