The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-10-09


while Mrs. Fosbrook was preaching to him
about doing good, and Miss Letitia tossing
her head and showing off her jewels. 1t be-
came manifest to me, also, that both mother
! ard daughter could see as we'll as l., and the
sight was one to bring the worst part of their
natures nppermost. Can any woman commit
greater sin against another man than to
get admired instead? The colonel did ad-
mire Lefty, maid and of negro orig gin as she
was, and there was many an eye In the ball
room that followed the slight, graceful figure,
and fair winning face as we'll as his, though
on robody was the impression so marked.
The man could not help showing it, for all
his sense and experience, and was not pre-
pared for the effect it had on the young heir
ess. She grew positively ugly-awful, as
the Americans say-with ill-temper and jeal
ously. thought she would strike poor Let
/ " when the innocent creature cane to settle
her wreath, thrown back by naughty toss.
Miss Le,itia, frowning fercely, said: Il don't
want you here any more and Mrs. Fos-
brook desired the nearest servant to tell that
girl she might 60 down stairs. Poor Lefty
went on the instant, looking as If she had
committed murder The colonel. who had
Witnessed all, seemed astonished, angry, and
little ou, of his discretion, for he rose from
Miss Lelitia's side with very brief apology,
walked straight out to the veranda, and
stayed there. pacing about, for half an hour
! or more When he came back, Col Fos-
! brock was himself again. We saw nc more
OF Lefty had magnificent supper, and all
went home at day vbreak. Miss Letitia and
her mother seemed to have recovered their
! good humor. The colonel continued his Wis
it, as expected. They were never without
company to dinner or tea was always in
sittd, Mr.. FoSbronk having taken particu-
lay iabcy 70 ne, and thus | had an opportu-
rty of seeing that attentions were still paid
10 the daughter Of the house but her play
fellow end foster sister was not in th- request
she had been; Lefty was manifestly kept out
Of sight. and under surveillance; and when
the poor girl did chance to become visible,
I + vas sad TO see the resigned and hel pless
! sorrow that had settled on her iair young
ACE am not sure that the colonel had not
. Interested her also | observed her peeping
out at his coml1g> and goinSs from back
windows and hidden corners, though Lefty
Lad not much opportunity for that, as Mrs.
! + sbr0ok nov seft her 10 work with her
mother, remarking that Eva was prudent
/ scnSir,i. creature. and would keep nonsense
ont OF the girls head
/ don't know how Elva fulfilled the expect
ed duty, but coming to talk on particular
business with Mr.. Fosbro0k one a.ternoon-
a tine when sou uthern ladies are generally
fast within doors-l found the colonel lean
ing over the rails of the back yeranda, where
Lefty sat at work He was evidently talking
to the Girl she had let her muslin fall, and
was pick it up all in a flush. The colonel
saw he was caught, but was too much OF a
gentleman to show it,bade me good-day with
out changing his position. asked if | had
seen the morning papers, If there were any
news, but did not observe that there were a
pair of fierce, cold, jealous eyes taking notes
of him from the window above, where the
Venetian blind concealed his excellent hos
tess. The colonel walked into the house with
me, and Lefty went on with her sewing.
saw her sitting there when my business was
done, stitching away, but the flush had faded
then, and she looked sal and thoughtful.
All the way home had thoughts about
he colonel's intentions, and Mrs. Foobrook' s
: next move; it was no affair of mine, but one
could Let help feeling an interest in poor
, Lefty and the iliuck that seemed closing
round her.
That same week the colonel went off to
join his regiment: heppened to be part:cu-
ularly busy with the affairs of a broken-up
and company, and had no occasion to go to
Z the hal, for some l.ine but Mr.. Fosbrook
called at my Ciiice one morning, seemed very
) friendly, talked of two or three tritiirg
/ matters. and had evidently something else in
/ his mind--sou ethIng disasreeable, and hard
-, to besin speaking about. He looked a, his
, watch, looked out of the window, and ther
=" said: BY y-the-by, Mr.. Clarkson, you mus
Z inanagl piece Of business for me-a partic
! ular and unpleasant one must say-we art
4 long t. part with Lefty. Yes he con,in
t ued, catching my astonished lock: Mrs
4 Fusbrook will have it so; she says the cir
i n4s got upsettirg notions. and Will give trou
u,e cannot see it myself, but Mrs. Eos
4 brock is ar urcommony observant woman
i At any rate, ana the man looked desperatel,
0 worried, there is no putting women off
J.! thing once they take it in their heads
I .Aod Mss Fosbrool, y said l.
\ 'Oh, she ?erees with her mother, which i
very proper; but it goes against my con
,ciencs, aad the Giri is so young. Do com
y over, aud try IL talk her out Of it to-rorro,
" evening; lawyer should be aoe TO DO tha
il anybody can
u knew the cause Of poor Letty's condenl
e nation. oue which Mr.. Fosbrook would no
i acknowledge had it been made known I
him and elso knew that talking to ladie
~ of Mrs Fcsbrook's ncld against any piec
-, liam uos sbnut ne nseful &C ,.IL IN