National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-09-01
A EARRiSTER'S STORY,

was called to the Bar in Trinity Term
%. Charley Soame, my great friend
Hl, the son OF man OF family and fortune
whose estates were in the County of Nor
Alh, and whose town residence was in
Gn,yenor square. Lady Geraldine Soame,
tHarley's mother only daughter of the
Earl OF fiadingham, was noted for the
elegant entertainments she was in the
.lbt Of giving and her ladyship had re-
we'd that her son Charlev's call to the
bu should be celebrated by an evening
nrty at the family residence in Grosvenor
.liarc. A. Lady Geraldine was very par
ail 90 the as her sons chosen friend, YOU
may suppose | was to be one of the guests
this, to me eventful, evening. Going
4us Charley said to me.
q understand that we are to see some
very pretty girls here tonight; so look
t for yourself, old boy
replied that was very happy to hear
.h good news, and would endeavor to
upon MS advice.
expect said he, zone extremely tas-
mating girl will come, Gertrude Pcvton.
sGom think you met here last year. If
Size DO, ,pear she'll be the belle OF the
evening by some odds-don't you think
so l'
oppressed my concurrence in this opin-
'ou, and by the time | had done 50. we
n9chad the drawing-room 4 quadrille
md just been danced, and the ladies and
Gentlemen were promenadug and doing
Ia >mal-talk of the evening.
Charley Soame and | went different
Fay>, and were soon minging in the may
'arung Of the ballroom with our respective
arners Presently the dance was over,
'd | was conducting my partner 10 a seat. |
when lady and gentleman entered the |
o3m, and | recognized them aS Gertrude |
'eyton and her father, Col. Peyton. Who |
ever saw this young lady on the evening
o which | allsde would not have paused /
giving his opinion as to who was the |
arrest in that fair assembly The Colonel
was very ariStocratic-lookIng man; and
remember perfectly Iull occurring in
the hum Of conversation as these two slow
y walked mp to the other end of the room.
Is i usual under the circumstances, com
nentN were made by strangers upon their
appearance; were they husband and wife
@ tather and daughter
'i'i mt MISS lbl ltiblt AT lut
>'ameS hou>e-much more recently than
.arIey thought when he spoke of my
avng seen her there . last year'-and
a'licSS that she had somewhat impressed
ae | don't exactly know how it was,
It one thought Of Gertrude Peyton used
' simulate me to any amount of eXertion,
'H' yet was not in love with her; still
.ere was an iudescrbablc something about
"ef presence which always afforded me
,'tat pleasure. She was certainly won
"IlnIIy beautiful. and exceedingly clever
ala well read owing as | afterward ]
md. to her fathers Solicitudc with re-
f,gt to the Improvement of her mind.
"eIl need not particularizc as to how i
many times danced with Gertrude Pcyton :
at evening, and how many times poor J
marley did the same; but we each bid IN !
Hn Tor her as a partner and it fell to me r
!, take her down to supper. Gertrude 1
'tton'S mind seemed entirely to CORES 1
.".d with her body; it appea' d to me
'1aed and beautiful SO was scinated, t
qlectly fascinated and when the gay q
"9pany had left Mr., Soame's mansion, I
VIZ | was left with Charley in the almost
nf'y apartment, in spite of its gorgeous II
'''N, | ielt as though were in desert.
. Tome, Molyneux, old fellow" said =
harley, in his usual lively way, "what on
'ith !, the matter with you Why, you 9
"k like condemned criminal been los to
y your heart TO Gerty Peyton eh ~
Now, had | told my friend the exact r.
lJh then, | should not have had this d
Fahcholy story to tel now but dis d
luulated, and said that was rather W
'.eNed up or something of that kind, and
."td' On the other hand, had my poor al
.end also spoken the truth, we should g
ave understood each other, and so pre- I'll
.n'ed the dreadful events which resulted
o'i the deceit which we mutually prac- ST
yea upon each other. You will probably lu
We -. guessed that poor Charley himself "
"s os al that time, desperately in love with
=. ~. rude Peyton. Such was the case, as sa
i.'erward n discovered; but he never would p'
a.iio"ledge ~ this to me when | rallied bin
eIs subject, and on the contrary, siren di
10y denied 1t. lnever had the remotest NJ
"a mat Gertrude Peyton cared for Char bl
v 'ame, still less that he cared for her
Uu VIII perhaps wonder what poor Il
a. = iey motive was for this reticence,
a. .ou snail hear presently; but as to my III
:. ''"ard him, ] can only account for it
gound OF nouUaise honte, an infirm- sa
= S' the by, hich has frequently pro- ce
" results OF the most dire character in it,
ri Eases, owing to the misapprehensions
~ "nicn 1t often gives rise. Well, time sa
~ on and the long vacation arrived. lc
:. ooame bad hired for the season q fine
'''he residence at W, and Charley had |