Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-03-30
The Disenchanted Lover.

ironted residence in L.. Clara Townley
stood beside him, and very fearful look stole
into her deep.blue, lustrous eyes as she an.
swercd the question
" Yes Lyman Papa received his not,
this morning, saying that he would surely be
here ia the eight o'clock train"
Your father is as determined as ever
suppose, about this affair of-of the mar.
riage Lyman Palmer's look was ayertej
from Clara while he pronounced the words
One Of his white, slender hands played ratb.
err neryou,y with a seal-ring on the finger oi
the other. They were delicate enough, both
ia shape aud hue, those hands of Lyman
Palmer's, to have belonged to a woman hi.
face, also, devoid Of beard or mustache, and
glowing with the tulluess Of healthful beauty
entirely lacked lhe was only twenty-two) the
element Of manliness. 1t was face that
Lyman Palmers enemies-had he really pos.
sessed any-would have been very likely to
call inspid aud girlish But they could not
truthiully have said the same ofthc man him
self He was every inch what his youthful
appearance failed to show-a high-bred, hon
orable, courageous gentleman.
Determined Clara Townley exclaim.
ed, in answer to her lovers last remark
Why, papa is so bent upon my becoming
Mrs. Llycrmore, that he would die of rage,
think, were my resolution known to him.
And that resolution is, Clara"
To give Mr.. Liyermore plainly to under.
stand that the times we live in are not those
which tolerate the affiancing Of two children
IN their cradles merely because their parents
happened to be friends And then this
creature Richard Liyermore, is perfect fiend
Of homeliness, if you will pardon my intense
style Of rhetoric, Lyman. The photograph
which he sent me, through papa, is just about
the most irightful thing l have ever beheld.
lie has passed his whole life, you know, IN
some obscure place out West-al places out
West are obscure, in my opinion and, to all
appearance he has the manners of a regular
clod. lie actually had the impudence to
speak Of me, in his last letter to papa, as the
sweet Clara, whom he longed passionately
to behold, and whom he fondly believed to
be u picture Of womanly grace and lowell
ness. I've never told you this before, Ly-
man, for fear Of making you ungovernably
angry at your unseen rival"
We ought not to be called rivals Ly.
man Palmer answered, in a voice wherein
there was much more of dependency than an
ger" his chances are so far, far above mine "
Nonsense, Lyman
How nonsense, Clara ;"
DO you believe in proverbs ?"
why do you ask ?
Because | do" Clara Townleys face
wore a look of very firm determination as she
spoke
To what particular proverb do you have
reference just now ," Lyman asked
40 Que which says Where there's a will,
there's a way. think that adage a remark.
ably true one. And think, Lyman, that
you aud | may test its truth, if We are 50 in-
clned"
You don't mean by an elopement, Clara,
do you? Often and often have pleaded"
And often and often have refused" was
the prompt interruption OF course,
won't eope with you, Lyman. don't con.
slider elopement respectable | shall never
marry you if have to do it--there :" And
She looked quite serious enough to keep the
resolution if called upon to do So
You mean, then, Clara, by coming the
nightly eloquent over your papa " Lyman
| questioned.
And get pooh-poohed for our pains, said
Clara, with a slight laugh " No, Lyman, |
mean something else Papa is still asleep
and likely to remain so for an hour. Besides,
he is too feeble to leave his room this evening.
Let US take a stroll through the garden, and,
while we stroll, | shall disburden myself of
woghty secret"
els Mr. Townley at home "
Richard Livermorc asked the above aues-
tion Of Mr.. Townley's servant, and, receiving
an affirmative reply, was shown into a small
stting-room on the ground floor of the house.
While the man is seated, awaiting the ap-
pearance Of his host, we have time to observe
that his face and figure are scarcely the face
and figure Of a gentleman The obscure
place out West has evidently left its i'm
press upon the general bearing of Mr. Rich
ard Liyermore.
Presently the door of the sttng-room
opened, and servant-Clara Townley's 3
private maid, as it appened-entered the
room.
Mr. John Townley has been unwell for
several days, sir, aud as he has lately fallen
into doze, his daughter, Miss Clara, does
not consider it advisable to awake him. But
Miss Clara will be very happy to see Mr..
Lyermore herself, provided he wishes it,"
"Of course-of course-by all means.
certainly stammered Livermore, to whom
the immediate prospect of behoding his f.
dacee was thoroughly overwhelming IL
shall be most happy to see Miss Clara Town.
ley BE good enough, won't you, to tell
her so "
He was grati6ed, not long aherward, by
the appearance of a tall young lady (who
struck him, the more he looked upon her, as
a very unnaturally and disagreeaby tall young
LADY,, attlred ina rather short, i'll fitting dress
and wearing, upon oountenance full of
broad-blown comeliness, red and white"
about the most thorough from-ear-to- sort
of smile that Mr.. Richard Liyermore ever
remembered having seen
" How dye do ?" said the gigantic virgin,
accompanying her sautaton with rather
vacant-sounding laugh. Hope you're we'll
You're Mr. Lvermore of course Well,
Liyermore, | don't like your looks a bit. How
do you ike mine2'
"I-I-think there must be some mis-
take" murmured Liyermore in amazement.
l-l-understood that Miss Clara Townley
was to-"
Well, | am Miss Clara Townley."
lmpossiblel"
You're complimentary, I'm sure But
perhaps you mean that | disappoint you
agreeaby, Mr. Livermore. hope | don't.
| dare say you're good enough Kind of fell
low, but then you're decidedly not the fellow
for me. Saw that the instant | clapped eyes
on you, Lvermore, if you'll pardon so vulgar
an expression. Im the sort of girl that likes
plucky sporting-men with lots of go in
them, and general air of being up to snuff
Nov you're not that sort Of chap, Liver
more, as | saw at glance"
"No" exclaimed poor LivermOre, who had