St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-09-13
Lore, The Arenger.

| had only returned from Australia
lew days, when fell in, by one of those
coincldences which people won't believe
in novels, and which 50 often occur in
real life, with Il man whom | had not
seen for ten years, and whom | had lost
all trace of. He was Philip Chasemore,
a surgeon, whose life and abilities had
been devoted to the obscure well-doing of
country practice, although his abilities
We're worthy of more brilliant sphere of
action. And | specially wished to see
him, because he had been the intimate
college friend and companion of a man
who was the admiration of most of the
men in the university during nv time,
their admiration being only equalled by
their perpIeXity; for the man in question,
Gerald Stauncei-.'Iirework Gerald"
us he was surnamed from his erratc re-
mus-was a person very unique Ill his
way. With the most brilliant abilities
and some OF the best qualities, he united
TO those others proporllOnally bad. Gen
erous, courteous, hlgh-splrited, free of
money. time, and interest OH his friends
behalf, and the life and soul of every
circle wherein he chose to exhibit his wit
and humor, he would change in a second
from the frank, brilliant BON riyum COM
panlon TO an enemy fierce and passionate
as revengciul southron; the blaze in
his dark eyes, and the white pallor of
Jury which oyerspread his face, might be
excited by a harmless speech at any mo-
ment, and his physical strength rendered
him a most dangerous antagonist No
wonder, then, that with all their admi-
ration Of his good qualities, men felt inse-
cure, az on Il volcaEos edge, when in
Gerald Stauncel's society. His father
was a grand old specimen of the English
squire, a stately country gentleman, who
supported his load of years like boy,
and carried lis white head as gallantly
As 4 soldier Of the old guard. He was
the owner of the gray Stauncel Court,
which stood surrounded by its beeches in
the midst of a fair domain of three thou
sand acres, every tenant on which was
prepared TO fight any man who doubted
that the young squire would be the best
member for the county in Parliament.
When he and l quilted the university
simultaneously, an advantageous offer in
Australia caused us to separate. had
heard nothing OF 'fircwork Gerald" for
ten years. | had been thinking of him
but Il few hours back, for | landed at the
place where ten years previously he had
wished HE good bye, and the first man
III on IN London was one better able than
most TO tell me Of Geralds career.
"And you have never heard 2" said
Chaseinore' gravely. 'Why, his name
was in most of the newspapers.
''Likely enough but in the b,,sb
newspapers were very few and far be-
tween"
'Its long story" said Chasemore
''dine with Inc, and I'll tell you about it.
I'm all alone, for my wife and child are
at the seaside"
A few hours afterwards | found myself
an inmate of a house which showed that
its owner had a good London practice.
The cloth removed, my host pushed over
the claret, and, drawing his chair to the
fire, relapsed into silence; his CHEEKY con.
versatlon ended, silence remained un-
broken.
"Ah," he said, suddenly, 81 never fee
so thankful for my own domestic happi-
ness-l wish my Laura had been a,
home, for you to make her acquaintance