St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1869-08-27

r tendencies toward argument; and, a
Mrs. Burrill was a woman, therefore ut
teri y unable to reason, to take her on tn
soft side-her affections.
1 He had expected rustic reception-,
, cold sepulchral room, scented with tn,
mouldy hay which protective econom,
had spread under an ingram carpet o
dazzling red and green, leaf-pattern
hearse plumes of asparagus in mugs OF
the mantle-plece; a small table, with al
accordion on it, between the windows
and large one in the middle Of tn,
room supporting basket of dropsica
wax Spitzenbergs ; and one crimson mo-
rocco annual titled ''Book of Beauty il
the infancy Of mezzotint a mortally
hard-bottomed sofa with coffiny smell
IN all the ages since it left the upholste.
er's undissipated by the wear of any ia,
mllisr sitting down. On this last contri.
vance he had anticipated an hours tete-
a-tete with an elderly female in tears and
rusty bombazine, more gifted in wise
saws and syntax, and ready to give up a
thing for the sake of peace
Having planned his method of pro-
ceedins Oh the hypothesis of such state
OF things, MIR. Butfum experienced from
the start an utter overthrow of all his
premedltated arrangements for saying
and doing. He was ushered by re-
spectful family servant into little Gem
OF parlor, where womans tastefulest
hand had been inventing and adorning-
still better where her presence had Hced
and every where ditfused itself like sub
tie atmosphere. The easiest Cf easy
chairs that he had ever sat in received
him while the maid went to announce
him to the mistress, and this luxurious
interval MIR. Butfum anXiously struggled
to improve by new-considering his meth
cd OF approach. He had not much leis-
ure for this essential task, ard had scarce
ly retortltied himself in the one resolution
which had not suffered complete JouJeaer-
%n'ent-not to reason with a woman, but
to take her on the soft side-when Mrs.
Burrill entered. Her motherly sweet
face, her gentle dignity, her plain cap,
and her general air of mild charity, Mr..
Butfum at once found quite reassuring.
81 am your next neighbor, Mr. Buff
FUN, Madam" said he, rising with a
bow; "a very quiet sort of Il person.
seldom 60 off NY little place to visit any
where-muSt beg pardon for the lateness
OF tins introduction--perhaps, since | come
50 late, for venturing TO Introduce myself
at all -
81 pray you won't apologize We.
too, are very quiet, and receive few visit
ors; SO Few, indeed, that, until yester-
day, it quite escaped me that we had
never seen you here
''It an apology were necessary, Mad
ampc II lis5 the Jl9Jja, y, IAyaWecasdsP tlGerti,
Mr. ShearswOrth. As you may be
aware, | am his guardian, and l have
only just come into the possession of GER
tain facts regarding him which concern |
both yourself and me, | may say, very
deeply. You are a mother, Mrs. Bur-
rill p c'There." thought the sanguine
Butfum, "that must fetch her. It's
what always tetches them on the stage y
Il am, Sir
"1ou have an only daughter, be-
lieve, Madame ?'
"1ou believe correct, Mr.. Butfum.''
''lIer interest are. of course, very dear
to you. Now, Madame Il am about to
impart facts which may not be known TO !
you), suppose that some relative had left |
your daughter a large sum of money on
condition that she married a man, every
way honorable and respectable, whom
the relative designated in his will :"
pray, let me hear your whole case
before l answer, Sir
"And suppose that, in the event of
her refusal TO receive this gentleman
addresses, the entire property l have
mentioned went to another persona
friend of the amily-under these circum-
stances what would you wish your daugh-
ter to do ?"
THAT would depend upon several con-
If she wanted the property,
and loved the man specified, | would ad
wise her to waive any scruples she might
naturally have as to the original striking
of the condition itself, and
marry the gentleman as if no such shame
tul proviso had been tackled on to him."
''But suppose"-(Mr. Butfum began
speaking quite loudly and growing very
red in the face; then said to himself,
Hang it. he acouldu't get mad with an
irrational woman" )-''that she wished
the property, but had no romantic feel
ing for the man -
''Permit me to correct your logic"
said Mrs. Burrill, in tone of gentle yet
judicial dignity. ''In Speaking of 'ro-
mantle feeling we wander from the issue
Lore, | believe, was the subject in ques
ton, and though that involves romance,
it is far from being all-comprehended in
it. True love has always abundance of
romance, but differs decidedly from mere
in many respects. Now we
understand each other Proceed, If you
please"
Mr. Buffum almost gasped with sur
prise. Where uas that woman's soft
side? Talking logic of her own accord,
and to huu2
''Let US say, she dosen't love the man,
then !" spoke he, explosively.
'In that case l should not need to ad-
wise my daughter, Mr.. Buff'um. She has
been brought up to Christianity and hon.
or. Her natural good sense and woman
ly pride, moreover, must always save her
from the degradation of bestowing her
hand where her heart did not accompany |
it, especially for so base consideration
as money"
''But suppose the testator were her
father, and made the conditions from the
most rational motives p
81 should join issue with you, Sir, on
tho onnStinn ,uhnthnr nnv motive with |