The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-05-17

creature, with his fierce whiskers and
staring black eyes"
Squire Graves was by no means
misanthropcal in his natural DISPOSE
ton; on the contrary, he had heart
more than usually sympathetic and
/ generous in its impulses. His seclu-
sion and the chilling reserve of his
manner were owing to recent family
afflictlon, which, though it attached
neither disgrace nor blame to him,
had cast temporary gloom over his
feelings and made him shrink from So
ciety. He had settled himself down
to the dull routine of his present life
with the fixed determination of never
leaving it; but alas for the vanity of
human resolutions, especially those
which repress the natural craving of
the heart for love and sympathy, he
was already growing weary of it. And,
as near the close of day-the warm
July day above mentioned--he sat up
on the veranda smoking, an unusually
lonely feeling came over him, and the
silence around him seemed almost op-
pressive.
What a bewitchingly pretty coun-
tenance that girl has - he soliloquized.
kate Wilde. believe they call her
/ think | never heard such n sweet
laugh"
Squire Graves had seen Kate at
church every Sunday since his arrival,
and had been irresistibly attracted to-
wards her; and that very morning, as
he CHANGED to go by her fathers house,
he had caught glimpse of her bright
eyes and rosy cheeks in the garden into
which he had been tempted to look by
the merry tone and gleeful laugh
which proceeded from it.
Then as lie dreamily watched the
smoke circling above his head, he fell
to wondering how such face and fig
ure would look opposite him every
morning at the breakfast-table, and
what general transformation they
would effect in his lonely home. From
which blissful dreams he aroused
himself with a half sigh at the celiba-
, cy to which he had inwardly pledged
) himself
{ Them pesky boys are in the med
der again, squire" said his man, Joe,
: thrusting his head through the door.
{ chat ere grass will be so tied up
that it can t be moved no how you
! kin fix it."
: The boys of the neighborhood had
been very annoying of late in their
: depredations upon his orchard and
garden, in which he took no little
pride, and the announcement of this
l fresh raid" quite exhausted his re
manning stock of patience.
"They are?' he exclaimed. give
5 tried what virtue there is in words,
D now I'll try the effect of something
? more potent Go and unchain Bru-
$ nor
" With the huge mastiff' at his heels,
2 which, fierce as it was, was perfectly
+ under his masters control, Squire
! Graves reached the brow of hill
E which gave him view OF the fair raid
Y ers. In STOPPING posture little could
/ be discerned OF them above the tail
4 grass save their heads, whose strange
d gear certainly gave them a very mas
o culine appearance.
0 In spite of his Indignation, desi-
rous'of frightening rather than hurting
= them, Squire Graves held back the
e eager dog until he had, by a loud
i halloo, warned them of his design.
/ As soon as the girls saw the fierce
animal, with open mouth, bearing
e down upon them, they let fall then
t pals and baskets and made for the
# nearest enclosure, over which they
u tumbled in manner distinguished
less by grace than expedition; giving
/ vent, in the meantime, to series OF
piercing screams, such as can proceed
g only from female lungs, and those IL
:. state of unusual health and vigor.
s All got safely over with the excep
/ ton of Kate, who, being the last to go
l hit her foot against stone, and wa:
: momentarily stunned by the fall it oc
# casioned.
AS Squire Graves caught glimpse
+ of the flying foe, his angry feeling
q changed to establishment and dismay
!; and he quickly fastened to the spo
{ to prevent any further mischief
"Back, Bruno back, you brute !
9 he exclaimed, rs Kate rose to her fee
and turned her flushed face towards
him.
J Good heaven it was the diyinit,
y that had occupied his thoughts 81
: much of late.
II 81 earnestly trust that you have
sustained no injury, Miss Wilde ? he
h said, removing his hat respectfully al
: he spoke
: "Not in the least, sir; though it il
+ not owing to any consideration OF
/ your part !"
Every gentlemanly conduct, l mus
, say !" she added, looking with an IN
Is dignant air, first at her soiled dress
If and then at the crest-fallen man be
g fore her.
/ II beg your pardon" be STAN
e mered; "but the fact is, your dress SC
: deceived me that / took you to b'
/ boys"
J. 'Iook as 10 be boys ?" repeated Kate
), in astonishment.
n Then, as her eye fell upon the hat a
i her feet, her anger evaporated IN
h clear ringing laugh, which did more
a - 4 .I.aa