The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-03
rConc,xded from First Paoe. I

what young people mostly go to camp |
meeting for. Alice Esmeralda Kildare was |
flirting with Tom Creighton. Her betroth-
ed, the slim, long-hared student, was COM |
ing home tomorrow.
HWhen the cats away the mice will |
play, and the mice will play to the very
last minute before the cat COMES" Alice |
had remarked to herself as she admired her
bright, brunette face in the glass that morn |
ing.
So she sat upon one of the rude wooden
benches under tree and let Tom Creighton
talk soft nonsense in half whispers to her.
Wus all this wicked, of Sunday, at camp
meeting? Yes, certainly 1t was but two
thirds of the young people about them were
behaving in the same wicked manner.
Suddenly, Tom Creightons soft, lazy voice
ceased, and Alice looked up suddenly to
see why. She could hardly keep down a
cry as she saw approaching them her own
betrothed the slim, handsome student who
had been gone whole year. Some how
she felt dreadfully guilty as she caught his
bright, gray eyes. 1t was such fun to iirt,
but-dear me-
The slim student passed her with a cold
bow. His mother was on his arm, and he
led her to a seat up among the dcvout peo-
pie around the preachers platform. Alices
heat beat a little queerly, and Tom Creigh-
Ton WatCHpu hCtull. IL wash plcio-
ant, and Alice hated unpleasant things.
Suddenly her betrothed came back toward
them. He had seated his mother and left
her. He touched his hat to Alice.
81 beg pardon, Miss Kildare, but l wish
to ask you something in presence OF this
person. may not have the opportunity
again. I may not see you again soon, in
deed"
He took paper from his pocket and I'M
folded it.
''Read that if you please" said the slim
student to Miss Alice, who by this time
was beginning to be conscious of power
full inclination to run away. The paper
contained an exact copy of the slanderous
statements which Alice had allowed Tom
Creightons.to repeat to her concerning her
betrothed.
81 only wish to know" said the slim
student, with simple dignity, "whether you
allowed this person to tell you the stuff
that is on that paper"
Alice did not answer. She wanted worse
than ever to run away, but, to save her
life, she could not have gone past that
wrathful gray eye which was fixed on her
like seige gun.
"a very short answer is sufficient. Yes
or no, Miss Kildare"
II won't tell YOU" said Alice, pouting
"Do you think you can make me do any
thing | won't do ?"
Il beg your pardon said the student,
with icy politeness. 81 would not for the
world ask you to do anything which is dis
agreeable to you Allow me to wish you
good morning But as he strobe away
and left them Alice didn't like the looks
of him. Consequently she fitted harder
than ever. During the dinner recess, af-
ter Tom Creighton had gone away and
left Alice, suddenly there arose terrible
roar and rumpus in the edge of the woods.
moment were heard cries of ''prize fight !"
murder !" ''part EN-" give it TO him, little
one!"
Those who rushed to the quarter whence
the cries came saw a slender man, all
bloody, and foaming like wild beast,
madly beating and pounding a big fellow,
who was trying faithfully to shield himself
from the blows which were raining down
upon him. And before they could be sep
arated the slim student had beaten Tom
Creighton half TO death.
''And good enough for him too said
every body who saw the encounter "But
who'd have thought that slim fellow who
wrote poetry could do it ?"
1t seems the two rivals had met some
where in the grove. Angry words had
passed between them, and at last Tom
Creighton, who seemed to be in constant
terror lest the other would ''pitch into
him." the boys said, suddenly drew his pis-
tol, without a moments warning, and ex-
claiming, ''don't you come near me-" fired
at the slim student.
The blood streamed from the young
mans arm, andhe fell to the ground, wound
ed and stunned. Tom Creighton turned to
run away, but he had not taken three steps
before the slim student who wrote poetry
was upon him. He sprang up, covered
with blood, and leaped forward with
roar like lion.
''I'll beat your internal head off" he
howled, ''Ill kill YOU"
He was in fair way to do it, too,
wounded though he was, when the camp
police appeared and arrested both the
young men in the name of the offended
majesty of the law, A wicked newspaper
said next day that the prize fighters had a
larger and more enthusiastic audience than
the minister.
That evening this note was put into the
hands of the naughty Alice Kildare, who
had caused all this trouble:
81 return you your troth. 1t is nothing
to me now, because know it is nothing to
you. know now, too, that women are
incapable of steady truth and faithfulness.
| suppose God made them so. But ! do
not know why it was ordained that man
shall pour out all his soul, all his manhood
and earthly hopes at woman's feet, and
for compensation have only the satisfac-
return to the college, and you will not see
me again. But l hope you will always be
happy"
Alice took the letter upstairs with her,
and cried all night over it, In the morn
Jag she bathed her red eyes very carefully,
and looked at herself narrowly in the glass
as she combed out her dark locks.
"And so I'm to be an old maid Tor all
time," she said very soberly.
That is the romance of the camp-meet-
ing.
sob botheration !" remarked Sam.
"Sam Harrington before heaven, be-
leve you are the LATEST, slovenliest, cross
est, uncivilizedest old bachelor that ever
vegetated outside of grizzly bears hollow
tree. can hardly believe you are my
cousin any more, as / think Of what you
were fifteen years ago when you visited us !;
and look at you now, stout, chuify, sloven-
under the heavens but your nasty pipe.
An old bachelor is disgrace to humanity,
anyhow. Sam Harrington | say-for the
Lords sake, get up and put on this clean
shirt !"
Sam grunted. The little woman poked
him energetically in the ribs.
Your duty to your health imperativcly
demands it, said she
Sam groaned. The.little lady poked HIM
again.
''By all the laws of reason and logic, this
duty is pressingly incumbent on me. Allow
me to put it to you in the light of public
duty which you owe to your kind, rs a
member of civilized community, and not
Hottentot or a Red Indian Moreover,
!, your cousin, implore you with tears in
my, eyes to oblige me Immediately and go
and change your linen, and not disgrace