The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-02-04
A Vacation Visit,

, ii''o olelh lh>Hlp, NY lno way, uSeu 10 cOun
great deal on my yacation-it was fou
weeks in September-and lay grea
many plans about spending it pleasantly
Of course an invitation to some nice place
was very acceptable, for junior clerks
income is not often large; and this veal
IS, no matter for the last figures, was
very much in hopes of two-one from my
maternal grandmother in Virginia, an
other from my old friend Charlie Pell who
had some months before promised to ask
me to his mothers residence near Boston
Now my grandmother was a rich woman
who had been a beauty, and was very
much of the opinion that she would al
ways remain one She had plenty of COM
Pany, and her house was Il very pleasant
one indeed, and ! knew that Mrs Pell,
though an excellent woman, was very
formal and seldom opened the cold, best
paror, where the piano was kept in soll-
Larry confinement, except for a prayer
meeting.
1t my grandmother invited me, | should
excuse myself to Charlie and go to her,
and fllrt with the girls and play whist, and
ENJOY myself generally; but if she cheated
me, as she sometimes did, why, then I'd
accept the Pells' invitation. Charlie was
a pleasant fellow, and | was very little
III love with his sister, who would surely
be home from boarding school. These
We're my plans, but as time passed on and
brought no letter from either the parties
whom | had supposed to lie my expectant
hosts, my spirits sank and | looked for
ward drearily to the hottest room in a
cheap country boarding house. or the al
Tentative of staying at home at Mrs Fer
guson's and hearing how all the absent
boarders were enjoying themselves at the
seaside
Just as | had quite begun to despair,
hOwever-indeed it was the twenty eighth
day of Juy-the earliest post brought me
two letters, one pale blue envelope, on
which recognized my grandmothers fine
running hand the othera white, business
looking affair, bearing Charlie Pells wild
scrawl.
Two invitations at once chuckled
with delight, and having hurried up to my
own hall bedroom quite torgettul of my
breakfast, tore open the blue envelope,
out of which tumbled something crisp and
green, which, on examination, proved to
be a bank-note for one hundred dollars,
and which astonished me very much, for
my grandmother had never made me any
present of more value than a flat pin
cushion and pen-Wiper at Christmas
| time, and read these mysterious words:
DEAR RICHMOND,-I know YOU expect an
invitation, and meant to ask you, but circum-
stances have occurred that prevent me from
having the pleasure. [ am more your friend
than ever, but fear can never ask you to visit
me again. If | do not, you must only lose my
poor company, for | shall send YOU what YOU
find enclosed every month, and will always be,
Yours devotedly, c. RICHMOND.
P. 5. will explain in my next"
"Singular.' - [ said And quite unable
to suggest u reason for my grandmother's
singular conduct, | pocketed her present
and opened the other note 1t was equally
mysterious
DEAR RICn,-Iou promised to come 10 me
for the vacation, and you must, bul not to
mothers house. [ am ut -, at the hotel
there, and have arranged matters that we
may have Il guest. Come at once. You will
be very much surprised by something which
shall tell YOU when we meet.
Yours ever. CHARLES PELL."
mo use trying to solve this problem
either | said to myself. "Well, I'll 90
to Charlie. lie seems to want me. The
hotel will be ,jollier than the old home
stead"
And then went down stains to bronl-
! n, md ate cold hash and drank flat coffee
without complaint. There were but three
days more Ct it, and then came Il month
OF lonnging, smoking, and enjoyment. At
least was young enough to hope so.
1t was night when left the train, and
portmanteau in my hand, entered -.
just at the depot stood a light carriage
"Rich, Old fellow" cried voice, and |
hurried forward to grasp Charlie Pell's
hand.
'lm SO glad to see YOU said he, land
Eve so much to tell you-Iump in. Let
nc take your traps. Now shake hands
again and congratulate me--Tm married"
"Mmried y | almost shouted. "Why,
bless Your heart, Charlie. accept my very
warmest congratulations And how did
it come about? And what does your
mamma think about it, and-and'-
MY dear Rich, " said Charlie, ''thcre's
the unhappy part of the story; they are
furious They have said and done the
most dreadful things | think they want
ed me to live and die an old bachelor; but
at one-and-twenty, my dear fellow. Il man
must think of settling, you know, and it's
absurd for them to be So implacable. And
my lady is, perhaps, a year OF two older
than | am and very lively gay young
widow, YOU know--anl that they fad fault
with"
'"Don't bring her to my house, y says
indeed she did; but you-you,
know have sympathy with me. You
comprehend that could not forget one |
adored, because an old lady and little
girl told me to do so. You'll understand
that no one in my place could, when you
are introduced to Lottie | met her while
on a business trip for the house but
here we are. We sup in our own little
parlor Lottie has quite a fortune YOU
know, and lives in style at home. | shall
manage the place for her hereafter The
waiter will show you to your room. and
to our parlor when you are ready for our
society"
And away he flew, while | hastened to
my room, made Il careful toilet, and went
down stairs coming pretty speech which
| intended to make to my friends bride
When | knocked at the door, r heard
suspicious 1lutter, and doubted not that
some of the billing and cooling necessary
to the situation had been going on, but
Charles opened the door for me. and |
saw lady in lilac silk and plenty of lace
sitting near the window. Being very near
sighted | saw no more, except that she
had a fan in her hand and was tritling
with it.
Come in, Richmond,' said Charlie.
| ''My dear Lottie, this is my old friend,
Richmond Walters. My wife, Rich"
l advanced The lady arose She was
stout and blonde. | saw her face. She
saw mine For one moment we stood per-
| fectly silent; then she put out her hand
and took it. Neither of US said a word );
but if my face flushed as redly as hers did
and think it did-it is no wonder that
Charles Pell stared at US.
What will she do ?' | asked myself
Women are quicker than men" She
did nothing; she merely gave me an icy
bow and turned away her head, and l.,
dropping her hand retired to the other
window, while Charles stood between us
looking suspiciously at me, and growing
very pale.
"You have met Mrs. Pell, before per-
| bn nc pS ba inpuirod nj 1aSt tr,ipo IN, Snpo1z