Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-05-01

THE MISCHIEF THAT one DoC CAN 10.
lie was the shyest-the most painfully
modest man | ever knew and he oftentimes
suffered in consequence most cruelty. He
was the man who went most out of his way
to avoid hurting peoples feelings, and for
the sake Of delicacy and, as usually hap
yeus, he was treading upon peoples mental
toes continuously. When he first came
among rs. and was furnishing his cottage.
and getting introduced to his future parish
0ners. | remember calling with him ton our
way to the market town) upon a farmer who
had club-foot. 1t was not long before
poor Flush, who was not aware Of this, and
was very near-sighted, observed with a smile,
that our host seemed to take excellent care
to keep himself out of the dirt among the
lanes. - What sensible boot that is of
yours, Nh Layman why, it's treble sOled -
And, before he had recovered himself from
the fame of bushes into which be burst
upon the discovery of this mistake, he in
formed Mrs. Layman and her four daughters,
that the object of our expedition into the
town, was to procure him (Peony Flush) 3"
pair Of comfortable drawers, meaning there
by a chest. | suppose, but sending the whole
company into shrieks Of laughter, and suffus-
ing himself from top to toe with a beautiful
rose-color These sort of things, he con-
fcssed to me, annoyed him for months after
ward expressing him like sins and | could
not fJrbcar remarking, - Why, Flush. how
viii YOU ever have the face to propose % the
future Mrs. p. f. ?'' He ruse-colOrcd in
such a manner at this that [ said, - Come,
Pe0nv, tell us all about it at once, do;
accordingly, after a little pressing, be did.
| was indeed he began, - once en-
gagged to be married, believe thOw | went
- far as that is a marvel to me stilD, but an
incident of so frightful character took
place as to put the matter entirely out of the
question. | was a young undergraduate,
spending the summer with a reading party
at the Irish lakes, when | met with-wth
Lucy. and got, in short, to be accepted. She
was residing with her mother, in the same
hotel in Killarney as ourselves, and We all
met every day. We bOated on the lake to-
gether, and fished and sang, and read We
landed on the wooded islands in the soft sum
mer evenings. 70 take our tea in GYPSY fash
ion, and to sketch but she and | mostly
whispered-not about love at all, as remem-
Der, but Of the weather and the rubric only
il seemed 50 sweet to sink our voices and
speak low and soft. Once in a party over
the moors. while | was leading her pony over
some bogsy ground, | caught her hand by
mistake instead of her bride, and she did
not snatch IT away. 1t was the heyday and
the prime OF my life, my friend. and that
youth of the spirit which no power can ever
more renew. Our thought-uy thought. at
least, - leapt out to wed with thought ere
thought could wed with speech She took
fancy to a huge mastif dog belonging to a
fisherman and bought it for her at once,
although it was terribly savage, and except
for Lucy's liking it, not either good or beau
tiful. lts name, also-the only one he would
answer to. ard he wouldn't always answer
10 that-was Towser, not name Tor
3. lady's pet at all, and scarcely for gentle
msn's. There was a little secluded field
nedged in by coppice, which sloped into the
lake, about a mile from the hotel ; and there
Lucy agreed (ior the first time) to meet me
alone. ] was To be there before breakfast,
at eight o clock IN the morning. and you
NAV be sure | was there at six-with Tow
ser Perhaps was never. .happier'than at'that
particular time. The universal nature SEEM
cd in harmony with my blissful feelings.
The sun shone out bright and clear, so that
the morning fresh breezes could scarcely cool
fhe pleasant throbbing of my blood but the
blue rippling waves of the lake looked ire
pressihiy tempting, and could not resist a
swim. just plunge and outagain, thought
|; for though had such plenty Of time t
spare. determined to be dressed and ready
for the interview an hour al least before th'
appointed time Lucy might, ike myself
lse little earlier and, at all events. witt
such an awful consequence in possible ap
prehension, would not run the shadow OF ;
risk. Mind my clothes, mind them,
said to Towser (who took his seat thereon, a
once, sagaciously enough.) for had heard
of such things as clothes being stolen iron
unconscious dippers before then, with re
suits not to be thought Of; and in went
remember the delight of that bath even I,
this day, the glow, the freshness, the luxuri
Gus softness of each particular wave. lust a
the last view which his eyes rested on
painted on the memory of one who has beel
stricken blind, or the last heard melody i
treasured in that of a man stunned deaf by
fall it was my last perfect pleasure, an
succeeded by shock that shall never,
think, quite get over When | had bathe
ms long as | Judged to be prudent, lande
and advanced towards the spot where m
garments and Towser lay as did so, ever
individual hair upon his back seemed to bris