Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-09-30
Vol. 63.-3233. No. 40.

one Of his storms. The only person who
managed him was Miss Dora
Here the keeper became silent, and look
Of deep sadness came over his rugged face.
You'll have to stay a longish time sir,
for your things are soaked So, if you like
to hear it, III tell you the story. suppose
I'm like old men, sir, and like to maunder"
he added with smile Of natural dignity and
courtesy which might have benefited prince.
Mr. George Linwood, FIVE and forty years
ago, was the squire lie lived with his moth
er, gentle lady She was always on her
sofa, and mover well, but kind as an angel to
the poor. Miss Dora Maitland, her niece,
came to stay upat the Hall with them. Her
parents were very poor, and she'd six sisters;
so they were glad--Mias Doras parents. |
mean when Mrs. lnwood said she'd adopt
her as daughter | heard this, you know,
from the iadys maid at the Hall, who was
aiterward my wife She died years ago.
And the old man sighed, and glanced at an
empty chair near his own.
/ " We'll SIR" he resumed Miss Dora
came, and Mrs. Linwood was very fond Of
her. So was everybody, for she was so sweet
and gentle, and her voice was like black
birds Everybody about the estate knew
Miss Dora, aud she used to 60 about in
broad hat aud carol her song, for all the
world like backbird in the holly. The
cottagers used to know her, for whenever any
one was III there Miss Dora was, petting and
oosseiiug them.
So, sir" resumed the old man after
pause " hy-and-by Mr.. George became fond
of Miss Dora. He used to follow her about
and watch all her wishes. He broke in a
chestnut iilly himself, aud used to ride with
her But she seemed shy Of him. His tenn
! per was SO shiity, aud she heard his curses
once when he was bitterly angry, though he
didn't know she was in hearing and she
seemed to shrink from him. She was such
/ beauty-goden hair and eyes, sir, Just like
/ blue, while her complexion the village girls
used to call roses and lilies. I've heard it
said that great portrait painter came down
| to paint her face, and showed il in London
as the greatest beauty he'd seen anywhere.
Mrs ldnwood, sir, the servants could all
see was very anxious about Mr.. George
She'd murmur to herself for hours about him,
aud she was always looking at him and Dora
so wistful ike, as if she didn't dare to say
what was on her tongue. So things went on,
till one day a company Of soldiers marched
into the village The officer in command was
invited by Mr.. Lnwood to dine, and he did
So but he didn't see Mrs Linwood or Miss
/ Dora, for they were both in with colds, and
they stayed up stairs. The officer was a
handsome young nan, with keen grey eyes
and a quiet manner, and look of real hon
esty about him, sir, Mr. Linwood asked him
to come when he could get leave and shoot.
Well, by-and-by he came--Capt. CAL
ton was his name, and he wore the Waterloo
medal, for he'd been in the heat Of that and
he came in late one night after dressing, into
the drawing room. There were Mrs. Lin
wood and Miss Dora. The Squire introduced
him when suddenly the Captain grew very
agitated and Miss Dora gave little shrek,
and then looked 50 charming that half an
eye might sec, Polly, my wife said, where
her heart was.
The Squire didn't see this, and fortu-
nately too, for only the day before he'd asked
Miss Dora to marry him, and she, crying
bitterly, had refused.
The Squire went off wild duck shooting
with me, but he laid his gun down in the
punt, and kept staring sternly in the air, and
muttering to himself You may guess sir,
that held my tongue.
We'll, sir, at dinner nothing much was
said, for Captain Calton seemed very SILENT
and so did Miss Dora The Squire drank
good deal, and talked about the shooting, but
now and then he looked at his cousin with
such a wild, eager look that made her blush
like rose whenever he caught her eye.
After dinner when Polly was putting
some embroidery away in the cabinet at the
end Of the drawing room, she heard Miss
Dora tell Mrs. Linwood enough to find out
that Captain Cation was her old lover whom
she'd met at Bath with her parents, aud that
they were to be married when he got rich
enough. Polly could nothelp hearing it, sir; all
women are curious about lovers, continued the
old man, smiling "but she loved Miss Dora
with all her heart. and wouldn't have said a
word about it for the world.
Several days went on, and the Squire and
the Captain went out shooting. and Dick
Smith, the head keeper, used to 90 with
them.
One day Miss Dora came down in the
little pony carriage with the luncheon. The
Squire was Just finishing the beat of eopse,
but Captain Caton was outside. When Miss
Dora came up he took her hand and kissed
| ii. But saw it, though | wasn't such
BOBBY as to show myself What was worse,
sir, the Squire saw it through the hazel BUSH
es, and her pretty face bushing and looking
happy.
I" heard him grind his teeth where stood,
and whisper a curse. Did you ever hear one
whispered, sirS 1t makes a man creep all
over
"Presenty he came out with very jolly
air, and after lunch be drank Miss Doras
health aud then the Captains. | was carry
ing the bag, and the Squire spoke in a bluff
sort of way 50 heard all
"'My Cousin is a pretty girl said he.
"Yes, said Captain Calton, nervously like,
and could see his hand tremble.
"'Ah, WE'LL said the Squire heartily, i
used to be jealous for | always ADMIRED Do
ra, that | did. But what's the use now?
Never mind old fellow, wish you joy of
her you must excuse my temper its dew
ilish bad one
"That was truer than he thought" mutter-
cd the old man musingly.
Captain Cation answered him in very
| friendly way, and the matter seemed all right.
The Squire was in dreadful temper the
next morning with Dick and me because We
hadn't killed some stray dogs that had been
driving the woods.
He was very savage against poachers, and
swore he would have spring-guns set for their
dogs in the open runs Of the copses.
{" So matters went on till just about Christ
mas, when large party of the neighbors Of
the Squire came over to shoot under the
pheasant covers,
" That day we had no peace. All the
spring-guns were taken up damaged raisins
put in the runs to loll the pheasants there,
and the woods were watched every night
On the night before we met the Squire, who