Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-08-20

/ tell tAbcIy Nhat she nau seen ana heard
Oh, no. That was too rich morsc to b,
parted with then. She must for awhilt
enjoy the pleasure Of knowing what no
body else did and besides, perhaps she wa
shrewd enough to see that if she actual,
told what she knew, she would reveal th
fact that she did actually know nothing
SO, Of course, as she only surmised, ID,
must only insinuato; that had the advan
tagc Of making it appear as if there wa
no end to her knowledge. Then, again
she was an old hand at il, you sce-shl
would affirm nothing. She knew peopl,
had been brought into courts for afirma
tions; but who could find fault with a wo
man for asking qscstons2 Thus it ha,
come to be a habit Of years that what Mis-
Osmond had to say she said in the form o
question: So she asked Miss Tripp:
"llave you heard about Bell S,etson an,
Lawyer Baker,"
"No. indeed What is it2"
"Why, haven't you heard that he il
paying her very particular attentions, ant
how much pleased the family all are about
lit2"
Miss Trip was really mortified 10 think
that Miss Osmond had 30 much the start
Of her in such a rich bit Of news, but she
put brave face upon il, and was as cheer.
iul and lively as possible.
Miss Osmonds bright eyes saw the cha.
| grin, however, and 50 she asked more qucs
tions
"Why, yes didn't you know how they
walked around the town moonlight nights
at a snail's pace, as silly pair Of lovers
as ever was seen"
Miss Trip was vanquished She had to
own that she had not heard Of it.
She made mp for her momentary morti6ca.
tion the next day, however, when She went her
round Of calls aud triumphantly retailed
her version Of the story. Miss Trip was
a clipper" little body. She knew folks
dotted upon news, and she liked to make
them happy by telling it, She did world
Of harm all the same; but honestly she
never meant it, and people forgave her,
though they could not undo the half Of her
little mischie(s.
So Miss Trip started out and told every.
where ,she did not ask questiousl what
they said"
They said that Belle Stetson and Law.
yer Baker we're engaged. "They said "
that the family were delighted with the
match. They sailr he had ciyen her a
beautiful ring. etc. etc. etc.
And so the eenpapement was "anuounced'
to the town; but of course for awhile nc
one said ANYTHING about il TO Belle or Law.
yer Baker. Belle. for all she was dear
little thing. was a Bit sbv; and il is not al.
ways easy to say certain thipes to shy peo.
ple. As for LAWYER Baker. ho had that
about him which warned neople to keen
their distance. unless he bade them come
nearer. which he seldom did
So these two remained in ienorance oi
what tbey said and walked and talked
on as before LAWYER Baker was in trouble
las even LAWYERS are when thew nre vounol
about his heart aGiirs. lie had found ia
Belle a friend so svmpathetic and So frank
that he felt sure he could trust her utterly
while, with all her auiet ways. she was SO
wise that. inyoluntarily. he sought her
advice.
1t is no part of our story to recount
LAWYER Baker. tropbles They are os
safe in our keepino as with the dead. Itis
not for us to tell how il ehanced that on
that fateful night while 40 entirely senora.
ted from her he had loved he had told Belle
the whole story Of his crieGs and had even
given her his betrotbal ring 10 bear hack 10
one who had nroved soutterlv faitbless that
he would never brinu himself willingly into
contact with her again
What wonder then that in his loneli.
ness. when other nights came. he often
sought Belle's comnanv and svmnatbv
What wonder that Belle. who never thought
of herself and who was $50 sorry for
him gave him her society most willingly.
What wonder that botb having paugbt Of
lover in their thouobts of each other. should
have lacked a cautionu and come and zone
tocetber inst as friepds.migbt do
Relic loo had dear lille secret very
sweet IN her that made her sadly Hind
Charley Martvn who had GONE back to
collage onlv , month ogo loycd her and
she knew II and had given him back love
f,r love ,Imos, wi,hcnt ,sLin,. sho was
such n tender. loving little body Indeed
he had never nsked her 10 he his wife He
was no, hound to her in anv wav The
only token ,hot had ever nassed between
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