The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1868-04-03

was entirely successful; it was partaken
OF with immense glee, by many groups
of young people lounging among the
rocks, and using stones for tables. and
oftentimes leaves for plates. Among
these Charlie was gayest of the gay, fly
ing from one place to another, carrying
laughter and mirth with him wherever
/ he appeared. He fiuttered about like a
handsome butterfly, from flower to flow
er, and there was scarcely girls cheek
there but what glOwed with "A deeper
flush at his approach; but, withal, his
manner was so frank that their cavaliers
none of them objected to his gay com
! pliments.
Julia had that morning achieved a
/ great triumph, for Charlie had come
with her. Yes, he was her escort. and
! she had tiattered herself that She should
have him with her all day but in this
she was grevously mistaken, fer, as we
have seen, as soon as he had reached the
\ scene OF the picnic, his restless spirit
seemed to possess him, and he went
wandering away from one TO another,
often deserving Julia for long time to-
gether. She sat watching him. with
pale face and glittering eyes, as. after
passing from one to the other. he flung
himself down at last beside Aurora
There she saw his handsome face turned
towards her lovely rival with most earn
est admiration; She noticed how she bent
down TO whisper in his ear, and even
heard their merry laughter come ring
ing across the glen to her-utterly alone
and Wfetched.
1t was very wrong for Aurora to be
flirting thus openly for She had come
over this morning with Hugh Wallace,
and the poor fellow was leaning against
a tree just back of her, quite as wretch
ed a. julia while he, too watched, with
jealous eyes the progress of that CONVEX
sation. 1t lasted some time, half an
hour perhaps, long enough to make Jul
liza half crazy with hatred, and then il
was broken up by the signal for the be-
ginning Of the shooting match.
II must leave YOU now, Aurora YOU
know | came with Julia. said Charlie,
as he started up.
" Yes, aud / came with Hugh. " re-
piled Aurora and added, a little mali
ciously, " poor Julia has been forlorn
enough while you have been away
Has she? Well, then. must DO my
best to console her.
As Charlie ran OF Aurora turned 10
Hugh. He met her.with such wretched
expression on his face that She was
deeply touched.
"Oh, Hugh. YOU don't mind my talk
ing TO Charlie, do you ~
don't know, Aurora, whether /
ought TO or not; but you know how
much | love you, and you may guess
how little like to see you seem t. prefer
any one.v
Aurora frowned slightly at the ardent
tone of last words.
" Charlie Walton and | are good
friends, that's all; but mind, Hugh
Wallace, / don't give YOU the right To
ask any questions at all"
! know it, Aurora" sighed Hugh.
" You know that | love you with all
my heart, yet you VIII not say that YOU
care for me at all. -
Aurora laughed as she took his arm.
and the glance OF her merry ewes was
kind enough TO console Hugh very con-
siderably for any melancholy he might
have felt.
Meantime when Charlie rejoined Ju-
liza, the look of utter misery went to his
heart: he saw and read this girls Sc
Diet, and vet half irreeolute he could
not help whispering low in her ear an
sorts Of tender words, that brought tile
color back to her checks. and the light
to her eyes, long before they reached the
village green, where the shooting match
was to come Off Here Hugh Wallace
had everything his own way: he carried
off every prize with ease, and brought
them TO Aurora, who was flushed with
delight ut his victory, and welcomed
him with hearty enthusiasm, that PROV
ed her deep interest in his success.
After these sports were over. the Young
girls had their trial of skill This was
the part of day upon which Charlie had
counted, and here again he
was off. He left his place nj Julia's
side, with hastyapology, 70 stand be
side each one Of the fair competitor.
with cheering word and q gay smile
The prize which he offered was his own
watch and chain, & very elegant affair,
SO deliberately " Fought as 10 be more |
suitable for a lady's wear than a mans. /
He had bought it in a caprice, and was |
now hearty glad that he had it to offer /
to the contending damsels.
1t was surprising what good shots /
they nearly all wcre-these young anna
IONS of the west. One after another |
they stepped out, and, with excellent /
aim, sent the balls always into the tar /
get, and generally close to the bulls /
eye. They had all tried their luck but /
Julia and Aurora, who with the easy !
assurance OF victory, chose to be last. |
Julia was Il little nervous as she advanc- !
I'd. 1t was Charlie who loaded her rifle /
for her, and he was by her side, whis
pering in his sweetest tones:
For my sake, Julia, you must be
sure to VIM
But that eloquent look, those earnest /
words, were not calculated to steady her
4 L. Il. ! L
ler shoulder her hand trembled and /
her shots were all three of them unusu-
lily bad. She turned away her face,
lark with modification and rage, as she
heard Charles voice exclaiming:
ooh, horrible, horriblel Why no
Ise to try to look for those shots ~
She ran alone to her seat and sat down
With heart full of anger and hatred for
he laughing girl who had taken her
place. Hugh Wallace had loaded Au-
ora's rifle and stood by her side, but
charlie was lingering near her. Just
IS she took her place, he stepped close to
Ter with some low words, bat she
toped him by turning upon him her
lear eyes, and saying, in very audible
one:
"Stand back, Charlie Walton
lon't mean you to come here and upset
ny aim with some of your nonsensical
lattery, as you did Julia Dalton's just
lOw.n
Julia ground her teeth with rage at
he words and started to her feet. Just
hen Aurora lifted her rifle, and with
he GOODNESS of a practiced shot adjusted
he aim, and sent ball right through
he ull's-eye. A shout proclaimed her
-ictory, and Julia, with glittering eyes
nd white face, drew little nearer
Iharlie was loud in his congratulations;
ulia could hear every word of his eager
raise. Aurora only laughed, while
Iugh's deep eyes glowed with an earn
st pleasure that ought to have been bet
er than all Charities extravagant eX-
,ressiOns.
Again Aurora took her reloaded rifle,
nd again the ball flew straight to the
mark. Julia was excited beyond bear
ne by this and Charles absorbed de-
light in her success. For the third and
asst time Aurora raised her rifle, but
ust as she had adjusted the aim and
lad her finger on the trigger, Julia ut
cred her name in a quick, hoarse voice:
"Aurora ~
Any nerves less calmly steady than
Aurora's would have been upset. Had
Ter finger on the delicate trigger trem-
led in the least, the ball would have
IOwn aside of the mark but it did not,
OK Aurora had nerves of steel and will
f iron. and she slowly dropped the rifle