Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-02-06

ladyikle. Col. Merriam was rather gruff.
| siaid ten or fifteen minutes and then babe
them good night and retired.
/ reached home and went to bed but not
to sleep. fell TO thinking Thinking is a
capital resource for any one who is in fix
as vas then. Thinking is the great main
spring in the wheel Of success. So lay all
night thinking. This is the sum Of my
thoughts
Col. Merriam did not intend should
meet Rosa alone. That was evident. Ro.
ga might really fall in love with me, and not
want divorce He knew about what hours
| would be at liberty, and he would be sure
to be there as a spy. AT all other hours he
would have some one to take his place. That
was foregone conclusion. What should |
do then2 Contrivo to meet her alone No
that would be sneaking. would never de.
scend to that. Write and smuggle the let
tiers to herr No, that would be equally
sneaking. What should / do then2 l
could not court her direct. l scorned to do
it by any indirect means Was II possible to
do it in any other way. All! had it II
could not court her favor direct | must do
it on the principle of Reaction. Reaction,
how is that ? Wait moment, and l will
tell you.
II You are fine looking man; if you are
favorite with the ladies if you have great
conversational powers; if you have the abil-
ity to make yourself very agreeable: if you
are capital telling stories; if you have rare
powers of fascination; if you are irresistible
in your skill to draw people into CONVERSE
ton, whether they will or not then the very
best way to court an intelligent young lady
is to sit down with your back to her, and
talk to somebody else. At first she will be
little piqued to think you slight her so.
Then as your conversation goes on, she will
listen. Soon she will become interested.
Then she will begin to study your wonder
full capacities, your brilliant manner, your
graceful gestures. Ere long she will begin to
wonder how you came by such a fine voice
aud fascinating tone, and finally, before she
is aware of it, she is deeply, irrevocably in
love with you. This is the system Of court
ing on the principles Of reaction. Can the
affections Of Rosa Merriam be secured by
this system ? We shall see
Two weeks passed away and l called at
Col. Merriams again. | rang the bell. The
servant appeared, and | cnquired for Col
Merriam. | vas shown into the parlor
Col. Merriam and Rosa were both there as
had left them two weeks before. Rosa did
not appear to be displeased at all. Her
father was as cold as ever, so | drew chair
up facing him, and sat down with my back
to Rosa and opened on him. He did moi
want to talk. He was determined he would
not talk, but he did. He was determined he
would not thaw, but he did thaw. Before
he knew it he was visibly melted. l kept
him in that condition more than an hour.
Then had a story to tell. hadn't any
thing to shed tears about, but somehow Col
Merriam had a great deal of use for hii
pocket handkerchief all the time was tell
ing it. pitied his weakness but could moi
help it. | stole glance at Rosa. What q
pity it is that weak eyes are catching.
Then [ had another story to tell.
hadn't anything to laugh about, but Col
Merriam had. He was determined HI
wouldn't laugh, but he did. He had a pail
Of sides which invariably shook whenever ht
laughed heartily. Ten men could not have
held Col. Merriam's sides before the story
was half told. Twenty men couldn't hav'
done it when finished. Aud how singular
it was that Miss Merriam laughed outright
Before either Of us was aware Of it, l haC
been there two hours so took my dspar
ture Rosa followedime to the door anC
took my hand and said good by, although
had not said ten words to her all the even
ing That convinced me she had beef
thinking of me, in my absence. You know
what is sure to follow when young ladies in
dulge in that sort of thinking. Col. Mer'
Ram did not rise, but he actually said;
Good night, Mr.. Wallace.
went home and had good nights rest
slept soundly and sweetly. So much fol
the principles of reaction.
[ did not see Col. Merriams daug hte
again for three weeks, but | did continue tt
see the Colonel nearly every day, either a
his counting room or in the street. Thj
more he didn't want to talk the more h
found he could not resist my way OF getting
at him. In spite of his determination not Il
be pleased, he was pleased, Notwithstanding
When visited his house again, it was mere
ly repetition of my former visit with enter
tanning variations. This time Rosa was un
mistakably glad to see me.
repeated these visits several times, an
always with increasing success. made n
: advances towards Rosa. | took no libortic
beyond what civility demanded | directe
all my attention and conversation to the Col
onel, and he was unable to escape from hi
own device. He had set his mental machin
cry at work in opposition to mine, and h
. was beginning to find | was more than
match for him. He was indeed a spy-de
caught in his own web. Rosa was not Ion
> comprehending the game ! was playing, o
, her father. Love never burns SO brightly q
| when parental solicitude stands by strivin
to quench it. Parental opposition, and re
0 Election, had borne their legitimate frui
} Rosa was deeply in love with me. l rea
. it in every look aud motion. | knew it an
Col. Merriam knew 1t. He knew, and
knew, that her feelings we're strained up
} the highest point. He knew, and l knew
! that | had only to open my arms to Ros
and she would fall into them. And MOI
than all, he knew had dscernment enOug
d to know this Why didpt | do it then
s was an inexplicable puzzle to him. He sa
g however that all opposition was now useles
= He must sacrifice his own pride, or b
!. daughters happiness, perhaps even her LIT
It And 80 he resolved what to do.
n The next time ! called, enquired fl
| the Colonel as usual. Instead Of taking II
8 into his presence, however, the serva
? ushered me Into the parlor aud presence
! ROsa. knew at once that the servant hi
% been instructed to do this, and that the Ga
n onsl had backed out. | didn't like tina
q So l snquired for him, He was in the
h brary. Might l go in there" Yes
Q, So | went in and found him. Was glad
b see hiu---wanted to enjoy hissOcicty--WOu
r. he come into the parlOr with Rosa aud m,
II or should We come il there just which
Al