Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-03-07
GENA.
ny Sarah TytIsr, author of "CitOysnne
JRqueline."
tcontinHed.)
CHAPTER III. THE MEETING.

CHAPTER Ill. THE MEETING.
Sir Francis had limited to Mr.. Clifford,
with ali the grace which might have been
expected from Sir Francis, that he wished to
do himself the honor Of enrolling himself
among Miss Cliford's suitors. 1t was not
the first time that q Paulet had confessed
the irresistible attractions of Clifford, and
he was happy TO think not unsucoessfully.
Mr.. Clifford replied with equal suavity, and
with the delicate fencing used on such state
occasions, that the Paulets had been as ir-
resistable to the Cliffords as the Cliffords to
the Paulets, aud from his own experience
he did not wonder at it. His little girl was
too young-had been kept too much out of
the world, and, as Sir Francis ought to be
we'll aware, was too portionless to have had
many suitors; but there had been one-a
worthy youth of his class, the good wears
son, with whom there had been a boy-and-
girl affair (Mr. Clifford quite believed what
he said,) which be, Mr.. Clifford, considered
had come to q natural conclusion. However,
he should like, for the satisfaction OF his
own mind and the comfort of all concerned,
10 have it out with this shockingly rash
young curate before any further steps were
taken.
Sir Francis assented, being far too wise as
we'll as too cool gentleman, lover though
he was, to be disturbed by jealousy on ac-
count of this trifing obstacle in the eyes Of
an over-scrupulous old Bayard like Clifford.
Mr.. Clifford wrote by the very next post
to Al Woodruff, calling AL Mr.. Clifford's
young friend and supposing, in the most
amiable if slightly gratuitous manner that
Al, as indeed, it appeared from his behavior,
had lived to see. what had always been clear
to Mr.. Clifford, the folly of Al, with all his
merit, in his position proposing for Miss
Clifford. Mr. Clifford did not hesitate to
admit that he had now other and more suit
able views for his daughter, in which he be-
lieved she saw fit to acquiesce. Finally, Mr..
Clifford, begged to remind Al. IN the gentlest
and most polite fashion, that the small
amount Of encouragement which he, Mr.
Clifford, had given to AIS suit, had beer
conditional on the couples remaining OF one
mind on the subject. AS this was not so
Mr.. Clifford requested that he might be per
mitted TO withdraw his conditional encour'
agement, while he asked to be allowed Il
wish his young friend every success and hap
piness 10 his profession aud in his more pri
Vate and personal interests.
This letter fell like thunderbolt on Al
as he was at last setting out for Fordham t
spend his Christmas at home. In place o
retarding him in fulfilling his intention, tn,
communication winged his feet. A grea
wrong was about TO be done TO him and t,
others, and it was for AL Woodruff to pre-
"a L.. uko hxrn ak,nNa upau mot mi
qualified to hold the scales Of justice, but +
act az the aVeuger 1t never entered int
AIS head to stand aside, waive his claims
and leave Gena to those spleDdidly superio
prospects over which her father was gentl
elated. There was no room for false an
morbid deicacy IN Al Woodrufes morality
any more than for maXims of the worlc
worldly. He knew his rights and Gena
duty, and that if the first were forfeited an
the second trampled down, then-settin
himself aside-farewell for Gena, not to tru
happiness merely. but to the higher, noble
life which he had hoped and prayed sh
might share with him. Was he to renal
passive, and see his best earthly possesso
Wrested from him, and Gena Clifford lost
herself even more than to him?
IL was CnflstInHs rive Wheu ~ oOuIul
arrived at the Pordham Station, and withol
so much as turning aside to his father
house, he set off to walk the half mile straigl
70 Clifford Farm. The depth Of winter wi
scarcely the time to see to advantage thi
most picturesque OF habitations--an Of
farmhouse dignifed and embellished in
something between cottage or1iee and
circumscribed and inconvenient but ancie
enough to be very quaint, almost stated
gentleman's mansion But even Ia mi
winter, with frost on the pane and the grouI
hard as iron, Clifford Farm did credit TO
landscape gardener Bad taste had not lie
elled its hiloeky paddock, thinned its elm
or the lilacs, thorns and holies in its coul
meddled with its orchard, or transmogri6
its old-iashioned garden with the terrace al
the walk between high priVet hedges into
fat, dreary wilderness in winter and GA
ing patchwork 10 summer. Good taste b
preserved what was in keeping aud wort
Of preservation, and had enhanced what
found by apt touches and the introduction
new and suitable faVOrites among the q
honeyRuekles and lilies.
Seen under the stars and powdered
the hOar-frost, some Of the trees and bust
looked like great plants Of white coral frC
South Sea lagoons; others, which birds
not denuded Of their black and purple beFri
like the jewel-laden trees Of Aladdins g
den. with the jewels half yelled by gos
mer veil. Inside the porch, where