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

quired Laura, with Il certain interest in
her tone.
AT the Haughton House, Mr.. and
Mrs. Bloomington Wells, (those vulgar
pdrrenUs, YOU know, Laura, wealthy
dry y-salters. or something of that sort,
who made such splurge ut the Springs
last ycar;) Judge harrington and
daughter. (what il pity! she'll cut us
all out. with her beauty and her real
Paris dresses y L. VI. Lee. Esq, Berry
Vile: (wondcr who he is y Professor
c. Howard de Lunevillc, (what IN alis-
tocratic name) New York"
Laura looked up suddenly. caught my
eye. and looked down again, while Il
faint color sutfIIsed her cheek. She
leaned back in her seat, and with an
air of indifference began to turn round
upon her finger my engagement ring.
Yes. she could do even that now, while
| could never look upon the golden cir
clet on my little finger, her gift, with
out being sensible of an accelerated
palpitatiOn of the heart.
None but myself had observed her
strange emotion. unless il might he her
mother. Mrs. Fairborne. whose quick
eye had observed wander rapidly from
Laura.
"De Lunevillc." said Mrs. Fairborne
retiecti>clN "the Rev. Mr.. de Luuc-
Vile. did you say. Celeste -
prof. {. Howard de LumcVille, from
New York." repeated Miss TanSy. dis
timctly.
.Oh. not the Reverend Mr.. de Lunc-
Vile. Really. there should hc more
liable to hc mistaken for each other,
for having the same SurnamcS. Why.
there WAS Mrs. Marmadukc Jones. for
instance. had letter sent up 10y the
stupid carrier. directed to Mrs. NJ.
Jones. upon opening which she found
herself addressed as Dear Moll,' by
some creature signing himself Yer low
ing hushan'. Sol. Jones. Fancy Mrs.
Jones feelings, with all her ariStocracN
and refinement.
This artful narrative WAS clearly de
signed to attract attention from Laura.
imstinctiVcly saw and felt it: and
something like an uneasy suspicion aud
jealousy began to torment my heart.
My parting with Laura waSalmnSt cold,
and went home wondering more than
ever what could possibly he the secret
she waS Withholding from me, and, lis il
appeared. from her friend Miss Tan>N
a> well as people i'll general.
Laura wrote to me at the Springs
atfrctionate. Sprightly little notes de
claring that she was leading a rccluS,
life. going nowhere and seeing no one,
except dear Aunt Dorry and that she
expected to hc with Us in Il day nr two.
But iS she didn't come. found an eN-
cIISc f.r going down to RaNclt"n. oI
rather the excuse was given me III the
receipt of Il favor from Il friend. limiting
at the acccptahlity of IL tritiing loan "t
fifty dollars nr 81. Immediately upon
receiving which FASTENED oil in Il iii ot
di>intcrrstrd friendship: and that even
ing at nine o'clock found myself gazing
upon the house which contained the
hr;iuteouS form nf my beloved.
The drawing room windows we've
open. and through them could see
that the library beyond WAS lighted.
Could Laura. who had yesterday writ
ten that she SAW II" one hnt Aunt Dor
nv. he entertaining visitors at this ad
,anced hour And a> this Thought "c-
cured. the hall door opened and Il gen
tlcman issued forth Il tall figure. ni
which could distinguish only that his
movements We're quick and graceful
and that he wore Il mouStachc and pos
scsScd il fine. clearly cut Roman profile.
lie came lightly down the steps and
walked hrisbIy away, while ut the same
instant | caught Il glimpse of Laur
emerging from the library. | >aW hel
distinctly in the gas light, and observed
that she walked slowly and looked :;
little pale. and. as | thought. agitatcd
and depressed.
Instead of making the visit ! had in
tended. | returned to my lodging III /;
! rage of jealousy and resentment. Laur;
had deceived me. She had remained
at home on account of this person. and
WAS receiving his visits whilst assuring
: me that she 'saw no one but Aunt
Dorry." And was allowing myself Il
he made dupc and Il fool of 10y her
self and 10y her designing mamma: fol
doubtless this stranger waS either som,
rejected lover. too poor to he eligible
or Il new admircr. for whom it might h'
considered advisable to discard me.
: Il will see her and demand IN cNpla
/ nation" was my lcciSion, after il sleep
) less night and chose the early hou1
I of ten that mcrning for the interview
: in order that she might not have an,
: excuse for being out or interruption
:; from other visitors. But 10, us turn
t ed the corner nearest the FairhorneI
= mansion. beheld gentleman before
il me the same tall, graceful figure, curl
i ing mouStache. and Roman profile, q
z the evening before ascending the step
+ with quick. impatient tread, and enter
t ing almost familiarly. as the door wa
= opened before he had time to ring tn
bell. Clearly he had been eNpecte
: and watched for.
: waited ten minutes fifteen -twcn
It ty-walking up and down, and roun
y the corners, utterly regardless as t
% what might he thought of me by tn
e observant neighbors. At length IN
If patience was exhausted, and | dctcrm
II med to surprise Laura-to convict he
II to her face of her falsehood and deceI
: tion. and force from her an eXplanatio
d of her conduct.
f. The servant who answered my sum
l. mons stared on seeing me, half close
d the door. and assured me that Mi.
5 Laura was very particularly engaged
= and could see no one.
20 Take up my card" said, fer,
ciously; and the girl, looking Il littI
II frightened. obeyed. She had forgotte
le to close the parlor door, and a momel
st after heard Laura's voice from tt
IS hall
| "Oh. dear what shall do! wouldn
V, have him find the Professor here for I'll
III world -
Enough When the servant return
ed with ii message from Laura heggiI
d that | would come an hour later, lie
n my card with "A few Stinging words IL