St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-03-08

gentleman. AT the end of the prone
made they turned, and | found myself
face to face with Laura and her brother
Charlie.
'Oh. dear Fred" was her quick, ca
ger exclamation, as she let go Charities
arm and held out her hand to me. Did
| refuse it , Did |, with a naughty bow,
pass on in conscious dignity, as | had
twenty times resolved TO do under sim
liar circumstances Alas. man is weak
where woman is concerned; and ! con-
feSS that in II few moments saw me. to
my surprise. walking quietly with
Laura Oh my arm, while Charlie oblig
ingly vanished in the distance.
Il am so glad to see YOU. Fred said
Laura, looking up smiling and blushimg
into my face. "And now tell me, You
naughty man, where have you been.
and what have you been doing! And
what was the meaning of that eXtraor
dinary card which YOU left the other
day -
How blazcn she was, and yet how
winning still
First. Laura" | said gravely, eek
plain To me, if YOU please. the cause of
your very singular conduct. Why did
you decline seeing me on that day !"
"Why," said Laura. colOring and look
ing embarrassed. 1.-THE truth is II was
not very well that morning"
"And Yet you could see other viSi
tors" replied. looking full in her face,
as she uttered this palpahlc f;ilsehood.
Nv hat visitors > said she. looking II
little startled.
Who WAS the gentleman that called
Just before me! Also the evening pre-
viou> = inquired coolly.
The blood rushed to her face even in
the moonlight. and for an instant she
did not answer.
Laura tell me candidly is that
man Il lover of yours p
To my surprise she broke into Il laugh.
"A lover of mine! Certainly not"
"And vet his visits were to you ,"
Laura began to look vcXed as well as
painfully embarrassed.
"Frcdrlick," said she. 'will You
throw away your jealousy, and trust
me l"ur own Laura! Will you be
/ licvc that really love no one. no one in
the worIT' this with great emphasis
'';S | do You -
looked down int" the tender, half
fearful eyes. and on the little white
hands claspcd c;iIt>~inglN over my arm
and WAS conquered.
II will trust You. darling, | mur-
INJURED. despite the lingering doubt and
dissatisfaction III my heart.
And :" We walked ON, doubtless to
all aPPearanr" the happirst lovers un-
der the lines that night.
Charlie had come. /" escort aura t"
the Springs: and they left at sunrise
| the next morning. whilst | followed
next day.
/ For Il day nr two she was to all ap-
/ pciIlmcr everything that a lover could
desire: and began /" wonder whether
| had not done her injustice 10y my
doubts and >u>plci"n>.
Onr evening Laura and were loitcr-
! ing about the grounds, amongst a mul-
titudt of othr1 I.cnplc, listening to The
music of the band. She was looking
NcIN lovely. and chatting gaily tn me.
when SuddinglN felt her start. and the
| laughing remark died half finished upon
her lips.
Nv hat is the natter" | inquired.
seeing her face all scarlet.
"\utliug: let us turn back there
are too many here. she answered hur-
lirdly. hmt my quick eye following hers.
/ had already detected the cause of her
cmotiuu. The, handsome stranger ut
the graceful figure and Roman protil"
4 WAS directly before us: and | had oh
>rINc ed. as his eye caught that of Laura,
Il ha>tN involuntary motion of his hand
to his hat abruptly checked as his eye
fell upon me lie Looked >tudi"u>ll
away from us as he passed. whilst
I Il Il | ~
Jealous doubts returned in an instant.
"LauI:r." said dclrrminatck, ''wh"
is that gentleman that has just passed
lIS ,"
"Why do you ask - she returned Il
little sharply.
.BccauSc" said |. severely. 1t is un-
usual for Il lady to receive 4 gentleman
familiarity at her house. and then ignore
him in public.
Il have Il right Ia receive whom |
please" returned she. haughtly. land
yoH have none to act as spy upon me,
and insist upon all about every person
who calls ON me in my own home"
Excuse III" if | say there must he
something not altogether as it should
he where 50 much miSterN is observed.
returned with dignity. And the
conduct of my future wife must he above
suspicion or rcproach."
Then Laura tlarcd up. The words
that followed were not many, but next
mornings rising sun bcheld me agaiI
/. on my way to Ravelston, having re-
turned LaIra'S ring at her own request
upon receiving mine from her.
Two days after. as | paced my room
feeling life to he Il lreary desert, an,
wondering what death could he leas
painful, there came an abrupt tap Il
my door, and to my surprise, Aun
Dorry walked i'll.
.Dear me. how hot il is" was he
, first remark, as she put down her hug'
umbrella and famed herself with he
pocket handkerchief. And | don
= know either" she continued, ''that an
doing exactly what our folks woul,
consider proper i'll coming here to SCI
YOU. But I'm an old woman, yol
know: and. besides, | want to tall
with YOU about Laura"
: Il beg that you will give yourself NJ
such unnecessary trouble, Miss Baxter
FAN borne and myself are both perfect
" satisfied as affairs now stand betweel
:. us said |. with what | intended fO
n cool dignity.>
T Satisfied Not a bit of it," SAT-
p Aunt Dorry, positively. YOU'RE bot
us miserable as yOu can he. know
+ from Laura's letter, and from you
:. looks and what | want is to make yo
both happy again, as people ought t
be, who really do love each other
g Laura conduct-' began.
+ "Oh, yes, ! know said Aunt Dorry