St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-05

tiOnal weapon as he afterward con-
fessed, he thought for his part that it
had been the umbrella. Of course he
he had declined to fight the man, but if
there was justice in heaven-or at least
in Paris-he was resolved to get what
he called his rights; compensation for
his bllghted hopes, damages. 1t was
not on this point, however, that he
wanted Susan's advice.
He felt that even she could not be of
much service to him in prosecuting his
claims in court of justice; but as his
only guide, philosopher, friend and in
terpreter in foreign land, he wanted
her assistance for something else-no-
body will believe it who did not know
my uncle-to get him wife in lieu of
the Montmorenci. There were only six
days for him to do it in only six days
before the twelve months were gone in
which he had sworn to become Bene-
dict !; and he was as much resolved to
keep his word as ever. "How, Susan,
bow," cried he, Sam to find respect
able young woman to marry me upon
so short notice 2"
1t was question most absurd and
unreasonable, of course, but then my
uncle's position was absurd and certain
ly without reason-or at all events
good reason. He had no business to
want to be married at all.
Susan took the bull by the horns (if
l was not his nephew and bound to
reverence, might have said the donkey
by his ears) at once. "Sir," said she,
''have you got an almanac I"
AS business man he kept one in his
breast-pocket, and at once produced it;
he could not guess what she wanted,
but through having been so dependent
on her, he felt blind confidence in
everything that she suggested. She
took it and looked at the month of
February, and returned it with shake
of her head.
"No, sir; it won't do"
"What won't do7 what did you ex-
pect agould do in a crisis like this ?" he
inquired.
"Well, sir,n said she demurely, 81
had thought it might be leap year, but
it isn't"
"What you impudent hussy Do
you mean to say that you dreamed of
proposing yourself in the place of the
MOntmOrenci w
1t was plain enough that she did ;
duu CuSdb was NCiy idi llOLu pam. lIC
had noticed that before, but had hith-
ertO refrained from dwelling upon the
!. idea, out of regard for the (supposed)
, feelings of the MontmOrenci it had
struck him that very morning when she
! was sewing on a shirt-button for him
as he was starting for the Embassy.
: ''I beg your pardon, SIR" said she
: humbly. 81 am afraid l have been
taking a liberty"
YES" said he, chucking her thought
: fully under the chin; "you should
never take liberties. Drop that dustel
from your eyes, Susan don't cry, fol
S it makes them red, and rather like
t your eyes,"
He had not dwelt upon that idea be
5 fore, for the reason already stated, bu
e he had always rather liked her eyes
$ and the reason for not liking them II,
d longer existed. 1t would be dreadful
S cOmedown from the MOntmorenci bu
= then he must marry somebody within si2
j, days; and the social difference between
e him and Susan would scarcely be great
P. ell than in the former case-though i
I was true that it would be all the othe
d way. She had thoroughly homes
It English face, and had been very kin,
L to him. On the other hand, he hat
b written to his city friends in rapture
b about the MontmOrenci's accomplish
e ments. They had expressed their eager
S ness to hear her sing and play, and t,
n see her exquisite sketches in oil. Thel
S again there were her hands.
} The Montmorencis were famous fo
S the whiteness of their hands, it seems
e and Mademoiselle Bella's he had de
is scribed as like the driven snow; where
y as Susan's were like the snow that ha
l. been driven over for few days in Lon
l. don. To be sure, as Mrs. NOkes sh
: would have nothing to do but to was
r them and fortunately she could spea
French like native, or what woul
o seem to lis city friends, if not to hi
y country neighbors, (he had a villa nea
e Fgham called Tamarisks,) like native
t, He certainly might do worse than MARI
1t Susan, and there seemed to be no OF
is portunity for him, if he kept his wore
t. of doing better. Then again, thong
to he had confidence in her antecedenti
a, $50 far as she was personally concern
< ed,) she would be certain to have dread
g full relatives. He approached this sui
to ject with caution.
20 "Susan, dear,"-he thought he migl
I'd commit himself so far and it sounde
e. pleasant-"Susan, dear, what is you
+, name P
to "MOntem, sir; Susan MOntem."
ye He thought the name not so bad
to was half way to Montmorenci, thoug
that did not much signify, if it was I
at become Nokes.
Id ''Is your father alive 2"
ne "No, sir" Here the poor thing sigl
I'd ed. "He is dead, sir"
n, ''That's bad," said my uncle, meanir
III just the contrary. "And your de;
ne mother; she's alive, l suppose ?"
VS. "NO, SIR" Here she used the dust,
s. freely. II am an orphan"
lis "That's excellent" thought my uncl
1t, but what he said was, "Poor dear!
he am l." All was well so far; but it WI
N, almost certain that she would ha'
he brothers-probably gin drinkers, ce
sh tainly pipe-smokers-wh whom he wOu
ed have to buy up, or who might even ]
fuse to be bought up, and sisters wi
er had married idle mechanics who hi
er executions in their houses every qua
to ter-day. E'Susan, how many brOthe
he and sisters have you 2" inquired b
with desperation.
ok 81 have none, sir"
G. He was so delighted that he was 6
d. most tempted-indeed he did it
lat kissed her. After that he felt that
had passed the Rubicon and burned /
er- boats after him. "NOw, Susan, 1 c.
Ip- bear to hear all about you"
She had not much to tell She h
he been left foundling at Salthill Wor
be house, near Eaton, upon Montem Da
IN and had onnSaUuautIv haan crrno 10 m,