Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1869-12-03
General Literature.
E0I'' TEEET' GOT .W.sRREEE.

The marriage Of Edgar Courtnay to An
ME Leslie had always been looked upon ms
settled. The heads of their respective fam
lilies had arrange and rearrangcd the pre-
liminaries, and drawn up imaginary ante
nuptial contracts Of marriage, while yet
the objects of their matrimonial specua-
tons were confined by age-or want ofage
to their respective cradles. In the long
winter nights, when the two youngsters
had retired to bed, the two old gentlemen
were wont to discuss the matter over their
genial port.
The young cousins, for such was the re-
lationship existing between them-grew up
with this idea Of marriage impressed upon
their minds. They had been accustomed
70 hear the proposition canvassed at so ear
~ an age that it had become to them mat
ter of belief, a conviction of principle born
with Them, and not to be readily set aside.
When our hero grew up and was sent to
Eton, the Intercourse between them was
still maintained by means of sundry annu-
al presents and valentines; although, we
are sorry TO confess, after Edgar's first year
at school, he grew wondrously callous, if
one might believe himself, to the blandish-
ments Of the gentle god, and was in the
habit Of talking rather contcmptously of
the fair sex in general. When he was pro-
noted TO the fourth form, lie especially af-
fected a grand indifference to all "girls" as
being mere "spooneys" and "mufis," and
treated his pretty little cousin ina very cav
alier like way.
In course of time Edgar went up to Ok
ford, where he nobly upheld the Etonian
reputation for cricket and boating, although
history compels us to acknowledge that he
was not so successful in those minor de-
partments of a college curriculum general
ly known as classics and philosophy. lie
had, at one time, we believe, entertained
some vague intentions of going in for the
bar, which were, however, ingloriously
ended by the aspiring lord chancellor be-
ing accidentally plucked. The show" re-
mains to this day a mystery, though Ed
gar's friends allude mysteriously to some
gigantic conspiracy against him, on the part
of the rascally examiners, who doubtless
were animated by petty jealousy of rising
genius. However, the alleged facts of this
plot have become so obscured by time that
we have never been able to arrive at any
decision in the matter.
The mysterious and-as a fond mother
termed it-unaccountabe failure on the
part of her promising offspring, resulted in
Edgars joining the army and embarkng
for the Crimea. Here he bad roughed ii
nobly, by sundry brave actions, attained
l,a Of
wounded, and embarked with shattered
constitution, for home, where he arrived
just in time to follow the remains of both
his parents (who had died simultaneously
by violent fever, TO the grave.
The Leslios and the Courtnays were
neighbors and relations. For centuries the
two families had lived upon the same lands
and the friendship that had subsisted be-
tween them ever since old Hugh Courtnay
had saved the life of young Leslie (sole son
and hcir) ON the disastrous fold OF Naseby
had been handed down as legacy ovel
since, from father TO son.
At tho time when our story opens, tho
family of the Leslies consisted of two
daughters, Annie, the elder, and Mary
while that of the Courtnays, now that the
| old folks were dead, was represented by
an only son, Edgar, the hero Of our story.
Annie Leslie, although older by one
year than her sister, looked younger She
was fair haired, blue eyed, merry hearted
| girl, after the approved style of Saxon
| beauty, warm hearted, anectiOnate Eng
| lish maiden. Her sister Mary ON the 9TH
er hand, was quiet and grave for her years