Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-07-15
MIS- c Z Ii An ! .
4 STORY OF 4 GARTER.
From Harper's Magazine.


Just at four O'Clock one dazzling afte
noon last February, two young persons
opposite genders, took sudden possession Of
neat sleigh, muffled themselves together in
manner intended to secure as far as p0ssib
the double advantage of comfortable pr0te,
tion and engaging appearance, and, aftc
judicious settlement Of skirts and robes o.
the one hand, and hat and furs on the other
darted briskly off, along the smooth an
shining roads Of Winston. Clear and still
an1 not at all chilling, was the atmosphere
The sun shed all its splendor from a cloud
less sky, and the spotless earth radiantlv re
fected Its glittering beams. The two sleigh
ers with whom we have to do, agreed, with
out debate, that no other day SO favora5l
for their excursion could have been selected
and in turn went into spasms Of rhetorical
excitement over the glories Of Winter-in it;
present cheering aspect.
Not having accustomed themselves to the
asslduous study of Nature, they failed 10 ex-
actly interpret certain omens which might
otherwise have interfered with their innocent
enthusiasm. OF course neither had noticed
the night before, the broad circle of luminous
haze that surrounded the moon. giving
warning of approaching disorder above. OF
course neither considered, as they dashed
along needing only their own pleasant fancies,
The light clouds which, rapidly rising, soon
overspread the southern heaven. and gradu-
ally threatened to obscure the declining sun.
" hat need had they to anticipate the poss-
-hle interruption of their sport?
None certainly. Their aim was pleasure.
Lucy Brandon, nineteen, daintily beauti-
nj, and coquettish by unconquerable femi-
nine instinct, filled the hearts Of the youth
Of Winston, and above all, those hearts
gathered within the institution for the whole
sale manufacture of clergymen for which
Winston is celebrated with fine frenzies.
The secular youth swore she was an angel
The students, whose destiny was theological,
did not swear, but, after investigating the
subject, and finding that angels were some
times imperfect and fallible, proclaimed her
divine and in their orisOns remembered her
In this way they satisfied all the conditions
of their college life. Inside the walls they
were divinity students outside, they were
Students of divinity.
In confidence it may be revealed that Miss
Lucy's highest attributes were in fact Of a
mortal order She was not bit of an angel;
but she was what is much better for the pur-
poses Of this world--a charming girl, with
beauty enough to wind golden chains around
susceptible young hearts, and wit enough to
fasten them with glistening clasps, whenever
she chose At the same time, she was as
aniable as could fairly be expected of a
splrited young woman who ruled a subser-
went seminary with a rod more rigid than
any the professors could WELD; she was, with
al her frolicsome coquetry, as discreet as a
dowager, and she was not destitute Of good
sense, powerful proof of which was that
she never wrote her name Luce Neverthe-
less, it is a melancholy truth that many Of
the maidens of Winston persistently refused
to recognize those iniatuating qualities which
by the ruder creatures were unanimously
accorded her.
After a considerable period Of supreme
sway, Miss Brandon at length sighed, Alex
snderwise, for something new to conquer.
She fell in with Mr.. Henry $50 christened,
but popularity denominated Harry Lang
ford, fine young fellow with no theological
ASPIRATIONS, who had come up to Winston to
lock after some long neglected relations.
Clever and well dressed, and with heavenly
cur to his hair, he interested Miss Brandon,
VINO forthwith smiled upon him, and baited
her tlrtation-hooks with most delicate fas-
cInatlons. With shade of surprise, she
observed that her intended victim succeeded
IN reaping the full benefit of the bats, and
yet refused to be caught. Upon this, she
hecame shy, and he commenced a proNiscu-
out assault upon the affections of every avail
liable young woman he encountered. As soon
as il was evident that they understood each
other, they began to laugh. Consultation
followed. From laughing at one another
they turned to laughing at Miss Brandon a
troop of suppliant admirers. | am sorry 10
say that the young lady betrayed confidence.
She told him how one especially devout ador
er was continually quoting Scriptural pufs
to her; and how another, of chronological
turn of mind. would insist on comparing her
10 new and exquisite specimens of bugs.
Then he told her, quite malciOusly, how
precarious her rule was, and cruelty hkened
her position to that of keeper in a lunatic
eylum, whose strength lies in his confidence
Nat his supordinates, having lost their wits,
possess no power denomination among them
elves to defeat his plans. Occasionally Miss
orandon was little tart; sometimes Mr..
lAngford was a little rude; but they usually
xept within amicable bounds, and were un-
erstood to be excellent friends-nothing
nore
6. W OlS VI MISS Lucy ucNOteCc eNbI
hought it worth while to look upon Harry
4angford with eyes of green Indignation.
ne was In no degree rapturous about her;
nc often snubbed him. An infnitesimal
uarrel between them had once been detect
p Besides, he was not a resident, only a
rsltor, whose opportunities were thus limi-
skd
Moreover it is fact that no two persons
fere more profoundly convinced of their alb
lutte indifference to one another than Miss
Brandon and Mr.. Langford themselves.
They had given much private thought to
Pc subject (there was the danger y and had
Rtlsfed themselves that they were, as every
ody understood, excellent friends-nothing
nore
Nevertheless 1t happened that Mr.. Lang
pre- was suddenly overcome by a sense of
name at his want of family feeling in so long
neglecting his Winston relations. So he
ndeavored to repair old errors by frequent
tits' and established an extensive acouain-
ice IN the neighborhood. He grew fond
social gayeties. He cultivated all Wins
AT every important gathering he was
81 At last the winter came. and eva-r bod
BOWS how delightful the winter is in a Nav
ngland country town, where the thermom.
er never By any. excess of exaltation gets
ore than an occasional degree or 50 above
~; where frozen noses are to be met AT
ery corner, and are deemed neither uucon.