Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-08-02
The Night of the Burglary.
CHAPTER /.


Fulton was what is commonly called
"tast" young lady. She was never
guilty of any extravaganza, she would
have shuddered at the popular idea
of "fastness," being able to smoke
cigar and drive tandem if necessary.
Kate was essentially lady, but one
certainly somewhat out of the CON-
mon line. She was frank, open, and
and honest, with guileless, simple
heart, a pure, noble, affectionate ma
ture, and a strikingly beautiful face.
She was far above all meanness, all
jealously, and small vices. Kate
could be passionate and angry; if you
offended her, she was very likely to
seek your presence, and tell you, with
flashing eyes, what she thought of you.
Then she would shake hands and be
friends again.
No one ever heard Kate speak un-
kindly of the absent; on the contrary,
she was sure to defend them, whether
right or wrong. She was generous
and high spirited; still, Kate was
said to be "fast." The reason was
that she preferred some masculine
amusements to the quieter ones gen.
orally INDUCED in by her own sex.-
Kate had, too, fearless spirit. Op-
press the weak, injure those who could
neither defend nor help themselves,
and her dark eyes would glow with
indignation. Kate was the terror of
all the towards, the gossipS, and the
hirts of Clifton. That keen, sharp
wit of hers discovered all shams, all
pretences, all affectations, and merci-
lessly exposed them. Perhaps at
times she was rather too sarcastic,
but never knew her to use her tai
ents for repartee in wounding sensi-
tive or real feeling. Added to this
she was brave rider, good dancer,
a skilled musician, and you have a faint
idea of my friend Kate, as l knew
her years ago.
Clifton is a small market town in
Essex. 1t had no manufactures; the
population was not large; the poor
inhabitants were most of them farm
laborers the gentry consisted Of the
curate, the doctor, the lawyer, Mr..
Fulton, kate's father, a few gentlemen
farmers, and, strange to say, several
Of those, in most cases, estimable Ia
dies on the shady side of forty known
by the names of old maids. | hold
the genera! ridicule attached to that
title in utter adherence. Some OF the
gentlest, the kindest, the most self-sac.
} ri6cing women | have ever known
have been old maids. Perhaps they
: have rather a weakness for gossip
Is no allowance to be made for the
cheerless, lonely life, in many cases
devoid of all human interest? Place
the good they do by the side of that
failing, and it is completely hidden
: There are some soured by the hard
9 and desolate fate; surely pity, not
ridicule is for them. The greater
9 part of our best society at Clifton wa:
l composed of so-called old maids
ladies living in most instances, on theil
means, in plain and quiet manner
giving few quiet parties, at whicl
the curate and the doctor figured
largely. 1t is no libel to admit tina
each lady was more or less a devou
admirer Of these two gentlemen
They were both bachelors and we'll t
do. You must allow that it was rath
er irritating. Clifton was not mar
!, rying place. The young people of tn
little town rarely settled there. /
wedding was quite an unusual event
and excited proportionate amour
of interest. The remaining inhabit
ants were composed of tradesmen an
W farmers in a small line of business.
There was no long street, the prir
cipal thoroughfare of the town, wa
e called Castle street. The docto
dwelt at one end, in large red brio
h II house, with intensely green blinds an
c. white steps. Our lawyer, Mr.. Bren
rs rs inhabited the white house a little fal
or ther down. The curate dwelt in tn
q pretty parsonage close to the ol
church. Mr.. Fulton lived in tn
!, grandest house in Clifton; it was cal
ed Lime House, for it was shaded b
row of those beautiful, gracefI
trees. He was the richest man in th
place, and was looked upon as yer
e, superior kind Of person. His goo
little wife was quiet and homely, ha'
Of ing no particular characteristic save
be continual dread of what Kate's ne1
q, a, vagary might be.
or never knew what Mr.. Fulton ha
to to been before he finally settled down
he Clifton. He was possessed of ver
RS handsome fortune, and was well CO..
1y nected. Ialways fancied he had mac
his money in trade, and from a sill
u. u motive OF pride or vanity did not wis
it to be known. The Fultons lived
Ct Ct. very good style; they kept nice ca
x riage, gave excellent parties, and we.
" decidedly the leading people of Cl
ton. l think my dear father rankt
next; but he was quiet and retire
we we never caring to enter society, livir
the life Of a recluse, for he was
- heart-broken man. He married n
ors fair young mother after a long al
I ns anxious courtship, and she died whit
em | was born. He never-although
- lived long-recovered from the shoe
y He was gentle and amiable, intelle'
icb n ual and refined; but he seemed to e
ow ist only in the past and in his booE
m- 'n To say what an object of romanr
are interest he was to all the spinsters
les, @ Clifton, would be an impossible tas
. They took personal pride in his {
i votion to the memory of ny lost mo-
. er, though l have secret and fl
persuasion that each one of tn
would have been his comforter a
, consoler.
- To me my father was kindness
self; every wish / could form "
ties gratifed. l had my birds, my mu;
|, my flowers, as much as I cared fc
i but, in spite of all, it was but a d
- and cheerless home for young G
Our house-keeper was old and p
else, the servants ali staid and stea
Co., | do not know that ever rememl
TO have heard real, ringing laugh
our house. | was the great pet