St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-05-17

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Like many another crafty person
BetSey Malcolm had fairly over-shot
the mark. In seeking to separate
Humphreys from Julia, she had given
him the clue he desired. and he was not
slow to use it. for he was almost the
only person that Mrs. Anderson trusted
alone with Julia.
In the dusk of the evening of the
very day of his talk with Betscy. he sat
on the long front porch with Julia.
Julia liked him better, or rather did not
dislike him 50 much in the dark as she
did III the light. For when it was light
she could see him smile. and though
she had not learned to connect IL cold
hlooded face with villainous chalac-
ter, she had that childish instinct which
made her shrink from Humphreys :
square smile. 1t always seemed to her
that the real Humphreys gazed at her
out of the cold. glittering eyes. and
that the smile WAS something with
which he had nothing to do
Sitting thus i'll the dusk of the even
ing, and looking out over the green
pasture to where the higher hills ceas-
ed and the distant seemed to come I'M
llttldltlN dlttl- tIltll ulSldHCt OlllN
indicated 10y color. though the whole
Ohio ''huttom was between, she forgot
the MephiStnphcle> who sat not far
away. and dreamed of August, the
grand" as she tancifully called him.
And he let her sit and dream undiS-
turhcd for long time, until the dark
ness settled down upon the hills. Then
he spoke.
II thought" began Humphreys.
with wcll-icigncd hestancy. Il thought
| should venture To offer yuu my aSSiS-
tancc as Il true and gallant man. in Il
mattcr-I matter of supreme dclicacy-
Il matter that have no right to med
die with. think | have heard that
y"ur mother is not friendly To the suit
of Il Young man who who we'll. let
us say who is not wholly diSagrccahle
I" You. | beg your pardon. don't tell
me any thing that You prefer to keep
locked III the privacy of your own
bosom. But if can render YOU any
assistance. luu know. | have some
little Influence with Your parents. may
he. If could he the happy bearer of
amy communications. command me as
your ohcdicnt servant"
Julia did not know what to say. To
get a word to August was what she
most desired. But the thought of using
Humphreys was rrpul>ivt to her She
could not see his face in the gathering
darkness. but She could feel him smile
thar same Soullc>>. grumctrical smile
She could not do il. She did NOT know
what I" say. :" she said nothing.
Humphreys saw that he must begin
farther back.
Il hear the Young man spoken of as
Il praiseworthy person. German. | be
iicvc! have always noticed pccu-
liar manlmesS about Germans. \ pc
culiar refinement. indeed and Il courtesy
that Is often wanting i'll Americans. |
noticed this when | was III LcipSic.
don't think the German girls are quite
:" refined. German gentlemen in this
country seem To prefer American giIls
ottcutimcS.
All this might have sounded hollow
enough to Il di>intercstcd listener. To
Julia the words were aS sweet aS the
first rain after u tedious drouth. She
had hc.Id complaint. cclI>uIc. iunUrndo
and downright abuse of poor Gu>.
These We're the inst generous words
Ihcl confirmed her Judgment. the,
cnmtoItrd hen heart. they made hcl feel
grateful. even atirctinmatc t"NIId the
t"P. III spite "i his watch seals. his
rurlcd mu>rachc, his straps. his cold
eyes and his altilicial smile. Poor fool
You will call her, and pooi fool she wa>.
For She roHld have thrown herself at
the feet "t Humphreys. and thanked
him for his words Thank him she did
in - ~tamImcIiug way. and he did not
hesitate t" repeat his favorable impIc>-
>i"m~ of Germans. after that. What he
wanted was. not I" break the hold of
August until h" had placed himself in
u position t" Ice next heir +" hrr regard.
To b, c"aijnHcd.D