Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-11-01

D
about them this redcoming trait-when they
meet together, they do not bore each other
but on thecontrary, they quicken each Others
wits and Of what other class of society can a
similar thing be said with truth
Brisk as the demand was for his articles
and well paid for as they we're, the habits of
his former life kept him a poor man. Il was 20
natural for him to indulge in hansoms and
good cigars and champagne, that the not doing
so was virtue he never practlsed if he could
help 1t. Consequently he had been obliged to
house himself fequently in lodgings that were
distasteful to him, about in various shy neigh.
borhoods such as Camden Town and Chelsea,
aud even, once when work was slack, out at
Cambcrwcll, where he got the blue devils to
such an extent that his readers declared his
style deteriorated considerably and public
mention Of his name was less frequent and
honorable than Of yore.
But now, after about two years trial Of the
pleasures and pains Of literary life, the sun
shone upon him in regard to his special sub
Ject OF a local habitation. 4 friend Of his, a
clever and successful young dramatist, and
editor Of one Of the many comic papers which
I
felt at first to be the dire mistake Of marrying.
"Thc boy would have done well, sir, " Ted
dy would say, oracularly. at the Arts, but
he's done for himself now she's some parson' 5
daughter from the country, and she'll be want.
ing our friend 10 write tracts aud teach in
Sunday schools. He's made a mistake, and we
shall suffer for it, for there isn't another fell
low going who can write comedy that can
keep US awake"
And then they ibis listeners) gave vent to
brief CALCULATIONS expressive Of their various
degrees Of sorrow at the untimely fate which
had beiallen Vincent Bourn.
But Vincent Bourn went on his way, and
some Of them felt that way to beuot altogeth-
or despicabe when they were after a time
asked down and made welcome to the tent
Vincent Bourn had set up for himself in COM
Portable, secluded, picturesque, and altogeth-
er delightful Hans Place. They had establish
cd themselves in a corner house, with bal
cony in front Of its rounded window. And the
balcony and the house were covered with
Nirginia-creeper and old memories. For 81. f..
H." had often gathered leaves from the plant,
and had lounged in the balcony with some
favored friend. And Lady Morgan, and Lady
Blessington, and, mighter still, Mrs Norton
herself, had crossed the threshold All Of
which facts threw quite a halo of romance
around her abode in young Mrs. Bourn's i'm
aglnation, she having, as she was wont to e1-
plain, "only known one author before she met
Vinny, and that was papa, and, Of course, his
we're not like things that we're read, you know.
Which ingenious explanation was simple
statement Of the truth, the reverend gentle.
mans published efforts being condemned tC
what was doubtless most unmerited obscurity
This new member of the fraternity was a
very fair one. Vincent had fallen in love
with her in the course Of pedestrian tour he
had taken the previous autumn. Her fresh
bright beauty had fascinated him as he sat at
the window of a village-nn one day, waiting
for the everlasting eggs-and-bacon to be cook
ed for his refreshment. He found on inquiry
that she was the rector's daughter, and he at
once developed an artistic desire to stay and
sketch the church and rectory from various
points Of view. Being an energetic young
fellow he soon carried the fortress. His name
already sounded as rising man, and he hac
very little trouble in making George DenC
believe him to be the greatest literary light
of the day.
"You may have her, if you can maintain
/ her" her father told him.
And now Vincent, having satisfactorily
proved that he could do this, had her himsel
up in Hans Place.
." hope you'll like George" the youn,
husband said, rather anxious, to Edward Myd
Teton, when the latter presented himself il
Mrs Bourn's little drawing-room for the frs
time.
He was there by invitation to dine at seven
and George was considerably delaying max
ing her appearance, in order to give the oil,
friends few moments
Oh, I'm sure to, old fellow" Teddy said
politely. 4" The chances are that she won
like me wives always want their husband
to give up the bad habits Of their bachelor
hood, you know. | expect to be denied
place in your memory, together with the bal
let girls, and cigars, and clubs, aud oyste
suppers, of the past. You have got ever,
thing very jolly about you old boy" he con
tinued, half envyingly, as he looked round a
the dainty, graceful arrangement Of the room
" 1t makes a fellow feel the barrenness o
his own life the MORE" he was adding, whei
he heard womans light step, and the rust
of dress, and Mrs. BOurn came in.
He had expected the country clergyman
daughter to be more or less tame and uninter
esting, even if she happened to be pretty
which Vincent had ravingy declared her T.
be. There stood before him now a bright
faced, charmingy selEpossessed girl of thrc
or tour-and-twenty, who met his outstretche
hand and his eyes quite frankly and cordial
ly at once, with the words
"Viuny and you are like brothers, he tell
me. hope you'll extend the fraternal fee
ing to me-" And from that moment Tedd
! Mydeton had that saving power in his life,
/ pure womans friendship.
" But fear-O Vinny, do fear SO muc
that he's going the downward path fast |!
she said mournfully to her husband in tn
course Of a conversation some few month
after this. He came in last night after 20
had gone to the theatre, and he wasn't as h
ought to have been and, when he saw m
look sorry, he said What does it matter
George 2 I'm only useless, idle fellow
the sooner | do for myself the better. A"
" Yes he's down on his luck" her hus
band said, sadly " Poor, dear old Ted
wish we could do something for him. Yo
see, he has made an awful mess of it latel
on all sides, been late with copy, and write
when he couldn't think, much less write, co
herenty aud the end of it is, that both th
Scariier and The Daily Intelligence hav
dropped him."
q Vinny and he has no homo to 20 t,
to be comforted !" George said, pathetical
ly. " My heart bled for him last night h,
has come from such a height that he mus
always feel his degradation more keeny thar
those men do who owe all the social status
they have to their own intellect he is gen,
tleman born, and now he has to herd with
interiors who tolerate him. He nearly broke
my heart last night by saying he expect.
ed we should hear Of him as found dead
in gutter one day, perhaps the sooner the
better"
I'll 60 and look after him this evening, II
Vincent said, meditatively.
lie was considerably wrought upon by
that statement Of his wife's relative to Nv.
dleton's reckless depression. and he longed