Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-09-02


who, with beating heart and blushing
messed his approach. She had glanced
in the glass to ascertain just how pretty
she was looking, then stood awaiting
momentarily a summons down. But
she was deceived. The hall door closed,
and the servant retreated again to her
quarters.
No message, book or note-what could
it mean
Mamma" she exclaimed, after wait
ing an impatient half hour for Mrs.
Lindsey's exit, "Mr. Williams called
here this afternoon, and was not adj
mitted-what does it mean9"
"Do not speak of him, my DEAR"
returned her mother, with vehemence,
"wretch that he is"
"Why, what is the matter?" answered
her astonished auditor, slight tremor
in her voice alone betraying her agita-
tion, for the darkened room concealed
the pallid cheek, and wild, startled ex-
preston in the soft, blue eye. Mrs.
Vernon repeated the conversation which
had just taken place, filling her daugh-
ters mind with the same mysterious,
underlined suspicious which agitated
her own, and concluded by commanding
her not to glance, talk or think anything
more of Mr.. Frank Williams.
Mr.. Frank Williams, the victim of
these Vaccinations, was one of those
universally popular and happily con-
stituted characters who take everywhere,
with young and old, grave and gay.
| TI,n f,1ai,nfinor nvka ho1
sof course, something to do with this,
but, more than all, never ending flow
of good spirits and amiability, or suavi-
1 tiveness, as phrenologists would term it,
which possesses an irresistible attrac-
,tion. This much vaunted quality made
him play, romp and make himself as ri
diculous as they could desire with chill
dren, just as he could listen with the
most deferential and interested atten-
tion to the long, dull harangues of their
papas and mammas.
His bow to his lady love, Miss Ger
trude Vernon, was the perfection of
courtesy and grace, so it was to poor
old Mr.. Anderson, who sold books and
pamphlets at the little shop on the cor
ner of the street. The very attendants
at the large house where he boarded
had wings when he was to be served.
Yes, Mr.. Frank Williams was, or rather
had been, q universal favorite. But,
10 a wondrous change. The pleasur-
able futter, agitation and smiles, which
were won't to mark his approach at par,
ties, all had disappeared, and in their
place he behcld a sulen and ominous
gravity and shrinking. Young ladies
instead of being "most happy" were
"engaged," or fatigued," or "iust
going home," when he asked them to
dance. Miss Cornelia w andall no long
er declared she could not think of sing
ing without an accompaniment, and
glanced O pair of most coquettishly
beautiful eyes, significantly as she spoke.
No! she did not accept them when he
rendered his services. The pretty
widow, Mrs. Harcourt, no longer seized
his arm and carried him off captive,
nOIenS vOJenS, by way of shielding her
self, us she protested, from the attncks
of that insufferable bore, her sexagena-
rian Gdorer, Mr. Mills. Amamma came
up one evening and absolutely took hel
daughter off without preface or apology,
who was hesitating, blushing and "be-
lieving that. her father was going home
with her." when Mr.. Williams requested
that honor. There were no more little
suppcrs aud family dinners for him at
Mrs. Lindsey's, and little Maggie not
only refused in the most dignifed man
ner to be caressed and played with, but
dashed over the other side of the street,
whenever she saw him coming, in evi-
dent perturbation and alarm. The gay,
merry, 1attering world had changed
amazingly for Mr.. Frank Williams;
"nodsand becks, and wretched smiles, "
all vanished; he begun to doubt wheth-
er he was himself. To complete his
desperation, the lady of his love had
waned from timid delight to chill indif-
ference, and from chill Indifference to
cold contempt, proposing i'll the full
luZuriance of which last he received a
most emphatic and indignant "No ~
for his trouble, Mr.. Williams confded
some of his distressing sensations to his
friend, Mr. Lindsey, who confded them
to his wife, and wondered what the
deuce had got into the people, particu-
larly that silly little girl, Gertrude Yer
non, for treating fine, gentlemanly fel-
low like Williams in such scandalous
manner.
) Mrs. Lindsey said nothing, but
thought great deal; her woman's heart
: failed within her for fear, and over hel
, pillow that night fitted visions of suits
, for SANDER and defamation, courts and
costs, mingled with those of Justly in
fnriated husband, and the new cashiers
handsome person extended at full
length with his brains blown out. Or
} considering the matter the next day
however, there was possibility that
some one else might have done the mis-
r chief, and without betraying herself she
determined to proceed, in the most di
: plomatic manner possible, to the dis
covery of this fact. At small party
where Mr., Frank Williams was not, she
. seated herself by Mrs. Maxwell, o charm
ing young married lady and friend o.
3 his, who had remained cordially true ant
. kind amidst the yolley of cold looks ant
, 10y greetings by which the unfortunat,
r youth had been assailed.
1 "What can be the reason" exclaimed
s Mrs. Lindsey, with wonderfully ignor
3 ant and sympathizing air, "why thai
( agreeable young man, Mr.. Williams, il
s not here tonight ?"
. "He was not invited" replied he
[ auditor, ooldly, with most suspiciou
Q brevity.
. "Not invited2 ?" echoed Mrs Lindsey
t as if she really could not credit the full
t horror of the fact, of which, blythe way
she was aware before. Her companion
y made no reply, and Mrs. Lindsey begul
on another tack. "I do not think he i
!, as great favorito as when he first cam