Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-06-23

attraoteu much attention from others pres
emit, Fred winked slyly, as If to say, you're
doing just right.
"Excuse me, Miss Williams, but believe
had the good fortune to meet your father
to-day"
mo you didn't MIR. Mansfield and she
said il 80 prettily that thore was no. air Of
contradiction, but simply pure fun about IT,
"What will you wager, now2" asked
Tom
"Oh, Mr.. Mansfield 1t is not right to
bet, is it9"
That depends on horse racing and
cards; don't believe it would be, but on a
little matter of veracity it might, by way Of
punishment"
"Well | don't think il is right, but I'll tell
you what we may do. Wen agree that if
| am right you are to give me that large
bouquet, and If you are right-well now,
what shall | give your | don't know, I'm
sure.
Toms quick wit did not desert him.
agreed" he said. "You must invite me
to call tomorrow evening"
Kate gave him quick look, half inquiry
hall. saucy, and said. "Why you might do
that, any way. think you are a very
proper young man at least Miss Thompson
says So"
"Miss Thompson" thought Tom. All
hero was the solution Of the acquaintance.
ship.
Miss Thompson was friend Of Fred's, yes
there she was talking with him. Tom had
met her she had introduced Fred to Kate
and it was all explained.
"Well, III be satisfied with that" he re.
piled, at ought to be punishment enough
for you, if you are wrong. How shall we
6ud out ~
ooh, papa is here, or will be by and by,
but he only came from New York to-day, so
know you've lost"
Oh, if that is the case, I'm afraid have"
said Tom grAvely.
So they went on chatting, laughing and
happy, until Tom spied Mr.. Williams at the
further end Of the room, and unbeknown to
Kate he gradually led her that way.
ooh, there's papa now. Wen 90 right
to him, and in ten minutes | shall have my
boquet, Mr.. Mansfield"
They approached the old gentleman, and
as they did so Tom wondered whether he
had better put on his dignity or preserve
his jollity.
Papa, where have you been we have
been looking for you"
"Have you my dear . I've been looking
at you for'some time. Mr. Mansfield, | be.
lieve."
ooh, do you know Mr.. Mansfield, papa ~
"We had the pleasure Of coming from
New York together to-day. l should say
Mr.. Mansfield preferred strawberry festi-
walls to eucbre, too"
What did that meant Probably the old
gentleman had seen him joking with his
daughter and been comparing his conduct
with that of the morning and unlavorably
too. However, after a moments chatting
they turned away, and shortly after Tom
excused himself, simply asking if he might
claim the forfeit. As Miss Kate left the
hall boy handed her the FARCE bouquet
which had cost Tom a good piece of his
weeks salary.
kate" said her father when they reached
home, show did you meet that young man ?"
Kate told him, and said he was very anus.
ing and jolly, and altogether very gentle
manly.
W,
Kate. rode to New York and back with
him, and he never said word hardly, and
don't think he laughed single time. It's
my opinion that he's two-sided lie acted
stern and stiff this morning, and tonight
thought he treated you as though you were
sort of plaything or toy.
1t was Hates turn to move now. She
had been favorably impressed by Tom, but
this development gave new aspect to the
matter; was he simply flirting or did he
really enjoy himself in frank and natural
way. She would see the next evening.
When Tom came, he was feeling splen-
didly, and was prepared to be as lively and
bright as he possibly could. But Hates
manner puzzled him somewhat There was
a tinge OF reserve which cooled his ardor
somewhat, and Kate saw it, Papa is right
she thought. At bottom he is stern aud
selfish. But Tom had n calling acquaint-
ance now and he improved it, Somehow
he did not make much Roadway, for occa-
sionally be saw the old gentleman alone
and then felt that it was necessary to as
sumo the digni6ed manner again, and at last
Kate decided that he was not really open
and frank-iull Of ife,-because her father
described his chilling manner when with
him ! and the father came to believe that he
was not really digui6ed, but an incorrigible
Airt.
Poor Tom He was civilly received.
That was ALL Kate really could not help
liking him, but she thought he was capable
of duplicity, and that neutralized all good
opinion that she found herself getting.
Erred" said Tom one day, "It's no use.
Something is wrong. They treat mo too
politely. I'm going to stop" and he did.
Dignity had not won.
II was some four months after he had
called, and he hadn't seen Kate or her father
since. lie supposed she had forgotten him
which, by the way, was not true, aud he had
made up his mind To settle down to bust.
ness get what enjoyment he could from
that and be satisfied. One morning as he
passed along the street, he saw a poor old
colored woman, with basket on her arm,
suddenly fall Some brute, who was run.
ming had hit her and knocked her down.
She seemed in pain, and Tom quickly helped
her to her feet, and unnindful of tho
fact that she was ragged, old, and colored,
obeying his own noble instincts, he helped
her through the street home. Nor did he
know that Kate and lady friend saw the
whole. I'D. .
"Fathcr," said the young lady, at noon,
"you and | have done Mr.. Mansfield a great
injustice" and she told him what she had
seen.
That's what like, Kate That's real dig.
nifty. You don't often see it in the young
men nowadays Ill see that young man
myself this very afternoon" and see him he
did.
Need anything more be said After this,
it was the old, old story. Tom had learned
his costly lesson, and was plain Tom Mans
field with the old gentleman and the daugh-
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