Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-11-04

tleman at hand, especially as he seldom has any
thing to do with discipline Next to the baro-
net came Horcas the merry rosy checked dam
sci who was Mrs. Sharps lieutenant in the nur-
sery, and thus played the part of the raisins in
dose of SIENNA. 1t was black day for Cater
ina when Dorcas married the coachman, and
went, with q great sense of elevation in the
world, to preside over "public" in the NOISY
town of Sloppeter. A little china box bearing
the motto " Though lost to sight, to memory
DEAR" which Dorcas sent her as a remembrance
was among Caterina S treasures ten years after.
The one other exceptional talent, you already
guess, was music. When the fact that Cater
ina had a remarkable ear for music, and still
more remarkable voice, attracted Lady Chever
els notice, the discovery was very welcome both
to her and Sir Christopher. Her musical edu-
cation became at once an object of interest.
Lady Cheverel devoted much time to it; and
the rapidity of Catina's progress surprising all
hopes, an italian singing-master was engaged,
for several years, to spend some months together
at Cheverel Manor. This unexpected gift made
great alteration in Catina s position. After
those first years in which little girls are petted
like puppies and kittens, there comes time
when it seems less obvious what they can be
good for, especially when, like Catina, they give
no particular promise of cleverness or beauty;
and it is not surprising that III that uninterest-
ing period there was no particular plan formed
as to her future position. She could always
help Mrs. Sharp, supposing she were fit for
nothing else, as she grew up; but now, this
rarr gift of song endeared her to Lady Chevcr.
el who loved music above all things, and asso-
clated her at once with the pleasures of the
drawing-room. Insensibly she came to be re-
garded as one of the family, and tie servants
after all.
" And the raight ont too,' said Mr. Bates.
" for she hasn't the cut of CELL as must work
for her bread she's as mesh an dilcate as q
paich-blussum-welly lake linnet, wi on'y
/ joost body anoof to hold her voice.
But long before Catina had reached this stage
OF her history, a new era had begun for her, in
the arrival of a younger companion than any
she had hitherto known. When she was no
more than seven, ward of Sir Christopher s.
lad of fifteen, Maynard Gilfl by namc--began
to spend his vacations at Cheverel Manor,
and found there no playfellow so much to his
mind as Catina. Maynard was an affachonate
lad, who retained propensity to rabbits, pet
squirrels, and guinea-pigs, perhaps little
beyond the age at which young gentlemen usual
ly look down on such pleasures as puerile. He
was also much gwen to fishing, and to carpen-
try, considered as fine art, without any base
view to utility. And in ell theses pleasures it
was his delight 10 have Caterisa as his compan,
ion, to call her little pet names, answer her
wondering questions, and have her toddling
after him as you may have seen a Blenheim
spaniel trottng after large setter. Whenever
Maynard went back to school, there was little
scene of parting
=" You won't forget me, Tina before | come
back again? shall leave you all the whip-cord
we've made; give me a kiss, and promise not to
forget me-"
As the years wore on, and Maynard passed
from school to college, and from n slim lad to
stalwart young man, their c)mpanionship in
the vacations necessarily took different form,
but it retained brotherly and sisterly familiar
| ity. With Maynard the boysh affection had
insensibly grown into ardent love. Among all
the many kinds OF first love, that which begins
in childish companionship is the strongest and
most enduring when passion comes to unite its
force to long affection, love is at its spring tide
And Maynard Gilfl s love was of II kind to mako
him prefer being tormented by Caterna to any
pleasure, apart from her, which the most benevo-
lent magician could have devised for him. 1t
is the way with those tall llrge-limbed men,
I from Samson downwards As for Catina, the
little mink was perfectly well aware that May
nard was her slave; he was the one person in
the world whom she did as she pleased with ;
and need not tell you that this was symptom
of her being perfectly heart. whole 50 far as he
was concerned for passionate woman's love
is always over-shadowed by fear.
Maynard Gilfl did not deceive himself in his
Interpretation of Catina feelings, but he nurs'd d
the hope that some time OF other she would at
least care enough for him to accept his love.
So he waited patiently for the day when he
, might venture to say" Caterina let me love
you!" You sec, he would have been content
with very little, being one Of those men who
pass through life without making the least cla.
mour about themselves; thinking neither the
cut of his coat, nor the favour of his soup, no1
6 the precise depth of servants bow, at all
} momentous. lie thought-foolishly enough, as
D lovers ,oiH tbink-that it was a good augury
for him when he came to be domestcated al
Cheverel Manor in the quality of chaplain there
and curate Of neighbouring parish Judging
falsely from his own case, that habit and affect
: ion were the likeliest avenues to love. 81
e Christopher satisfied several feelings in install
e ;ug MAYNARD as chaplain in his house. Ii
Q liked the old-fashioned digaity of that domesti,
appendage he liked his ward companionship
It and, as Maynard had some private fortune, h
}. might take life easily in that agreeable home
keeping his hunter, and observing mild regi
n men Of clerical duty, until the Cumbermoo
t. living should fall in, when he might be settle
=. for life in the neghbourhood of the Manor
!. 8. With Caterina for ii wife, too Sir Chris
r. topher soon began to think; Tor though tn
l. good baronet was not at all quick to suspec
It what was unpleasant and opposed to his view
le of fitness, he was quick to sec what would dove