Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-01-22


ceivod, and nodded slightly.
"lt is that young person whom Jane
Appleton brought up. She is married
now to one Of our men, | believe"
Gcorgy found Paul Appleton aud his
bride holding sort Of formal reception
The rooms--wherc her own wedding had
been soemnizod year before--were quite
filled with guests A very dainty and
graceful bride was the new Mrs. Paul, in
her lavender train and point-lace shawl.
Georgy tried not to feel the least tinge of
envy as she looked at her.
Aunt Appleton had always a sense Of
gratitude towards her protoge for having
iorborne TO iascinato either Of her own
marriaecable boys, aud this gratitude crop
ped out in active kindness under the exult-
alton she felt over Pau's match
Georgy moved easily about the well-fur-
nished rooms somehow she seemed just
fitted for such surroundings. The subdued,
well-bred manners, the faint perfumes, the
refined faces, aud the rich dresses, were
like stimulant to her She needed such
quickening to be fully herself Her COM
posed, delicate beauty uniolded to perfection
in this atmosphere.
She had been talking to one and another,
taking in shapes and trimmings with her
quick artists eye, and in pause was just
rejecting upon the hang Of the new cur
tains, when a voice said near her
" | seem not to be able to recall you at
all, Mrs. Randall. Yet must have known
you before | went away My mother has
just told me your name, and have come
to reclaim acquaintance, if you viii permit
me-"
| remember you perfectly, Mr. Hall
BURTON" Georgy returned, quietly. 81
was hardly grown up when you left US,
FIVE years ago"
Five years All, true enough! Won't
you take this chair What lovely lily !!
Why, it is not real p
NO; these wax flowers are very like
nature, though almost a plagiarism don't
you think 50, MIR. Halliburton -
"Why, yes. 1t must be quite difficult
to make them. dare say they bring a
good price"
Under her serene smile quick thought
vent through Georgy Randal's mind She
began to examine the gentleman before her
with interest.
Stephen Halliburton was a gentleman by
habit, and a man of the world by force of
circumstances But nature intended him
for diigent, painstaking, persevering man
of business.
II he was not great or very good
man, it was because he had so much time,
50 much money, so much hattery. He was
spoiled by his opportunities, yet he needed
ouly the right influence to elevate him be-
yond himself. He was thirty years old now
he was past the age when man disdains
to be led by a woman. But Stephen Hall
burton had never disdained it. He had al
ways been led by the keen-eyed, beak. .nosed
woman in steel silk, who, as Georgy talked
with the heir, sat holding her wine cup up
to the freight not far Off
The heir seemed to like Mrs. Randal's
talk perhaps because there was so little
Of it. In return he was rather unreserved
-gossipiDg about his plans and his pros.
pects He said that he was glad to get
home. He meant to settle down at Mill.
vile now [; look after his factories and the
operatives, and introduce some improve.
ments. He wanted better class of work
more tasteful designs he hadn't seen a
pretty print from the factory. Didn't Mrs
Randall agree with him ?
Yes she agreed with him. 1t was q
strange basis for parlor gossip-oils, chem.
icals designs for calicoes. He was sur.
prised to find how much she knew about
it; and she-she was little surprised her
self The most delicate pink began to flush
her cheeks, the irises Of her eyes grew into
great black flakes, full of lustre. All at
once, at last, she turned casual glance
without the window.
why" she said, with a slight start
d" it is almost dark. And believe it is
raining. | must 60 at once"
She stepped towards the window Great
plashing drops were falling upon the flag
stones. The dull November daylight wa.
almost gone. Mr.. Halliburton rose also.
Did you walk D." he inquired. " Lee
us take you home. My mother will b,
going soon"
The little stir attracted Mrs. Appleton
who-most of the guests having gone
was devoting herself to Mrs Halliburton.
Stay to tea, Georgy," she suggested
John knows you are here-does he not ?
eyes; but it is raining. think l hat
better not stop"
81 have been asking Mrs. Randall tC
take a seat with us MOTHER interposec
Stephen Halliburton.
"Ah, yes" said the lady, with con
tracted nostrils and prolonged lip again
Il shall be happy"
And then the keen eye overlooked
Georgy, as if to ask if there were any
just cause why the Halliburton carriage, tn,
Halliburton horses, and it might be, tn,
Halliburton heir, should traverse the length
Of Millville to take home this young per
son, who had married one of the Halliburton
employees.
Georgy stood unmoyed, little concern
ed as TO whether her last dress and bonne
should walk or ride, not at all concerned a
to her own disposal.
The factory bell had done ringing, ant
John Randall was in sight Of home just Al
the carriage Of his employer stopped at tn,
door aud his wife stepped from it. He diC
not, however, overhear her say to StepheI
Halliburton, If you call tomorrow after
noon, will show you what mean"
Had you a pleasant afternoon2" he
husband asked, by-and-by, as they sat u
the tea-table.
"Very pleasant" she said thoughtluly
1t was very polite in Mr.. Halliburton
to bring you home"
ayes, should have spoiled my dress"
1t was always with little effort tina
John Randall could get his wife to talk
and she seemed peculiarly silent tonight
and absent as well as silent.
Her eyes were brighter, too, than com
mon-her face little flushed. He wa
too generous, too unselfsh man to begrudg,
her even happiness in which be had n,
part but something in her abstraction fill
him with uneasiness. The uneasiness wa
not decreased, when reaching home littl
before the usual hour the following after
noon, he met Stephen Halliburton just leav
ing the house, nor when he found Georgl
with the same frightened eyes aud height
ened color as the night before.
That was the beginning of John Ran
dalls trouble.