The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-03-24

and called here first"
81 am sure 1 am much fattered, may /
take the liberty to ask your name 2"
you need not feel at ell flattered-I am
called the Fool Catcher get your hat and
come with me at once,' re said in tone
OF command which had li,tle power to re-
sist.
But mother and Prue 1 demonstrated,
must tell them fret.
| "Don't stand there dallyiuc any longer"
he replied impatiently. "YOu we're ready
enough to leave them while ago, and mar
| ~ an old man twice your age, for the sake
of his money. You would sacrifice every
| principle of honor and throw away your
womanhood for the sake OF q life of case,
but you will find plenty Of company,
come"
could hear PrueS voice gaily singing,
mAnd draw them oil along and now
To In the brimmlng river,
For men m " come and men may 60
But 80 on forever"
as passed out of that delightful cosy home,
into the wet sloppy street.
Two doors below us lived the Misses
Hardy couple of maiden ladies of an un
certain age, hut only owning to thirty-fve,
| and thiity-six years. Betwixt them they
managed to oversee all the business of the
neghborhood, and as their house had no
front yard, but was pushed out almost even
with the sidewalk, it gave them greater
facilities for knowing all that was going on.
bliss Hardy chaDced to be sweeping her
front tteps as we passed, and ''sister Ann"
stood in the door listening to the answ wers
to the questions which came thick and
fast.
"Where are you goin' Dolly, and who
is that strange gentlemanp Is it some one
you knew before you lost your fortin," she
asked in shrill whisper, with her long
neck craned forward for an answer.
"Fall into line, both of you" thundered
the Fool Catcher. 1.-TWO tattling prying
old maids, always watching to blow every
spark of gossip into blaze of scandal, it
disgusts me TO think of il. There are only
two kinds Of folks who mind other peo-
ples business One kind havn't any bCe-
ness OF their own, and the other kind haven't
any mind"
A little farther on Mrs Sharp was down
on her knees with cloth diligently scrub.
bing off her threshold af,er the lain. The
Foot Catcher stepped into the yard, and |
softly touched her shoulder. She started |
up snd looked at him fiercely-' Oo, you |
can't 90 in," .ald she, ''the steps are ju,t
cleaned, and the floor mopped, and |
wouldn't have them muddied for anything.
You will find Mr. Sharp down at the store,
or IN the post office"
II AM The Fool Catcher" he responded |
curtly, get your shawl and come with me. |
You are the woman who kesps her house |
80 painfully neat that her husband and |
children are virtually turned out Of doors. |
| saw them before | came here. Mr.. Sharp |
was playing cards in the store and Willie |
was taking drink at saloon. There was |
need enough for me to come for you
should think"
So we started along, the Fool Catcher
and myself the Misses Hsrdy and Mrp.
Sharp who went along grumbling and CON-
planning that he had no business to call for
her. There wasn't a speck of dust in the
whole house, and you might search it with |
a candle from cellar 10 garret. But now
the house wasn't locked, aud the children |
could get in when they chose, and track
the floors, and move the chairs, and disar- |
range things generally. Oh, 1t was dread |
full"
just as we turned the corner, who should |
we meet but the Hon. Mr.. Swell. He was |
not large man naturally, but he grew |
perceptibly larger as he swclled out with |
Importance when the Fool Catcher halted |
the queer little procession in front of him.
"Mr Swell presume" said the Fool |
Catcher politely.
"Yes, my name is SWELL and with that
he swelled out larger aud larger, and his |
broad expanse of shirt bosom seemed to vis- |
IDLY widen before us. 81 have a very ex- |
tensive acquaintance throughout the coun- |
ty and state, but cannot remember ever |
seeirg you before
''Ah perhaps not. bnt you were sure to |
meet me sooner or later. am called the |
Fool Catcher Fall into he ranks.
"What-me," said the honorable gentle |
man. There is some mistake. Do you
know that have held high Offices in both |
town and state Are you aware thst my |
father was a lawyer and my brother a |
Judge! My family connections are such |
that the common people look up to me with |
wonder. l AN doing great deal for relig- |
ion also, run the church here entirely. q |
The Fool Catcher looked at him enquir |
lnGly; X, a,.,o,.,,,, i. o,,,.-. 49,. ,,o
money and l manage it,"
"No more time for argument" said the
Fool Catcher. "You are just the man | |
want. Talk Of the ability OF your relatives.
II is as II a mushroom should hold up ils
head and aspire to honor because wheat
grew on one side OF it and an apple tree on
the other. II would not change the nature
of the thing at all. II might do for mush
room sauce il gathered in season, but II
could never make bread You may head
the procession, you are worthy Of the
place."
During this harangue Mr. s., had shruuk
to Little below his usual size. His head
was thrust little forward, and his lower
jaw dropped IN wonder.
Meanwhile the Fool Catcher had not been
idle. A couple OF young ladies whose rude
ways and uoseemy manners had made tn m
the talk of the village for months, were
quietly motioned to their place among us,
aud dandy fell in of bis own accord to
keep them company.
So we started n once more, the dandy
the two young ladies, the Misses Hardy
Mrs. Sharp and myself. led by Mr.. Swell
who had not yet thought TO close his mouth
and the absence of few front teeth rem
dered the expression Of his face quite strik
ing.
Our pext call was made at the preieu-
tious man'ion of Mr.. DeLnng, and we conld
hear the "tnkle OF ivory keys" before a
resonndirg peal of bell brought the maid 10
the door in hurry. What passed within
the house We could not hear, but presently
MIRA. DE Long, with her daughters Miss
Isabella, and Miss Aramiuta. two young
ladies', very much benoupced and berouged
came down the walk. Mrs. DE Long was
saying
why my dear Mr.. Fool Catcher, you
can't possibly mean me. l have brought
up my daughters in the very best manner.
Both OF them were educated 10 dear de-
liphtful Paris. You should hear them sing
Ldnaitto est LdmOur sans d,lss, or L'dmOur
Iourjoprs L'GmOur. They sing diviuely
and their tastes are exquisite. They would
never think of wearing anything made in
tne country. They v ould consider it quite
vulgar to do SO, wouldn't you Alaminla'
Law, yes, mother"
A look of disgust crept over tho Fool
Calchers face as he replied:
"With all your daughters accomplish
mems madame, can they make loaf of
bread or cook dinner Can they do the