Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-10-20
Toms Adventure.
AN AMUSING LOVE STORY .

The prctticst girl in Kent Corners was
Clara Tabor. She had the most bewldcr-
iny blue eyes, knew how to use them to
the best advantage in ensnaring the hearts
of susceptible young men. There wa>n't
Il youth for many miles around who
wouldn't have given all he was worth for
the sake of winning her.
But Miss Clara narrowed her f:.sc;na-
tions down in much the same way our
gran,imothcrs used to narrow our stock
ings. Among the Young men who be
sieged her. like moths who singe their
wings in the light of u candle, there Were
only two upon whom she seemed to look
with much regard or favor.
ohm Croft WIS :; well-to-do Young farm
er, with Il good. sturdy heart, and hands
brown with toll. He had always had a
strong liking for Clara, and of late that
liking had developed into most marked re-
gard on his part Clara was all smiles
and destinations when he was with her.
and he believed he could win her; and
such WAS the opinion of those who knew
the young lazy best.
But she was rather inclined to play the
coquette, and John WAS not quite rs sure
about the state of her affections, rs he would
have liked to be. But he resolved to take
his own time in carrying on the courtship,
and not be hurried into premature propo-
sal by any jealous fear of his rival.
Tom Roberts was clerk in the small
store ut the village, and had some money
in his own right. He was 4 dapper sort of
a fellow. and made more show in society
than John Croft did but John Was not At
all mbitious to show off. and his manly.
modest way was vastly more to his credit
than Toms forwar,lnesS. But some young
ladies like snowy fellows, and many pco
pie thought Clara would prefer Tom to
John, because he was fondcr of parties and
gayety of that sort. and would be apt t.
take her into Il more brilliant circle in
time, than she should ever expect to shine
in ;,> the wife of Il f;lrmer. There Were
others who thought that Clara really car
ed for only John, and kept Toil dancing
attendance to give her other lover the ide;
/ that he had Il dangerous rival, and in that
way hurry up his rather slow courtship
Of which She was beginning to tire. B,
that a it may, John did not hurry in the
matter until he began to think it was i'm
peratiyely necessary for him to do so.
He began to think it time for him to fine
out how matters stood between him an,
/ Cllra one Sunday afternoon, when he an,
Il friend of his overheard 4 conversation
between Tom and Il friend of his. Johl
and his friend had been strollng about il
the woods and had sat down under a tire,
tc rest, completely hidden from any pass
crs-bv by the dropping branches. Pretty
soon Tom and his companion came walk
iny up the road slowly, and they were
talking about Cltla.
Il am going up to to see her this even
/ ing said rom, and | am going to ask her
to marry me- | don't know whether she
cares more for me than she does for John
/ Croft, or not. but think if ask her first
I'll get her consent.
i'll tell YOU what it is said John to hi.
/ friend, I'm going to see Clara and ash
her the very same question. I'll get the
art of him.
Tom WAS visiting at his cousins tina
dav. and this cousin lived opposite John:
! f,im. John thought he would start quite
early, and get the start of his rival by
reaching there before he did but Il lricn,
came IN and John could not get away from
him: and when he announced his intention
of stavIng to tea, matters began to luol
/ dubious
/ .I'utell YOU how I'll fix it. said Georg,
/ Lee. who had been with him that after
noon and overheard Toms announcement
of his design. I'm going home now, an,
I'll STAY and see him, and tell him you Al,
going up there, and advise him to Gu
across lois, if he wants to get there ii ST.
Now Brown has turned his old sheep int
| that lot of his. and you know he'll knocl
over anybody that comes along. He'll b,
sure to see Tom. and if he sees him, he
tree him. sure as fa;e. and you'll have
chance to get ahead of him.
Do it, and Ill give you IL new hat SAT-
John, enthusiastically.
Agreed, and George was OFF.
He was us good rs his word. He stop
ped and SAW Tom. and in the most natura
way in the world let out that John WA
going to propose. Of course Tom was o.
the alert then, and George. much interest
ed in Toms welfare and success, innocent
lv advised him to take the path over tn
hill through the field, or he would be to
late, as he was sure John had started.
Tom set off and reached the field II
clambered over the fence unsuspectingly
1t was quite dusky. He had almost reach
ed the road, when he heard a hoarse bca
behind him, and turned to See a shee
with ferocious looking horns bearing dow
upon him like gun boat.
f He looked wildly around. His only II
fuge was stump close by, and he clan
, bered on it Just as the sheep came thunder
ing up. giving the stump blow that mu
| have made it tremble to the end of it root
Good Lord! cried Tom. pale as deall
, He'd have killed me if l haunt got OF
, of the way. What'll l do? He'll keep n
: here all night