Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-10-27

The Lost Wager.
The trunks were all packed and corded,
aud the carpet bags were piled up IN the
corner of the capacious old-fashioned hall.
How melancholy they looked, those en-
blems of partngs and adieux. Not even the
merry laughter of the two or three young
girls, who gathered around stawart, hand.
some young fellow Of about twenty-five,
could entirely Danish an impalpable some
thing 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 dis
tant window, wiped his spcctacles every five
minutes, and declared, pettshy, 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 refractory
lock Of portmanteau. " Perhaps You may
one day discover that 1t isn't such laughing
matter. Think of the loss the family is
| going to sustain in my excellcncy."
But you'll come back soon, Jack dear"
coaxed Minnie Chester, the prettiest and
most roguish Of all his cousins, and the one
who kept up perfect fire of practical jokes
and grlsh tricks at his expense.
There she sat on the biggest trunk of the
collection, her brown curls hanging about
her face, and her eyes sparkling with a
curious mixture of fun aud tears
I'm not at all certain of that, Miss
Minnie" said Jack, decisively. "lf | sue
coed in finding location 10 suit me | shall
probably decide to settle permanently at
Thorneyille, and turn landed proprietor on
my own account"
"Only imagine our Jack u gentleman Of
property laughed Minnie, appealing to
her sisters.
81 don't see anything SO very ridiculous
in the idea" remarked the young man,
rather piqued at the amusement of his rela-
tives " At all events, there's one incalcula-
BILE advantage that will result from my de-
parture."
And what is that, MIR. Oracle 2"
The fact that you have played your last
freak on me, you tormenting little mink !"
Don't be so certain of that, cousin Jack %
said Minnie shaking her curls. What will
you venture don't bestow a parting trick
on you yet Ah | haven't settled with you
for several little pieces Of impertinence; but
pray don't imagine they are forgotten, sirl
"My diamond sleeve buttons to your coral
necklace that you don't impose on me within
the next three months
Girls" rotorted Minnie, "you all hear
the wager, don't you | always coveted
Jacks diamonds"
But you won't have them, nademoiselle
How dark it is getting in this cavernous old
hall, uncle Chester; and by the way, have
you written the letter Of introduction to Mr..
Thorne2"
All in good time, my boy--all in good
time" said the old gentleman, depositing his
huge, Silver-bowed spectacles in their case.
You young men are all in such hurry.
Tell Betsey to carry light into the library,
| girls And, Minnie, where is my gold pen
| won't he very long about it, and then we
will have long evening to gossip over Jack 5
prospects"
While Mr. Chester sat in mis- coy, red.
curtained library revising the letter which
he had been writing to his old friend, Jabez
Thorne, OF Thorneyille, to the effect that his
nephew, John Lacy, was in search of an
eligible piece of land, and wished TO settle
down in that vicinity, aud requested Mr..
Thone's aid and cooperation in the selec-
ton of the same, Minnie opened the door.
Papa, there is some one down stairs who
wishes to see you Immediately, for one
minute
Very annoying" said the old gentleman,
Just as was finishing that letter of Jacks.
However, | can seal it afterward. Minnie,
suppose you glance over it, and dot the is
and cross the is; I'm not so much Of pen
man rs | used to be-"
And old Mr.. Chester pushed back the
chair and rose from the antique table, TO at
tend the claims Of his urgent guest.
Olive Chester was brushing out the heavy
braids of her luxuriant hair before the dress
ing mirror of her own apartment, two hours
later, when Minnie ran in, with counte-
nance comically divided between dismay and
delight.
My dear Minnie, what has happened 2"
exclaimed the elder sister, dropping her hair
brush, and letting all the raven tresses rip.
pie down unheeded over her shoulders.
"Pve won the diamond sleeve buttons
Olive but oh didn't mean to. What
would papa say ii he only knew it-and
cousin Jack, too"
Sit down, you wild little elf" said Olive,
gently forcing her sister into a chair, and
explain this mysterious riddle !"
Well, you know papa left me to look over
his letter to Mr.. Thome-and he was de-
tanned longer than he xpected-almost an
hour in fact, and couldn't help amusing
myself by writing parody on the letter"
"A parody"
fes-you remember somebody was tell
| ing us what a beautiful daughter Mr.. Thome
! had-so | wrote Jack was in search of n
wife, and wanted TO settle in life and all
that sort of thing In short, wherever papa
had written land or estate, / wrote wife
Wasn't 1t finn 2" calculated the little maiden.
her eyes dancing with didJierie. "But you
know | never once thought of sending the
letter; only wanted TO read it to Jack when
went down stairs. Well, | signed it with
great flourish Of trumpets, aud Just then
who should come but papa aud the stranger
OF course | fled, and when | came back the
letter was sealed and safe in Jacks pocket
book and, Olive, it was the wrong letter"
at was rather dim highland papa's
eyes are not as good as they were wont to be,
and my impertinent missive was gone, while
the real bona .fde letter lay there amongst a
heap of discarded papers. And hadn't cour-
age to confess my misdemeanors, papa is so
opposed 10 my little jokes-and Jack is off
with that Undesirable letter. shall GER
tainy win the sleeve buttons, Olive, and
what tornado there will be when my mis-.
chief leaks out"
Aud Minnie looked so bewitchingly lovely
IN her alternate paroxysms of terror and
laughter, that Olive, grave old sister though
she was, had not the heart TO lecture her as
roundly as she deserved.
The crimson sunset Of the very next even.
ing shone radianty into the special sanctum
Of the worthy old Jabez Thorne, of Thorne-
vile, justice of the peace, and chairman of
all the agricultural meetings for ten miles
around 1t was no scholarly looking library
IKE that OF his ancient comrade Chester.
but square, light room, with four uncur.
tanned windows and omamented with nu-
merous blackframed engrayings of prize
cattle aud giant tunips. lie was seated in
leather-cushioned armchair, looking over
the files Of an agricultural journal, to find
some coveted information on the subject of
phossphates " when servant brought him
a card and u letter.
1.-The gentleman is in the paror, sir"
Jabez Thorne laid aside his newspaper.
glanced at the card, which bore the simple
inscription, John Lacy" then at the letter
which purported to be the introduction to