Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-09-18

NOAC 1luB W
Two days before, David Moss, attor-
ney and solicitor, seedy and threadbare,
had left Washington for Baltimore. This
evening the train brought back David
Moss, elegantly attired, Gentleman"
1t is astonishing how ones dress in
creases their self-respect. No doubt
Polonius though of this when he said
to his son "Costly thy habit as thy
purse can buy, for the apparel oft pro-
claims the man."
What change it had made in my
feelingsl A few days ago so respondent,
now buoyed up by hope and my in
creased good looks. felt as happy MS
king. My mirror had told me the
same flattering tale which it tells many
belle. Ny ambrosial locks were curled
in style, my blond moustache was waxed
to perfection, my blue eyes sparkled,
and my manly form was INN ersed in an
elegant suit of broadcloth. Besides all
this, I had cultivated becoming pallor,
for was to enact the role of an invalid.
A carriage was waiting. 1 was assisted
into it by the obsequious footman, aud
sank languidly ON the cushions. I was
driven to an elegant mansion, met by
my host, and almost carried to a luxuri-
GUS chamber. was too fatigued to go
down stairs that evening, but the amount
of supper which 1 contrived to swallow,
and the wine it took to wash it down,
would have astonished restaurateur.
In the morning my head was so bad
that [ took my coffee in bed. At din
ner time l managed, with some assist
ance, to get to the dining room, and for
the first time met Kate Marston, the
young lady whose dearest hopes had
come to overthrow. After the first
glance 1 began to think that perhaps
old Mr.. Marston had made grave mis-
take in bringing me there. I never had
an ideal my busy life in college and
my money to live at all afterward had
allowed no margin for dreams But L
am sure Kate Marston embodied all the
elements which would have composed
my ideal if I had possessed one.
She was small, a perfect brunette,
with glorious eyes, which might sparkle
with love or hate red lips and cheeks,
lustrous black hair, white shapely
teeth, and, in fact, everything which is
charming in woman. She treated me
very kindly, very gently, because I, her
fathers friend, was an invalid. If had
been apparently strong and hearty, she
would have suspected her fathers mo-
tives, and met every advance with re-
buff. He had brought several eligible
young men to his house, but Kate had
sent them about their busines in any
thing but complimentary style. All
he ladies who had been hired as COM
panion she had won over to her cause.
They abetted her in her disobedience,
and were dischargedin disgrace 1t was
planned that while drawing on her sym
pathy, and seeking kindly offices from
her, [ should watch over her, keep with
her as much as I could, and excite, il
! possible, the jealousy of her lover, and
tempt him to some desperate action.
I felt Immediately that it would be 9
pleasant task, although had been, as
[ appeared, a young man of landed
= estate, would have entered into it with
great zeal. For few days everything
3 progressed smoothly. Kate was assidu
Z GUS in her attentions to my comfort. ]
would lie on the sofa, and she woul6
read to me in her dulcet tones. I en-
, ioyed this heartily, for she was really 6
; good reader, and Tennyson or Byron
t from her lips was the sweetest music tc
me.
/ When my head ached, and I often hat
: severe spells with my head, how tenderl,
0 she bathed it with those deft fingers O
+ hers. would have been content to liv,
and bask in the sunshine of her presenc,
forever, but observations showed m,
l., that there was necessity for action
Sometimes Kate would shut herself III
in her room for an hour or two. Mean
s while l., on whom time always hun.
l heavily when she was absent, placed m,
a chair by the window to view passers- by
n Invariably I saw man pacing up AM
O down, in front of the house. He was 0
g medium size, light complexion, blue
gray eyes, long side whiskers, a mixtur
): between faxen and brown. Most peopl
II would have called him rather good-look
It ing, but close observer of characte
would have noted the strangely shape'
t. forehead and the gradual sinking in G
r the features at. the bridge of the nose
l. was not long in finding out that thi
le was Kate's lover, and I took strang
delight in watching him. I caught hir
v looking at me with malignant scow
With Kate's reappearance he alway
j. disappeared. | was certain that the
u were keeping up correspondence, BIT
re [ never saw him receive any letters.
now began to concoct plans to prever
a this. 1 begged her as great favor [
10 help me in writing some letters whic
% was a necessity for me to write, bl
ze which, on account of my weakness,
L. was unable to do. I kept her for Ion
e. hours writing letters about all sorts
n things, to imaginary people, which,
er course, were never mailed. I have SON
,g of them yet carefully put away in m
writing desk. Then we took long ride