Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-04-19
Maiscella
Brentwood and Brandon.

Glad to see me Of course you arc. Tom,
my boy Now settle yourself into your easy
chair, forget that you are playing host, i'm
agine us two back in the dear old room at
st. Werners, while tell you why am not
spending the holidays at brentwood, as YOU
supposed, but come sweeping down upon you
like predatory Uhlan, with the delightful
prospect Of being billeted here for week to
come
wrote you Of the Irritation with Emily,
last summer at the Beeches. I'll confess to
you now, my dear boy, what couldn't then,
that it had got to be something more than
Irritation with me- and | mopcd for three days
after it was broken up and she went back
with her aunt 10 Chester don't know but
it was a gimering hope that the old times
might come again which made me jump 30
eagerly at Harry's invitation to meet them all
at Brentwood Christmas. IL might have
been that which led me to astonish my man.
tel mirror with such ridiculous antics when
opened his note. | knew it was the post
script which led to the fracture OF the same in
fit Of passion. The fellow, in bis innocence,
actually confdcd to me his engagement with
Emily, and dilated upon her charms as though
the remembrance Of every one of them was
not yet ranking in my bosom
Do you know, Tom, that a man viii do the
most unaccountable and contradictory things
sometimes, even when the grand passion might
be supposed to have had time to cool ? | was
never so eager to see her as after knew that
she was lost to me, and with the full con-
sciousness that every moment in her presence
would be misery unutterabe yet looked
forward to those very moments with indescrib-
able longing, and sehool-boy fashion, worked
myself quite into fever for fear something
would happen to debar an entrance into my
internal paradise But the fates we're pro
pitous-Ill anticipate just enough here, Tom,
to say believe they were furies in disguise
and | landed safely at Brentwood, late in
the afternoon.
All was hustle and excitement, the com.
pany was large and brilliant, and damsels
were there, Tom,-
-"To stir fever in the blood Of ago."
and to warm even such slow-going azygos
as yours into its liveliest pulsaton met
her at last, radiant and beautiful Was il
fancy alone that her cheek grew pale. and
her hand trembled as it touched my own ?
How the blood bounded in my veins as the
words Of welcome fatered upon my lips and
died inarticulate
The tide Of arrivals and greetings separated
us and bore her away, nor did we meet again
during the afternoon. Dinner was dsap-
pointment; she, with several of the ladies, had
excused herself to prepare for the rehearsal
Of some theatricals, and I made hollow mer.
riment with two rows of animated figure.
heads, got up an impromptu headache during
dessert, and left them to crack their nuts and
dull jokes together. Wandering amlessly
through the deserted drawing.room, passed
the archway, pushed aside heavy crimson
curtain, and found myself in a dmly-ighted
room, fitted up with stage and other theat-
rical appliances. Something was evidently
going wrong. The management stood with
its hands in its pockets, addressing the orches-
ira, who leaned dcjectedy upon the piano.
"Now here is a go !" despairingly ex.
claimed the frst-named individual thrustiug
his hands still deeper in his pockets. All
ready to ring up the curtain, traps set every.
body in place, and just at this moment of all
others Harry must be dragged off to drug
some coicky infant or wheedle some hypo-
chondriac old spinster! The bandits can't
murder anybody if they haven't anybody Ia
murder, and the whole things upset wish
by Jove, wilkins the very man for us !!
cried he, delightedly, suddenly catching sight
of me and the cloud passing from his face
iustanter; did Thespia send you here D.? |
impress you into the service Here, take
this book, bundle yourself into where I'll show
you and when Melissa says, dye see, " Hold
off, base rufians Unhand me, Or"
but, my dear fellow" demonstrated [,
| cant play never saw the thing before
and"
1t don't matter particle wilkins you
are in for it now. You can read, can't you 2
It's only rehearsal, and it will help us SC
much, you can't tell there's a good fellow
now Come along !" and he dragged me to-
ward the stage and behind the curtain, ex-
planning as he went
you, lie low, you see, until Melissa cries
for help, when you rush on the stage, attack
the villains Hayden and Smith, you know
'eml, overpower them, and kneel to receive
her thanks, when more villains charge in
upon you. After defending yourself with
reckless yaor, (here's your sword ,--eame
near forgetting that, you are outnumbered
and fall desperately wounded, with your feet
to the left upper entrance. You don't com,
IN again till the third act, and Harry is sur,
to be back by that time, so we sha'nt need
you again. In with you"--opening small
door and pushing me in" don't forget your
cue, Hold off, base ruflians---"' aud thc
door was shut.
1t was perfectly dark the room seemed
high and airy and had not the compressed
feeling Of closet, but was evidently flleC
with scenery and rough lumber, probably .
ante-room leading to the library, which tb,
exgencies of the occasion had converted into
a place for storage,
| had settled the matter to my own salts
faction, and was beginning to strain my ear
for the first sound of Hold off, base ruflians ?
when through the darkness breathed voic,
"a voice which thrilled me to my being
core-low, hushed, but distinct and impasson
ed, the voice Of Emily
"llush !" it said. Breathe not a word
for walls have ears My heart, my life i
yours Let US fly together-thus may
rend asunder the chains that bind me. To
night-after the revel-we must meet Hist
no word--the sound of footsteps-"
Won't you come out till you are pulled
out?' sounded in my ears the voice of the
irate manager as was helped on the stage
with no gentle hand. Here's where told
you you were to rush out and attack the bandits
who are carrying of Melissa, when she cried
for help
Yes, pouted Susie Barton, the fair. "Me.
lissa, and cried, Hold off, base ruff
fans three times or more until concluded
there was no one within hearing chivalrous
enough to defend me-" The two bandits like.
wise glowered their dissatisfaction at my tard.
mess in coming out to slaughter them, and
intimated that under the circumstances they
could hardly be expected TO follw out theil
instructions and die in agony, II. U. Il. But
the manager, who was really good-hearteC
fellow, soon set the matter TO rights, and
sword in hand, with the sound Of anothe
voice yet ringing in my ears, went through
the wretched mimcry, until at last, hardl,