The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-01-12

lated, bringing his cane down with q
heavy thump "No, if I had I'd have
broken every bone in his body What
does he mean by making such an in
fernal donkey of himself and all for
sake of an arrant firt, that don't care
two pins for him Can anybody tell
meYn
Eyes, conlound it been gone just
five minutes when l got here. I'm
not 50 spry as l was once. but I'll
stump any pair Of legs in town to
make quicker time than did"
As Uncle Joshua said this, he I'M
fastened the last button of his ample
vest and taking out his red bandanna
handkerchief, wiped the perspiration
from his glowing face
"Not that I've anything to say
against a strong, full-grown man, like
you, going, he resumed as Reginald
stood, motionless i'll perplexod and
troubled silence; 'but how can such
a STRIPPING endure tho hardships of
camp, to say nothing Of fighting? It's
downright murder; aud Kate Vernons
got TO answer for it! Was there ever
any mischief ahoat that woman
wasn't at the bottom off,
Are you sure Of what you say, I'M
Gle? Have you any evidence to give
me Of this p
Evidence, my dear boy? Any
quantities Of it. In the first place,
I've the evidence Of my own eyes.
You know son Honry's house is next
to her fathers, and / can see over
there from my room as plainly as l
can see your face. And if she didn't
encourage the poor boy in his folly,
I'm no Judge of such matters / used
to think that yoa were sort of squint-
ing in that direction"
Uncle Joshua was ignorant Of Reg
maids relation to Kate, and SO was
perfectly unconscious OF the pain he
was indicting
Reginald recalled his brothers
abrupt departure, and Hates embar-
rassincnt at his allnsion of it; and his
brow grew dark and stern al the I'M
welcome conviction that was forced M
on him. Ills standard in regard to fem
mine purity and propriety was high.
Could he take to his heart the woman
who had SO cruelty trif4d with the
happiness Of his only brother, sending
him to what might prove his death
Reginald's affection for his brother
was peculiarly strong and tender.
He was ten years the Oldest Their
mother had died IN giving Frank
birth and their father followed her
five years a;tor commencing with his
latest breath the younger TO the care
Of the elder. Reginald never forgot
his fathers words, and though kind,
, easy-tempered uncle Joshua was nom
inally his guardian, he concidered
himself from that time responsible for
| his well-being and happiness
BY the time Reginald reached the
, hotel, his mind was made up. He
3 dared not trust himself in her pres
] ence, or yet to write more than a few
. coldly worded lines, which gave nc
! token of the agony they cost him, sun
dering their engagement, and bidding
her eternal farewell.
Poor Kate she little deserved this
treatment from him to whom she had
, been true, in thought and deed, m
der circumstances of peculiar trial
: Her father anxious that she should
marry a man of wealth and standing
! who had proposed for her hand, wai
7 strongly opposed to her choice, anC
had consented only on condition tina
their engagement should remain Sc
> cret, and that they should be separat
: ed for two years. During this inter
. val he had used ali the influence at hi
command to wean her heart from him
and bring about the marriage he had
in view. But nothing could shake
= her fidelity; she was the same at heart
r on the day of their happy meeting AZ
upon the sad morning of their parting
= two years before.
. AS no one knew of her engagement
e unusual personal attractions exposed
J her TO attentions that she would glad
ly have avoided, knowing, as she did
Reginald's fastidiousness in this re
spect. Partly to avoid these, anC
q partly because her heart was draw
e toward the brother of her betrotheC
husband, she encouraged the prefer
e ence that Frank eyinced for her society
never dreaming of the wild passion
G that was springing up in the heart o
: her boy admirer. So it is not strange
g that her heart rose up indignant at the