Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-02-04
Just His Duty.


I, was 10 the year Of the great Mime
sofa snGysiorms. You heard of them, |
dare say. Most people did and I've lit.
tie dout that, to ladies and gentlemen sit.
ting by ythoir snug fresides, there was some
thing heaslntly exciting in the daily ac-
counts 1f how the snow kept fall, fail, fall
ing, dv by day aud week by week, in
one sol, steady sheet Of dazzling white,
an It rose high over walls and hedges, blot
ted or roads, aud fields, aud streams, and
made iiIs aud dples alike one dead, blank
level People read with eager curiosity Of
whole c,ach.loads frozen up in one Right,
of tnyeers lost in the whirling drifts
within Yard or two of their homes, of
men e,iw out to seek for stray cattle,
to be found dead and stiff within an hour
or SO.
Men and women found subject for
harmless gossip in the SHOWS which cost
me one q the dearest lives God ever sent
TO flower Dn this decayed, old world of ours.
His name was Hugh Garston, and he was
the maste- of an infants school halfway
between Rock Rapids, Iowa, and the viii
lago Of White Water Springs. Also, he
was an hglshman, like myself, and an
under graduate Of Exeter college. Oxford
Opposing Elements, | grant you but easily
reconqiledThen you know his story. Hugh's
father had been a gentleman Of property,
given to tnveling in his youth and having
rambled as far as Iowa one summer, had
there allel in love with and married a
trapper's daughter.
As soon as the deed was done he became
Very much ashamed Of it, deserted his wife
as soon as POSSIBLE, and returned to bis au-
cestral halli in Yorkshire. Unfortunately,
the trapperk daughter was not person OF
delicacy. Instead of taking her desertion
as a gentle lint that Mr.. Garston was tired
Of her, and resigning herself accordingly,
this young woman packed up change Of
linen, aud net only started of in pursuit Of
him, but actually found him in his own
home and, arriving at the hall with fort
night-old baby in her arms, she presented
the baby to the halls master as his son.
Mr. Garston was at once strange and a
resolutc man He had determined not to
place trapper's daughter at the head Of
his tables aud he kept to his determina-
tion. He felt the obligation Of providing
for his son, and did so. Threats of prov.
ing the marriage illegal, and promises oi
kindness to the child, were accordingly used
to subdue the mother and both succeeded
to perfection. The trapper's daughter gave
up her baby; and, under obligation TO re-
turn to her people and trouble no one any
more, was assured that Hugh should be
acknowledged and provided for.
So far, so good She went. Mr.. Cars
ton kept his word, and in due time Hugh
went to college. In the latter's twentieth
year, however, something occurred which
turned all this good to bad. Mr. Garston
had destined him for the church. Hugh
declined to enter it, for the paltry reason
that he did not believe in the Thirty.nine
Articles which he was going to subscribe
A quarrel ensuod. Unpleasant disclosures
followed. Hugh learnt for the first time
that bis mother was not dead, but living
aud disowned and that the second Mrs
Garston oh, yes, she had appeared on the
scene some time back, an unexceptionable
person Of property aud position lowed her
marriage to a lucky and legal flaw in the
first ceremony.
Passion is productive of hasty words
Wise men pay no heed to them. Hugh
was not wise. Within a week he had
thrown up father, college, and prospects
and departed to seek his mother in the fal
West. Please to remember his trappeI
blood in excuse, and excuse him-as | did
When next met him it was out there
and he was returning from his mothers fu-
neral. He had found her living alone in 4
small house on the hills, keeping smal
school, and suffering from lingering inter
nal disorder which made life one long torture
to her. Hugh brought the best medicine
that torture could admit-his presence an(
his love; and under that gentle balm Mary
Garstou fingered two years, resting fron
her labors 10 peace and happiness, whil'
the young Oxouian kept school and hous'
for her, and tended her like nurse, servan
and son in one.
Naturally, now she was gone, urget
him to give up this wretched life, aDC
begin n better in England, with my aid
He thanked me, aud declined. lie like,
teaching. The school bad increased ant
was blessing to those outlying farms AM
cabins, whose young fry would otherwis
have grown up mere heathens and savages
If he gave it up, no other would take it
the pay was so poor and the situation 81
lonely. Besides, he was now bent on th
Independent ministry, and found this
capital place for periecting his studies il
quiet, and practicing their lessons in free
dom. These were his arguments, and
combated them with case. Then he turne'
TO me, and told me +;
81 have grown to care for u girl in tn
village yonder, Malva Keith. She is not
lady, and l am not 4 gentleman--aftsr m.
fathers pattern, at least. This state o
life suits her better than any other there
fore, il | marry her, il and no other shal
suit me.
had used reason against arguments
and turned them into smoke. To use rea
son against love would have been folly
and | was not fool. We shook hand
heartily, babe each other God speed,
and parted the best Of friends, never t
meet again in this world. The rest o
Hugh's story give from his letters an
Malvas lips.
She was a practiced coquette, homes
enough in her way, and beautiful beyon
measure, with the full, upright figure, 1.-THE
round limb, and rich coloring Of a prairi
Hebe well aware Of her beauty too, bot
from her glass and the more audible HON
age OF at least score of rough and read
admirers, trappers, iimber.fellers, railwa
employees, loaiers and the like, who all vie
in paying court to the flower Of Whit
Waters Hugh came in among these lik
star from another system and straight
way Malya cast off her old suitors, an
hauled down the flag Of freedom to lay
at the young schoolmaster's feet.
SO far, so well but, unfortunately, SUI
render was easier than subsection TO thi
young lady Hugh lived fully three mile