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

halt-forgotton, OF poor Stauncel's story
lie rose and went to a drawer, took
something out and brought it to me. L
was a leathern case, in which was golC
huntlng-watch, with one cover dented in
by heavy blow, Hooked at the crest
and saw it was the Stauncel falcon.
"lhere," said Chasemore s'that's my
sole relic OF poor Gerald He gave it me
just before he died"
"Died." said in utter bewilderment
"do you mean that Geralds dead ~
''Dead Eight years ago"
was thunderstruck. | had SO keen q
remembrance of the man we spoke Of
His athletic form and splendid health
were the envy of us all. He came of as
long-lived and sound stock as could be
found in England
"Ah," said Chasemore. as if he guess
ed my thoughts, mo disease carried off
Gerald; he was killed. I'll tell you all
the story.
"l on know the generous offer the old
squire made TO me to reside as the sala-
rled physician of the family at the Court,
Till | could find practice to suit me. To
a young fellow fresh from college and
hall, with bran new diploma, the at
fractions of handsome salary, perfect
klndllnesS, and equality with an ancient
family, one of The first in the country,
were great temptations. | went was
treated by every one as friend and visi-
tor, and shared all their invitations. Nv
work was slnccurc, 80 kept my hand
in by prescribing for the village. and aid
ing little the overworked Union meii-
cal officer. As for Gerald he was nv
constant companion. shooting and riding.
and filled up his working hours by study
ing for his political career; for he was no
mere .tdneaW aspirant to legislative mi
tlals. lou know what an intellect he
had
some OF Mrs. Staunccl's oldest friends
was Il neighboring Mrs. Chetwynd. wild
ow OF an Indian Major, who had left her
with talr income and 4 beautiful
daughter. were constant visitors at Staun-
eel III TACT, they were on the most inti-
mate footing, and Miss Chetwynd was
''Lucy to everybod Y (Gerald include,l
except myself She was brilliant
blonde, with very fair complexion, deep
blue eyes. and a rosebud of a mouth.
Tall. graceful, slimly-tormcd. and LIGHT
in all her movements, she was a model of
feminine Vi igorous grace.
The Young lady was clever in her
own way. She drew well. talked French
and Italian we'll, and danced well: but
she had no taste for music or intellectual
pursuits therefore there was not much
sympathy on that point between her and
Gerald
''Gerald grew, | saw. fond of the
young beauty, and he was not the man
to enter halt-heartedIv on anv cause. Ere
long he was evidently pas,ionltely fond
of Lucy Chetwynd. lie told her so. and
the girl confessed her peachu.t for him.
for she was fond of him-very few girl.
would not have been So And her moth
er, thorough woman of the world. was
alive TO the eligibility OF Mr. Stauncei's
eldest son-Mr. Stauncel being n rich
and long descended landowner Gener-
ally you do not fad the qualities united.
Lucy behaved very preltily. That's
queer word, isn't it but ii means Just
what | think. pretty her demeanor
and manner and speeches to him were
loving | never thought them. She was
rather distra.te at times. when he used to
try TO make her as enthusiastic As him
self over Byron and Edgar Poe, or ran
on for an hour deScanting on Mozart's
Sonatas Music 10 him was his life
blood; with her, it WAS pretty ac-
compllshment. Still, to all appearance,
they seemed TO suit each other well. But
the engagement seemed only 4 half one
''ln the summer. down came visitor.
He had been 4 tutt at Christchurch in
Gerald's time, and an ally of his on the
river. He was Il handsome man. rather
UlSOuCrlH III manner, and stupid IN his
ideas, or lack OF them But lie was Raoul,
fifth Niscount DeSSerton, and owner of
half a Welsh county That fact his ad-
mirerS never forgot, and it threw haze
OF romance and intellect round him and
the vlscount never forgot it himself.
''lle seemed very much struck with
Lucy Chetwynd's beauty. Indeed, her
tranquil loveliness was eminently adapted
to catch admirers by coup d0A And
the young lady, even while knowing
Gerald's tondness, and really fond OF him
herself, was not indispoSed to receive a
peers glances of admiration. So mat
tiers went on for some days.
Mrs Chetwynd was an old cam
paigneer. The glitter OF coronet dazzled
her and made her feel thankful that the
engagement between her daughter and
Stauncel was only an embryo one. And
SO she gave her daughter sundry secret
Instructions
Il don't think, looking back, that at
first Lucy Chetwynd had any intention
Of .jilting Gerald; but the girls charac-
ter was weak one, and her love of ad-
miration had been fostered from her
childhood. SO she gradually listened
more and more complacently to Desser-
tons compliments, for season of utter
dissipation at Paris had taught him one
accomplishment, which was his sole one
saying pretty things neatly; and as
Gerald was away day after day on his
electioneerins business-poor fellow, he'd
come in at night and tell Lncy his day.
adventures canvasslng, as If she should
share them-the peer had good chance
of making pay. And he made it.
The Squire and his son were TOO
thoroughly high-bred to dream of treach-
cry in a guest. Moreover, the generous
spirit of Gerald led him to trust former
friend, and especially university friend,
implicitly; so he let the viscount escort
L al Il