Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-09-27

I
his quarters, saying sotto roce, I've bad a
delightful entertainment and really feel
conscientious scrupes against taking anything
back the crier proceeded to sum up "The
ball well, We can't charge moren .af price,
under the circumstances, the halril be ten
lights well, say two'n' half; my cryin' two'n'
halt-ought to be five, s jest as much works
It the whole island come sta'din' at the
door (he could not say taking tickets,) "dol-
lar sixteen dollars Jest. Then there's the
books-Miss Coffin said was to sec them re.
turned here they be no, there was six, and
here's only fye."
| remembered that had left Handy Andy
at my room, aud as that would give me a lit
tle moro delay, asked him to call at the ho-
tel for the other volume, and strobe away. |
was tempted to turn toward the wharf, and
keep straight on from tho end Of the pier. but
Tor the sight Of couple slowly walking up
the street. One was my solitary female au--
| spectator. and the other a demon in a velvet
coat and wide-awaks.
! When | reached my room again. the vol.
umc was gone, and must be paid for if not re-
| covered il was one Of a set, but that was
trao compared to the fact that my BILL my
counterfeit, was a deposit.
My friend the crier was good natured, how
ever, and agreed to call in the morning
NlC-oover it served me as an excuse for not
'cttling that night, that | must return the
book or know what il would cost me. Besides
he was sure that could no more leave the
island than Robinson Crusoc could leave his.
sat down on the hotel balcony, in utter
despair. From the parlor came a murmur Of
ow-voiced conversation, and | fancied that
the tones were those ola woman and ser
pent, that is, painter but | cared not
What was | to do? My bill at the hotel
ny afternoons bad luck twenty-three dollars
my evenings failure, say twenty more
my fare to Boston, where | must be by the
iext evening. IL may seem light matter,
mt to an inexperienced lad Of nineteen it was
no joke.
Wnne | sat there absorbed in my trouble,
hand was laid upon my shoulder which
made me look up. 1t was Fred P.
See here, my boy, I've been looking for you
all the evening. Here's Minnie says she must
, 20 homo tomorrow, and-l don't like to
trouble you but she wants enough for her
iare to Boston, and I've lost my wallet to-day
[ believe | cant find it anywhere. Let me
laye that twenty paid for the boat last
week. did not mean to ask you for it, as
{ [ supposed it might not be convenient till you
f got home, but | can't help myself" Here
Z vas new complication. We had gone on a
, ishing excursion together and Fred had paid
t the bill bat had undertaken to get the
{ ither fellows shares, and had done so. had
handed it all to Feds roommate aud college
hum, who had since left the island 1t was
d ,vident Cunningham had forgotten to pay
il Fred. They were Of course intimate friends
IL lnd comparatively stranger, who had
been kindly taken up by them. felt awful
D. y, for hardly knew how to make the truth
y ippear. Suppose Cunningham, rich and
II 'areless young fellow, had forgotten all about
Il It. Fred was ont of sorts too over something,
= Tor he was usually very even tempered.
il When | said, IL must have paid it," could
not for the moment remember that | had
J lone so. He said roughly, "O bother no /;
lc [ couldn't have had the money; besides, Gun.
'' bingham would have told me, and he never
le ,ad word, only that Id better get it before
ie you spent all your money"
10 "Mr. P" said l, IL will 60 up to
Il your room and arrange with you; we will
s. not dispute here on the steps"
be lbout snobs picked up at watering places,
h' which made me furious. When we got Il
ch ais chamber | was so angry that forgot al
10 lbout my bill deposited at the library, ant
II pulled out my porte monnaie and by tn
to dmc he got the gas lit | was opening it, anC
ut feeling in the secret pocket. There was tn
m, bill, twenty dollars, aud slapped it down O.
the table saying, As | am to pay thi
ro- twice over, I'll trouble you to leave receip
be 1t the Office for me tomorrow morning.
ro- Ion't wish to pay the third time" And the
sre | went off to my own room raging. When
at cooled of little it came to me that ha
'en passed off bad bill on Fred p. but I
tt that | answered my conscience, that it wa
Ing IN unjust claim. At auy rate, was quit
7a' ready to 60 to Jail or anywhere else, au
en went to sleep thinking of an odd story ha
- heard, in consequence Of which | dreamt
nv that | was sent TO the Nantucket prison i
Al passing counterfeit money, and that eve
TED night | was in the habit Of slipping out
ing ny cell and prowling round the streets. Th'
h, | was giving reading to a crowded hous
ow but the books were all wrong Whatever
! al took up turned to a dictionary or spellin
ion book.
on plans, one Of which was to go off to sea in
eat Shaler from New Bedford, the other was
wing get Fred to have me arrested for passi
me- the counterfeit bill on him and sent to Bost
indy Tor trial. Once there, [ could get some O
skill 10 help me, In the midst OF working {
my these plans to grand and triumphant table
,ht ! got to sleep again, and this time dream
cant that | was being marched up State street
aud chains, aud that | was stopped at each corr
use aud re-arrested on a new charge, when "
nd awakened by a strange man in my room, v
and was shaking me by the shoulder. My 4
serv. thought was, 1t has come now, and
but glad Of it, II was the Matchmaker. "
rtist some round to see thee" he began, to Il
Miss 1t thy watch once MORE I've thought I
d ra- might he wanting money good deal, an
n me don't mind letting theee have twenty doll
'ot OF if thee thinks thee can pay me in W
or so. guess thees pretty honest as ft
IoubI 60"
elore was Just putting the watch into
silent hands, when the door opened again, AM
lping came Apollyon, mean the artist.
les, "My dear young friend" he began, "w
nited is all this about broken buggy? I've
place seen the stable fellow hanging round b
dAlht anu OF course you are NOV W Pay sap
ven | for the team or for the damage. l am al
was little careless in letting your b
rong- get away-in fact, I-well--I wanted
y. ! was Of the utmost importance for me to
selling an uninterrupted talk with Miss--with
which p. Two years ago We were enga
force. 1t was broken off by most unlucky cha
to be and have never had it in my power to
1t tn, plain matters till yesterday. So the st
at, as bill, which shall cut down considerabl.
lie to my business For the other matter, |
etired you m apology, which tender now"
! soil. | was too bewildered to answer at Q
ut the but the artist noticing my Quaker friend
isc oil the first time, drew himself up with n
If up solemnity, and added, 'lf you demand
not to Iher satisfaction, there will be coffee for
vous, dowl stairs in about ten minutes, and fr
hurch Of mine will be glad to see you And
Selz- he went.
@ for l'h.d lust exchanged my watch for