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

which was not embarrassment" no, Miss
Clara, | decidedly am not the type Of man
hood which you seem to admire. Isis
your father in2 I-l-mean, can ! see him
for few moments2'
Our girl told you he was asleep, didn't
she ?' was the young lady's Indifferent an.
swer, searching for something, as she spoke,
in the pocket Of her dress Besides, Liver
more, as you've come to stay several days,
and have brought your portmanteau- there,
for that purpose, any time will do | suppose,
at which to hold confab with pa"
Mr. Liyermore seemed to be regaining his
sclf-possesson Since | cannot see your
father, Miss Iowuley," he said, stifeniug yisi-
bly, in manner, ait is better that / should at
once take my departure
Aud why so, Liy.?"
"Liyl" Could Richard l4ivermore believe
his own ears2 Was this yixcnish, hoidenish.
overgrown female the Clara Townley whom
he had worshipped in dreams as his future
wife Had her father been mad, 10 write as
he had written concerning herr He would
rather die--the man was already telling him
seli--than become the husband Of so hideously
ogreish a creature.
81 have no reason to give for leaving so
abruptly" he now said, in sharp. cold tones
Miss Townley made some odd sound be-
tween ggglc and a chuckle. You don't
like me confess you don'tl' she cried and
taking the unsuspectng Liyermore thorough
ly by surprise, she performed the action pop
uarly known as a poke in the ribs
q" Miss Townley :" gasped the unhappy
gentleman, thus maltreated; "do you intend
insulting me :"
Pshaw not a bit of it. Only in fun
Have cigar, won't you (?
Heavens 50 exclaimed the bewildered
Liyermore, holding up both hands, and stumb-
ling backward in his astonishment, "you
can't possibly mean that you smoke"
Certainly | do was the reply, Miss
Townley biting the end off very nice look
ing figaro as she spoke.
Mr.. Livermore once again and as if by a
mastery effort, regained his self-control.-
Walking deliberately toward his portman-
teau, he picked up that article, and, having
bowed to his hostess, was about quitting the
apartment, when Miss Townley exclaimed
hope haven't offended you Pan be
frightully mad when he hears you have gone
in this style. Hen be sure to blame me, too
| wish you'd leave little note explaining that
you 60 of--of your own free will, as it were
You don't mind doing this, do you ? "
She looked at him with what was evidently
intended for a winning smile, but poor Liver
more thought 1t only repulsiye leer. " |
shall be very willing, Miss TownIey, he said,
" to leave a note for your father, thoroughly
yindicating you in the matter Of my depart
ure What is it that you desire me to write ?"
taking card-case and pencil from one of
his pockets.
Only that you don't want to marry me
that you don't think we shall suit each other
and all that. Please be good enough not to
say any thing about the smoking, because pa
don't know that | smoke, and"
But Liyermore, without waiting for furth-
er instructions, began rapidly writing on one
Of the cards which he had selected from his
case. When be had finished, he turned to-
ward Miss Townley with these words
The following is my message to your
father:
SO Sra; | desire to have the agreement
broken concerning my future marriage with
your daughter. have held an interview with
her and confess to being wholly unwilling
RICHARD LIvERMoRE
That's precselyit' boisterously excaim-
ed Miss Townley, when her companion had
handed her the card. cod fellow" sudden
ly slapping Liyermore familiarity on the back |
-" old fellow, you have got a handsome
streak in you, for all we don't like each other
Better try cigar before you GO
But Liyermore rushed from the apartment
as though willing to remain not an instant
longer in the society of so out and out mon
strosity of womanhood. And shortly after
ward the hall door closed upon his retreating
figure.
Lyman, you have certainly been making
the most utterly revolving creature Of your
self that it is possible to conceive Of have
been listening in the dining-room, yonder,
to every word you said" And the real Clara
Townley, having Just entered the room by a |
different door from that by which poor Liver
more had made his exit, surveyed her dis
guis2d lover with laughing eyes.
There is my chief trophy exclaimed Ly- |
man, waving above his head the card which /
contained Liyermores message to Claras |
father. III hoe SigH0 r0ices = Your father |
will, Of course, consent to our marriage now,
Clara for he will become alarmed lest you
lack the power to attract husband to your
side, on reading this singing criticism from
Liyermore, and gratefully accept the next
chance that offers itself"
Whether Mr. John Townley INDUCED in
any such train Of reasoning as the above, it |
would be difficult TO say. But two facts are
certain, viz his deep indignation on reading
| l.tVarmAra'e anil bta al
sent to Claras marriage with Lyman Palmer,
the man Of her choice So much for the
clever disenchantment and verifcation of
Clara Townley's fayorite maxim" Where
there's a will there's a way"