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

Saunders began to be looked upon in all
that region with great respect, as a man
Of tremendous and mysterious powers:
and, as he possessed wonderful faculty
of shaking his head, and looking wise,
whenever any question of law was pro-
pounded to him, his practice increased in.
mensely.
CHAPTER III.
Some three miles from Pleasant Val.
ley, on the roadto Edge-hiIl, where Squire
Saunders lived, is the Foster Farm. By
that title il is known in-alf the country
round, for FIVE generations of Fosters have
owned it in life, and now lie in the little
graveyard by the corner of the orchard.
A comely, tall, sinewy race they were,
frank OF speech, honest Of purpose. and
not afraid of hard work. Well II was for
them that they possessed the latter -vir--
tue, for all that they could wiring, by
hardest Of labor, out Of their scanty patri-
mony had been a comfortable living, and
the satisfaction of handing down the
homestead, from fatherto son. unburdened
by debt.
The present occupant of the place had,
ID hls boyhood, been one of Bessie Little
tons most devoted admirers, though be
contented himself with thinking of the
eharmer as he followed the plough, and
never dared to give his love tongue.
She knewitwell enough, the little gipsv.
tor all that; she had read it in his face
hundred times, and laughed over it in
private, as often.
When Bessie came back from the city.
David Fosters father was dead. and bis
widowed mother and he were living at
the farm together. People spoke of him
as likely young man, and when they saw
that he never fingered at the door to chat
with the girls after meeting, they said
that he was wise enough to avoid his fore
fathers errors. For one great cause that
had kept the Fosters poor was, the num-
Der of white-headed little oliye-branehes
that always had clustered around their
table. David himself was the first only
child N the annals of the family.
But when it became known that Bes-
sizes city match was broken of, and that
the race for her hand was again open. he
suddenly discovered that there were rnanv
things in the settlement of his fathers
estate--a simple job it was, heaven knows
requiring legal advice, and his boyish
friendship with Tom Littlcten was re-
newed, and strengthened with bonds of
silver. In the cold winter Sundays. TOO.
when his mother could not come to meet
mg, Tom rarely missed him at tea-tine.
And while other suitors came and went,
lured on by Bessie's fascinations. and
then discouraged by her scorn, or else
awed under Sam Saunders terrible smell.
David made slow and sure progress. It
was more than a year before he found
courage to put TO Bessie the tremendous,
question, and when he had done if, be
sat like one who had spoken with an ora
Gle, and waited to bear his fate from in
spired lips.
Bessie had it in her heart 10 answer
him frank yes: for, in that year of init
mate friendship, the young farmers man
y truth and honest, warm feeling bad
won upon the best part Of her nature.
more than she would have liked to con-
fess. But old habits Of flirting, as of
anything else, are hard to eradicate.
Yield without a struggle, she could not.
Say no, she dared not, lest the youth, un-
versed in woman's wiles, should believe
she meant ii. She had not even that great
resort Of young ladies' in her predicameni,
a father to refer to- And 50, finally, as
the best thing She could DO, she said that
David must broacb the matter 10 her
cousin Tom, and she would be governed
BY his advice.
Tom was at the Office that evening, bat
the ardent lover could brook no delay.
Away he went, his heart beating rapidly.
and bis face flushed with excitement,
stridiHg along with such steps as men can
only take when travelling toward bapIi-
ness, or away from danger; and hen he
reached the Office, he flung back the door
with crash, that started from profound
deliberations not only IL owner, but the
gentleman with whom he vas conversing
his learned professional brother, Squire
Samuel Saunders.
The great errand on which be had
come, saHk uButtered from Dayid's lips.
when he saw the terrible Squire. The
glow fed from his face, bat not before il
had been noticed, and its import guessed,
by one Of the party. lie got no chance
20 open his heart 70 Tom that evening;
and when sSnttire Ga,,,.J..,-s ,.ss.s, a. -