Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1871-04-19
CHUBB AND /.

had. Perhaps corresponding VEN oil idle
ness made us sympathise at all events,
we were great friends; and when his aunt
came to take him home for the midsum-
mer HOLIDAYS, she had a liking for me for
her nephew's sake, and wanted me to come
and see them at Pelham crescent, Has
tings. But never went; and | saw no
more of Chubb jackson for don't know
how many years.
was serving out my articles with Bump
and Podgers, of Lincoln's Inn, living in
Stanhope street, Hampstead road, when,
coming from Charing Cross one evening by
yellow bus, recognized next to me on
the knife-board the image of Chubb Jack
son. 1t couldn't be the inky boy Of my
school days for this was painful swell in
lavender gloves, most shiny hat, ard shirt
collar of portentous size. Now Chubb as
a lad had most inyeterate stutter. So
when the youth turned to me, intending, ]
think, to ask for light, having an unlit
cigar in his mouth, and fumbling vainly in
his waistcoat pocket, and saw his mouth
working in painful throbs to deliver itself
of the embryo words, knew that he must
be my former school-fellow, and cried,
unconsciously, initiating his stammer,
"W-wby, YOU must be C-chubb jackson !"
He was living, found, still with his
aunt Chubb, in Albany street, close by !;
and we renewed our school friendship forth
with.
Mrs. Chubb was always delighted to see
me. was so steady, she said +; and she
always felt comfortable when Chubb was
with me. But there was another attrac-
ton at 294 Albany street. Letitia Cutt-
shon was there on vista protracted
visit, having no apparent commencement
or ending, but which was always to end at
some time or other, but never did.
The second time / went to see them,
Mrs. Chubb told me, as a great secret,
that she hoped Letitia and Chubb would
come together. Letitia was the orphaned
daughter of the dearest friend she ever
had-she gave little sigh as she said it,
which made me think perhaps there was
some woman's romance hidden below her
placid front-and it was the dearest wish
of her heart that the two should be mar.
ried but she wanted Chubb to make
something of himself first. He was now
apprenticed to wood-engraver, and he
really seemed to have found his particular
hole for he had a wonderfully neat ant
careful hand, and had considerable talent
for design. He worked a good deal a
home in a little atelier on the second floor
and you would hear him, as he Clipped
away, humming sometimes, and sometime
carolling, when you came to the hall-doo
in quiet Albany street.
Looking upon Letitia as already engaged
l had no intention of falling in love wit
her; but | couldn't help becoming YER
fond of her, meeting her as did CONSTANT
in intimate society, for she was so goo
and lovable Chubb was also much attache
to her, I fancied; but | don't know wheth
er he was quite such good boy as his aun
imagined, and 1 used to doubt sometime
whether the career open to him please
him altogether.
1t happened that literary friend {
Chubb offered him box for a particula
night at the Olympic; and it was then an
there determined that we would all q
Chubb was to come to my office at hal
past six, and Aunt Chubb and Lititia wei
to call for us there.
had had very busy day at Lincoln
Inn, and had not noticed the flight
time, when | heard cab stop outside
was seven o'clock. | was vexed wit
Chubb that he had not kept his appoin
ment; for had relied upon his coming
time for me to dress before the ladies a
rived. Now | had to run out in my offic
coat, and ask Mrs. Cbubb to wait till
could struggle into my evening suit.
"Don't be more than ten minutes, e
ward" she said, "or we shall have to pi
extra for waiting. Chubb must follow u
the careless boym
There was nothing remarkable in his n
keeping his appointment. remember t
entertainment at the Olympic, well. A
succeeded act, but still no Chubb Jackso
Ever and again turned my head, think
heard him enter the box. My uneasint
seized my companions also; they, too,
gan to look over their shoulders each mi
ute. 1t was hot midsummer night, b
the theatre felt chilly. Aunt and Lett
drew their shawls around them. / fancit
too, that the audience on the other 81
began to notice our uneasiness; lorgnet
were leveled at our box. The plav "
coming to an end. I took them out of t
theatre and put them into a cab. It. o,
be relief to get back to Albany street a
to find Chubb in his little snuggery, smc
ing pipe and chipping away at his bloc
arelief to give him good scolding for p
ting us out So
But when we got back to Albany str
the house was dark and desolate. ]
servants had gone to bed, according to
ders. The supper-tray was in the dini
room, in readiness for our rejection a 4
dozen oysters, brown loaf, a half-cut ha
But there was no trace of Chubb's pr
ence,. no opened shells, no empty bottle
Guinness. Where could he be2