Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-06-12

RUTLAND, VT, THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE r.,

best friend: You are irritated just now
and not likely to take favorable view
4 of my conduct some day you will
thank me for the. last weeks work. |
am many years older than you, and /
have saved more than one youngster
from marrying in haste and repenting
at leisure; and, by Jove! I'll save you,
whether you like it or no"
| was provoked at his obstinacy, but
his good tempered face and little twink
ling eyes-not unlike the monkey we had
| just left-upset my gravity, and forget
tin my dignity | burst into hearty
laugh.
sFThat's all right, said my unthwart-
able friend ;."I see I'm forgiven, Charlie.
| wish, at the same time, | could see
any signs in your face of taking my adj
vice and letting the matter drop, now
! and forever.
I became. grave again and replied
/ stiffly am obliged to you for your
advice, Johnstone, and | am compromis-
ed and bound in honor to propose to Miss
Duval.; and moreover, / tell you frankly
j that | intend to do so tomorrow night
at the ball
Now, to tell the truth, until that mo-
ment | had never quite made up my
mind to take the final step; and as.t0
bring compromised, officers in the army,
who are always running blockade, SO to
speak, know a trick worth two of that
But had recovered my temper little,
and with it strong temptation had set
in to destroy my self-instituted mentor.
4 The latter shrugged his shoulders, and
merely remarking, That being all set
tied it is useless to discuss the subject
further until the young lady has either
accepted or rejected you, changed the
topic, and we talked away amicably till
| we reached our quarters in time to dress
for mess. After that convivial repast
was over | beat a retreat to my own
I room, as | found the mess committee
| had by no means exhausted the subject
of the coming ball. There had been a
lull, and we thought that calm has set
in, and that those over-strained brains
were going to give themselves and US a
little rest; but CONSERVATION had fallen
upon them owing to the arrival OF a
large installment of champagne expected
from Montreal, and their plants were
strong and loud; so, inwardly anathem-
atising them and their liquors, left
them and sought consolation and rest in
large and comfortable armchair in my
own room, and as | sank into its calm
embraceful arms, gazed round me with
a sigh of contentment.
Now, from personal experience, i
should say that a good dinner, a fair al
! lowance of wine, a luxurious armchair,
solitude, and pipe. are to man, how
ever slightly in love, fuel to the flames;
and if your experience tells you the same
| need hardly say that, on this particular
evening, under these particular circum-
stances, my thoughts had a decided
leaning to one subject Should pro-
pose to Marguerite Duval or no? Ptu-
i dence-that too often fatal enemy 10 the
tender passion-said' No" Love CON
tradicted her flattery and said, "Yes. "
And Love, having the formidable allies
before mentioned to strengthen his
cause, was on the point of gaining a
/ victory ouer his stern adversary, when |
was recalled to a sense of my present
position by the opening of the ante-room
door, from whence distasteful sounds of
mirth were borne on the tobacco-tainted
air; then, as feared, steps approached
my door, which took the precaution of
locking. i paid no attention to loud
i knocking, which was followed immedi-
ately by a violent wrench at the handle,
and, II say, old fellow :"
"Well ?"I growled surlily
q say, old fellow!" -.
''Well?n (stilll more surlily, and
drawn out in prolonged tone of irrita-
ton
"It's only me--Hood; l want to
speak TO you"
Here another voice chimed in: "0h,
leave him alone-he's q sulky brute
and come and have a game of pool.
Then the speaker walked off, leaving
" Hood master of his position.
Hood, or as we generally called him,
Robin, was a great ally of mine and as
good a fellow as ever lived; so, repent
ing me of my ungraciousness, | opened
my door cautiously and admitted him,
Though l had yielded so far, / was too
sulky to offer him my favorite arm
chair, but let him make himself as
happy as he could in an American rock
ing-chair, with his feet up ON another.
Next came the inevitable question, 'sGot
anything to drink 2"
''What a bore you are" | replied
civilly. and dragging my weary limbs
out of my chair, produced from an
oaken bureau some seltzer, brandy,
champagne and some old Venetian
glasses, of which l was not little
J proud,
s'Why, old fellow, you have got an
attack of blue devils tonight, and nc
mistake" said my companion, helping
himself literally to liquor: "Tll give
you some of this delectable beverage,
and you'll be all square in no time al
all"
, Having taken a dose of that remedy
of the British sub, against evils, be
came more amiable, and we both began
. to smoke. At last Hood asked, as he
'-nocked the ashes out of the top of his
n rentleman's expansive head, anC
old to refill it again from the con
procee9e1 ~all sealsllin tobacco-pouch
tents OF & ID sh for tomorrow, Manners
Any Any n PlaHs nst a0r aWav rom the busy haunt
Of me men es1ecially the t'ornmlttee men. men;
Oh ..Tn nSgn' Sy I've no plans AMI perfectly
ocrae with YOU that fight or S''iciue II
the only course left open for US.
ssNof going to see Mademoiselle Mar.
c,erite eli p" This was said POO graVeiy
for me to try and detect chaG. Dut M
face was as sober as a judges is popular
iv sunposed to be, and wearing ina
. REGULARLY dreamy expression the physi
economy of a man derives from the per
feet enjoyment of second pipe;
"No. | was there to-day" said |, con
scious of a wretched failure in my at
tempted unconcern of tone.
Puff, puff, from Robin, and silence
for a few seconds. II am going t
drive. out to Nethecotes, he presently
said, apparently regardless OF my las las
remark. 'SWill you come z lllet M
see, do you know them Z"
II know the son, and between yo'
and me, think he is bit of a cad.
"Not bit of one, but the whole ami
. NAL. replied Hood; ''but the girls ar
q pretty, and sing like syrens. 'By Joye,
he added, waxing quite enthusiastic, :
i could listen forever to Pauline's voice.
!, ssAre these young ladies .TerPsichores
(; as well as Uterpes ?" | asked senten
n fiously.
h 's.What the duce do you mean ?" sal
e Robin, who was not well up in his cias
:. sizes, not having the advantages OF
u college education ~