Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-03-06

window, bowling with provoking courtesy,
no thing daunted by her coldness of manner,
for her pretence of not noticing his polite
ness.
One day Mr.. Walker was out; he had
been called to distance to see patient,
who was very seriously ill, when Maria sat
at the | locking up the ax" street
their side of the way she knew him by
his bright buttons, light jacket and gold
lace. 1t was the page of the PerkiDses,
a family with host of little children, who
from constant colds, indigestions, and fits
of illness, caused by too great liking for
the pleasures of the table, which fond
mother had hot the heart to restrain, were
continually on Mr. Walkers book.
The boy rang violently at the bell, and
Maria opened the parlor door and listened.
"ls MIR. Walker at home ?" said the
boy, scarcely able to speak for want Of
breath,
NO replied the maid who had opened
the door
He will be at home Directly" said
Maria, advancing.
"Oh but Missis can t wait ; there's
little Peter been and swallowed a marble,
and the baby's took with fits"
And away rushed the boy across the
road to the hated rivals house.
Maria retreated into her room and sank
down upon the sofa: The enemy had
gained All entrance INTO the camp, it was
quite clear. In moment more she rose,
Just in time to see Mr. Edward Radstock
hurrying down the street beside the little
page, without waiting to order his gig. This
was a severe blow to the doctors daughter.
The Perkinses were a leading family in
the town, and one to whom her father was
called almost daily. They had large
circle of aequaintances and if young
Radstock became their medical adviser,
others would surely follow. In about an
hour, the young man returned, and joined
his sister in the drawing room, as if moth
ing had happened: This was more pro-
voking than his success If he had as
sumed an air of hustle and importance,
and had hurried up to inform his sister,
with an air of JOY and triumph, of what
had passed, she might have been tempted to
pity him but he did everything in such a
quiet and gentlemanly way, that she felt
considerable alarm for the future
Maria was in the habit of spending
most of her evenings from home, her father
being generally out and that large house in
consequence lonely. The town ofC--
was famous for its tea and whist parties
and though Maria was not of an age to
play whist, except to please others, she
sometimes condescended to do so. One
evening she was invited to the house of a
Mrs Brunton, who announced her intention
of receiving company every Thursday
She went and found the circle very pleas
ant and agreeable, but horror of horrors
there was Mr.. Edward Radstock and his
sister Emily and worse than that, when q
lady present volunteered to play quadrille
and the ladies accepted eagerly, up he
+ came of all others, TO invite her to dance
/ Mrs Brunton the instant before had asked
her to play at whist to oblige three regu
lar players, who could not find fourth.
" am afraid" she said quietly, but IL
rather distant tones, Il am engaged -
the young man looked surprised, even hurt
for no gentleman had spoken to her since
she had entered the ROOM to make ;
fourth at the whist table but"
"Oh, 90 and dance, Miss Walker" ex
claimed Mrs. Brunton. | did not know
dancing was going to begin, when | asket
You to make up the rubber"
Maria offered her hand TO the youn!
man. and walked away to the dancing room
Despite herself, that evening she was yer,
much pleased with him. He was very wei
informed, had travelled. was full of tast
and feeling, and conversed with animation
and originality he sought every oppor
tunity of addressing her, and found thes
opportunities without much difficulty. Fo
several Thursdays the same thing occurred
The young man began to find little prac
tice. He was popular wherever he went
and when he was called in, was quite sur
of keeping up the connection. He wa
asked out to the principal parties in town
and had Mr.. Walker not been very muc
liked. would have proved very seriou
rival
. One morning the father and daughte
were at breakfast. Maria, who began I
, like her bow-wndow better than ever, So
near it to scent the fragrance of her flower
f When the young doctor came out, sh
always now returned his bow, and your
2 lady opposite declared in confidence to b,
dressmaker. that she had even kissed hs
t hand to him once However this may b
Maria sat at the bow-window pouring o,
, tea for her father in a very distracted moo'
: Mr.. Walker had been called out at an earl
0 hour and returned late He was not in ii
best of humors, having waited for hou
, bevond his time for his tea
= q shall die in the workhouse," said h
, as he buttered his toast with an irritabili'
4 of manner quite alarming. This RAJ
stock is getting all the practice. l heal
4 of two new patients yesterday"
3 "Oh, papa replied Maria, gently, ="
Y don't think he has got dozen altogether
= y A dozen but that's a dozen lost
d me, miss. It's proof that people THU
me old-worn out-useless."
- Nonsense, papa C- is increa
: ing in population every day. and for eve
one he gets, you get two"
E. My dear" replied Mr.. Walker, wi
', considerable animation, % think you a
g beginning to side with my rival"
A loud knocking came this instant
e the door, and the man servant immediate
y. afterwards announced 'Dr. Radstock." J"
9 Mr.. Walker had no time to make a
~ remark, ere the young man entered t
,e room bowling most politely to the old &c
y tleman and his daughter both looked &C
= fused, and the father much surprised.
?, was In elegant morning costume, and loo
10 ed both handsome and happy-the old d.
/ tor thought triumphant.
d Pardon me, SIR" said he, I" for