Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-02-15


During the week that followed, Bessie
was the gayest of the gay. Innumera-
bic were the parties of pleasure executed
or projected for the amusement of her
lover and herself. It speedily became
known, through the half dozen confiden-
tial friends, to whom she had whispered
the secret, that she would not return to
the city till Mr.. Nicherly could make the
arrangements for their union. Mr.. Mich
erly was a prosperous merchant, and Of
course must prepare a fine house for his
intended bride.
How Mr.. Nicherly and lawyer -Saun-
ders became acquainted, I cannot say,
but one afternoon, in the latter part OF
the week, they were seen walking down
the street together, in earnest consulta-
tisn. Stopping at Squire Littleton's Of
fee, (where Tom, his nephew, still clung
to a remnant Of the old mans business, }
they were a long while closeted there.
When Mr. Nicherly walked away, it was
with very quick and nervous tread, as
of man who had just escaped a great
calamity; and when Tom Littleton came
in, he found Sam in brown study, his
finger resting on an open book. 1t was
the first volume of Blackstone, open at the
443d page.
Bessie Littleton's fine match was bro
ken of: Mr.. Nicherly left the village in
great haste, after writing her an elaborate
and neatly-folded letter. These facts were
speedily known and carefully discussed
through Pleasant Valley. Some people
said it was just what she deserved, while
the more kindly-hearted grieyed at what
they thought must be her disappointment.
But if they expected to see that disap-
pointment shown eutwardly, they were
mistaken. There might have been tone
sharper IN Bessie's voice, after that, and
less frequent smile upon her face but
then Bessie would never see four-and-
twenty again, and such changes were
natural. Beside, she had now sought a
home at her cousins, and Mrs. Tom Lit
tleton's temper, it was whispered was none
of the sweetest.
So Bessie was generally allowed to have
come out of this, as cut of some other
broken engagements, heart whole, and
though younger girls, who, when / knew
Pleasant Valley, were running about in
pantaIets, now disputed her belledon, yet
Bessie was a dangerous rival for the
youngest and prettiest of them still. Sill
she was the one indispensable participant
in every project Of gayety; aud if you
peeped in upon ball or picnic, you were
sure to find the beaux clustering lhickest
! Wherever Bessie was.
Thus far her success was complete; but
beyond that there seemed to be an inyisi-
bic barrier, which none of her admirers
could or would pass. One by one her
younger friends dropped from the circle 10
become wives, and little girls whom she
had held in her lap came to fill their
places; and onceo Or twice, when she drop
ped careless remark about forward
chits," she started to hear sold maid
whispered as a repartee.
These matters, of course, were all duly
talked over at the tavern, and in the
grocery and variety store. The opinion.
at first douJtfully whispered. at length
spread wide, that Sam Saunders must be
IN some way connected with this. Old
Uncle Ben, the man of all work at the
tavern, claimed 10 be the first who had
made the discovery. "He had said all
along that there was some witchery about
that judgment; for bis part, he didn't
know much about law, but he knowed that
there was something about all such mat
ters which the lawyers kept mighty clust
to themselves, and folks might depend that
was at the bottom Of It." These gurniseg
uttered with profound head-shaking. soon
/ invested the case Of Saunders VS.. Little
ton with mysterious importance among
the less enlightened Of Uncle Ben's hear
ers. Vague rumors crept about, that
whenever any Bessie's admirers became
marked in his attentions, Sam Saunders
was sure TO be seen reading to him out
Of very old book, after which, as the
story went, the spell was upon him, and
he approached the lady no more.
The landlord, ike the store-keepcr and
the other village magnates, for a long
while treated their rumors with great con.
tempt. But one day, when Tom Little
ton happened to be in the Bar-room alone
with him, the host ventured, after much
preliminary conversation, to express hi
wonder that Miss Littleton had neyel
married. Tom turned the grayest pos