Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-10-22

'nR nusoauui out nc struggled against it,
saying
Quick, tell me7 What, is it Mary7o
"No; Mrs. Granger is as well as usual,
believe but there is a very sad story to
break to you regarding Your daughter"
Wrath took the place Of terror.
My daughter?" cried the little man.
firiously. "Who dares to carry stories
about my daughter7"
"Weli-you--see, stammered his friend,
the women folks say she eloped this morn
ing with Fred Seymour"
Fred Seymour ! Why, he's head over
ears in love with Susy Belknap. My
Belle ! Why, she has been engaged for
two years to Lieutenant Weston Of the
navy, though we did not publish the fact
for the benefit Of all the tatters in Myrtle
vile"
am afraid was the reply, that it was
the fact Of these engagements that drove
them to secrecy and elopement."
tell you the whole story is false .!
roared the excited father. "I'll make
these mischief makers eat their own words!
My Belle, indeed They must be crazy"
But on his way homc. Mr.. Granger met
the report in so many places, heard 1t in
such plausible versions, that he entered
his wife's room with a very grave face,
from which all angry excitement had van
ished.
Where is Belle, Mary ?" he asked
She went to New York this morning
to do some shopping She will stay at her
Aunt Maria's tonight"
Did young Seymour go up on the same
train ?"
1 suppose so. He usually goes at
eight, and that was the train that Belle
took
Mr. Granger was on the point Of telling
his wife the whole story, but on second
thought he restrained the impulse. Sure
in his own fathery confidence in bis gentle,
modest child, that there was rome mistake
admitting Of explanation, he said nothing.
After all, it was a subject Of congratula-
,ion that none Of the busy bodies Of Myrtle.
vile had invaded the sick room, and he
easily made some trivial excuse for going
out again. He was determined to sift the
gossip thoroughly before alarming the in
valid, and his first visit was IN the telegraph
Office at the railway station.
" Is Belle at your house ?" flashed over
the wires, and was carried TO handsome
house in the city.
"Yes. viii be down on the next train"
r,s ,ho onswo. a. noor AL ;naa;nod
there was death or frightful illness to cause
aun,,s wa, sncb Cannon occurrence
Satisfied on This no;nt Mr. Graincer
,r;o,l, ,r,;,oJ It'll ,Lo ,ra;n oar,a r,
saIked nm Main stree, with b;s d,nob,er
an b;s ann IoG ber a, homo ard o,er,ed
M, 20 dar, oil Nrr,ion;llo
From house 10 house he travelled with
.vanrIarn na,;onoo al cauowod ,ho snato-
l;te co;l: or ,he storv iii he faced Mrs
Sawver who oar,os,lv .ssnrod him
"Nrs Sevmon, and Mrs K;,aIv were in
tho s;t,;nc.room os 7 c,me in ,ho back w.v
,hror,h ,he L;,chen Tho, woro ,oIl;ng
and inst os 7 cot 10 tho door Mrs sevmonr
told Mrs Ki,elv that Nor son and RaIIa
Grainoer had sloreJ Thsv saw me ,hen
and Ms Scvmonr mid verv carelesslv.
:. Hare arc tho mo,n;n, naners Mrs
ki,eIv ina, 70 chance ,ha conr,rsa,;on
:" Hnd con rushed otf 70 car,v the nevs
,u ovor Hsr,lev;llo :, said Mr Gra;n,.r
"Weu I ,hon,h, :, mrs, ho ,rne from
such an an,bor;,y~
..p.ha~i W. ,.,;aun5ers,ood what w.s
said
:" [ tell YOU heard her as plain as /
hear YOU now"
"Telinp Mrs. Ktely her son and my
daughter had eloped ?"
"Yes. I'd swear it on mn oath!' said
Mrs. SAWYER. as if there were several other
ways of swearing. if she chose to take her
choice.
"Suppose YOU step over to Mrs. Kitely's
with met"
"Well. | will
But to Mrs. Sawyer's discomfort, Mrs.
Kitely denied the story entirely. Mrs.
Seymour had never given her any such in-
formation, either 10 confidence orotherwise.
Mrs. SAWYER fearfuly persisted in her story;
and finally the trio went to Mrs. Seymour's.
The hero of the story was by this time at
home. and eating his supper when the Wis.
itors entered.
1t was an awkard story to tell, but it
was told and Mrs, Seymours face was
picture of indignant surprise.
at" she cried" say my Fred had
eoped with Belle Granger? Why, Mrs.
SAWYER. YOU must surely be dreaming !"
"You said so. | heard YOU" sobbed
the widow.
; g Said what? -
You said distinctly Belle Granger ran