Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-10-15
THE LOST WAGER.

How melancholy they looked, those en-
ble.ns of parting and adieux. Not even
the merry laughter OF the two or three
young girls, who were gathered around a
stalwart, handsome fellow of about twen-
ty-five, could entirely Danish an impalpa-
BILE something of sadness from the scene.
Cousin Jack was going away, the general
mischief maker, torment and tease of the
whole family, and Mr.. Chester, sitting by
the distant window, wiped his spectacles
every five minutes and declared, pettishly,
that the type of the evening paper was
terrible trial to old eyes.
"Aye, you may laugh, girls" said Jack
applying himself vigorously to the refrac-
tory lock of port manteau. perhaps you
may one day discover that 1t isn't such a
laughing matter. Think of the loss the
family is going TO sustain in my excellen-
cy."
"But you'll come back soon, Jack dear"
coaxed Minnie Chester, the preitiest and
most roguish of all cousins, and tie one
who kept up a perfect fire of practical
Jokes and girllsh tricks at his expense.
There she sat, on the biggest trunk of the
collection, her brown curls hanging about
her round face, and her eyes sparkling with
curious mixture of fun and tears.
"rm not at all certain of that, Miss Min
ME-" said Jack, decisively. "If succeed
in finding a location to suit me, shall
probably decide TO settle permanently at
Thornvile and turn landed proprietor on
my account"
"Only imagine our Jack a gentleman OF
properlyW laughed Minnie, appealing 10
her sisters.
az don't see anything so very ridiculous
in the idea," remarked the young man, ra-
ther piqued at the amusement of his rela-
tives. AT all events, there's one incalcu-
liable advantage that will result from my
departure
"AUd what is that, Mr.. Oracle?"
"The fact that you've played your last
freak on me, you tormenting little mink!
Don't be 50 certain OF that, cousin
Jack - said Minnie, shaking her long curls.
"Wbat will you venture don't bestow a
parting trick on you YETI All haven't
settled with you for several little pieces of
impertinence but pray don't imagine they
are forgotten, sir p
"My diamond sleeve buttons to your cor
al necklace that you don't impose on me
within the next three months, Minnie"
said Jack, gaily.
"DoneW said Minnie. "Girls, you all
hear the wager, don't your 1 always COW
eted Jacks diamonds"
"But you won't have them, mademoi-
selle! How dark it is getting in this cav
oil bal Shall I ri for lirhI
Gle Chester9 and by the way, have you
written that letter OF introduction to Mr..
Thorne?"
"Al in good time, my boy-all in good
time" said the old gentleman, depositing
his huge. silverbound spectacles in their
case. "You young men are all in such a
desperate hurry. Tell Betsey 10 carry a
lamp into the library, girls. And Minnie,
where is my gold pen? won't be verv
long about it, and then we will have a nice
long evening 10 gossip over Jacks pros
pects."
While Mr.. Chester sat in his cosy, red
curtaned library, revising the letter which
he had been writing TO his old friend, ia
bez Thorne, of Thornville, TO the effect that
his nephew, John Lacy, was in search of
an eligible piece OF land, and wished to SET
tie down in that vicinity, and requesting
Mr.. Thornes aid aud cooperation in the
selection of the same, Minnie opened the
door.
"Papa, there is some one down stairs who
wishes TO see you imued ately for one min
ute."
Every annoyingl" said the old gentle
I a.. ,i..l.. Ia. I,s.
Jacks. However, 1 can seal it afterward.
Minnie, suppose you glance over it and
dot the is and cross the is; I'm not SO
much of penman as l used to be-"
And old Mr.. Chester pushed back his
chair and arose from the antique table to
attend the claims of his urgent guest.
Olive Chester was brushing out the heavy
braids of her luxuriant hair before the
dressing mirror OF her own apartment, two
hours later, when Minnie ran in, with
counlenance comically divided between
dismay and delight
"My dear Minnie, what has happened7"
exclaimed the elder sister, dropping her
hair-brush and letting all the raven tresses
ripple down unheeded over her shoulders.
1--WE won the diamond sleeve buttons,
Olive but oh 1 didn't mean TO. What
would papa say if he only knew it-and
cousin Jack, too9"
"Sit down, you wild little elf" said Oh
i've, gently forcing her sister into a chair,
land explain this mysterious riddlep
swell you know papa left me 10 look
over his letter TO Mr.. Thorne-and he was
detained longer than he expected-almost
an hour in fact, and couldn't help anus
ing myself by writing parody on the let
ter"
"A parody3"
"Yes-you remember somebody was tell
ing us what a beautiful daughter Mr..
Thorne had-so l wrote that Jack was in
search of a wife, aud had heard Of Miss
Thorne, and wanted 10 settle in life, and all
that sort of thing. 10 short, wherever pa
pa had written land or estate, wrote wife
Wasn't il fun p' calculated the little maid
en-, her eyes dancing with did6lerie. "But
you know never once thought of sending
the letter; only wanted to read it 10 Jack
when went down stairs. Well, l signed
it with a great flourish of trumpets, and
Just then who should come in but papa and
the stranger. OF course 1 fied-and when
l came back the letter was sealed and safe
IN Jacks pock et-book, and Olive, it was
the wrong letter."
at was rather dim highland papa's
eyes are not as keen as they were wont to
be and my impertinent missive was gone,
while the real bona yfde letter lay there,
amongst heap of discarded papers. And
hadn't courage to confess my misdemean-
ors, papa is SO opposed to my innocent lit
tie jokes-and Jack is off with that inde-