The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-02-03
a .roHy seeoEs.ScLI, rom.

T hsr ie4iers 10 ser basband tho other dsY ?
+ John must come down here al once,
whether y0u can spare him OF not Oar
dear iu.e Laura Il greatly tAke0 with a
tan, thin yoaug mAn, with booked nose,
and tain lips, called stsyyesAHs. Il is
whispered aboat the hotel that be ls q
vrrY good mAieh, and has tbe veritsble
blood Of The Dutch Governor lH bis yeins.
Z | mast cay Il has = queer way Of showing
iasslf, for the young man is a. pale as a
spectre aud dressed iH lhA. white dack,
wilb hls suuken eyes and bilious skin, IL
enough to frigbtsn one. | have grown
[ TO hate him, while Laura ls growing 10
DO quite the coHlrary, Tm afraid. All
the evening he leans mp against tae wall,
never dancing, or opening his month
save 10 give vent TO some hateful sarcas-
tic criticism upon The scene around him,
and yet dear little LAura's eyes-as, In.
deed, all The other pretty eyes aboot--are
perpetuAlly beseeching him for attention.
In the day time be is always with long
black horse, that covers more ground
with lie legs when IL 10 going than any
animal ever saw. When Laura goes
out 10 drive behind IL, and yanishes out
of sight with The bony creature, lrem-
BILE TO think how dreadful II would be II
our dear little girl would ever become
part aud parcel Of this wretched man aud
bis wicked beast. So think John had
better come down st once; just long to
see his handsome face and bear his hou-
est voice, and think IL is about time
John should tell bis little story 10 Laura,
aud have things settled comfortably.
Mr.. Archibald Steele smiled when he
put the letter of his wife in his waisteoat
pocket, and picking up the morning pa
per, scanned through his gold-rimmed
speotacles the news of the day. Finding
nothing therein 10 rufiie tho exceedingly
satisfactory condition OF his affairs, he
put ii down, and smiled again as only d
prosperous, couteuted, downtown mer-
chant can smile. lie was one OF those
happy exceptions TO the ordinary rule of
mortsls, with whom everything went
well. His whole appearance was an ex-
clamstion point to that effect. If be ven
tured little hazardous in trade, fortune
trimmed her sails TO favor him. If be set
his heart upon anything relating to do
mesic felicity, all the elements OF art
aud nature conspired to bring it about,
So when he stepped to the door of the
Office and beckoned to young man with
a strip of commercial paper in bis band
and pencil behind his ear, with that
general air of briskness and shrewdness
about him that betokened a successful
merchant in embryo, Mr.. Steele smiled
the third time, with the air OF one who
was not at all afraid of any bilious, blue
blooded obstacle that might be thrown in
the path of domestic happiness which
he firmly believed had been arranged by
an omnipotent hand.
John, said Mr.. Steele, closing the door
of his private office, and looking upon
his young clerk benevolently, have got
an order here from Mrs, Steele, which
wish you would attend to.
Certainly, sir, said John. Shall go
out and get the articles myself2
Why, the fact is, John, said the ner-
chant, enjoying his joke more and more,
it's only one article--a rather bulky one.
1t was bargained for long ago. think
you will have to 90 with il, John.
Down 10 the seashore? said John, get
ting little hot aud flustered. Is ii a very
valuable parcel, sir?
Well, perhaps your natural modesty
may depreclate its worth, John, Mrs.
Steele aud think good deal of It, and
Laura, too-rm sure she does. The com
modify is yourself, John. Mrs. steele
wants you TO go down and take q little
holiday there.
When the name OF Laura was men,
toned, the young mans face grew more
fustered and hot than before.
Yon are very kind, sir, he said, aud
Mrs. Steele Is always more like an angel
than woman.
Rather solid aud plump for that, inter
posed Mr. Steele, bat liking the phrase
nevertheless.
But il is simple madness, pursued John,
TO dream Of further happiness than ! en-.
Joy now-your affection and that of your
wife, my position here; | don't dare,
can't hope for anything more. On, Mr..
Steele, can't tell her my story, sir. She
would shrink from me with horror and
aversion, she is 30 young, 80 beautiful.
Let me at least enjoy the present.
And In the meantime some cadaverous
bilious, blue blooded scoandrel will carry
! her of from US all.
. Then Johns face grew pale and stern
II there's the slightest feeling upon hel
part for--for any one else, then, indeed
Mr.. Steele, my case is hopeless.
The commercial paper hutlered from
bis hand; the pencil fell from bis ear h'
leaned his head against The desk auc
trembied.
Why, who would suppose you coul'
be such coward, said Mr.. Steele, im
j petuously. You shall 20 down with M
this very day.
! All the way 10 the seashore, John
: face wore he look Of one who hsd re
], solved TO storm deadly breach, but VIII
; did not hope 10 survive Tie attempt.
Esen the ocean, when IL confronle'
, them, wore threatening look. Upon ID
horizon pile of clouds formed back
ground wan and gloomy, great bias
-. ~, g, sks .zutsh . Ans.Ra reA xans