The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-02-03


rival"
My heart gave bound. She did love
me, then. Poor Charley!
"And what reply did your sister
make TO that?" asked.
ooh, she said nonsense but she
took the picture out-Charley's you
know-and he kissed her hand, and she
carried il up to her room, and it's there
now, hanging between the 'Huguenot
Lovers and His Only Friend He's O
poor barefooted boy lying fast asleep in
the road, and his only friends dog
one of them big fellows, you know
eyes, yes" l interrupted, rather im-
patiently; 81 know all about it,"
Ned, evidently somewhat offended
was silent for about three minutes, and
then began again: "Oh, my, didn't
they talk that day! Vic sent word tc
everybody else that came that she was
out. Wasn't that n whopper? l was
smuggled up on the sofa over in that
dark corner there, and they didn't see
me, and heard every word they said
Wouldn't Vic have boxed my cara II
she'd caught me'
'I wonder what they talked Of"
said to myself, with jealous qualm---to
tell the truth, I'd been little staggered
by the picture episode and then, though
ii wasn't exactly the right thing to do,
although certainly excusable in case
like this, where a mans whole happi-
ness was at stake, made up my mind
to find out.
"Ncd," said l, 81 saw splendid
knife the other day--six blades"
"Six blades !" repeated Ned, his eyes
sparkling.
eyes, or five blades and file, don't
remember which. 1t was beauty,
though, and if wasn't afraid you'd cut
yourself with it, I'd buy it and give II to
you"
"Cut myself!' said the small boy,
with infinite scorn; 81 amt baby"
"Well," said l, "the knife shall be
yours" And then ] continued in a
n nOnchaldnt manner: "What was it
You said your sister and Mr.. Thornton
were talking about?"
81 didn't say nothing" said Ned.
"When'll you bring the knife?'
"YOu shall have IL tomorrow" re-
piled. "Did they say anything about
me, for instanceH
"Oh, lots!" said Ned, starting off
rapidly. "Charley said: 'Oh, Vic, you'd
never have given me up if hadn't told
you how rich he was. What a fool
have been! might have known that
that would have been too much of a
let me see Lead us not into tempta-
tion'-'temptation for such girl as you
are. Good heayens!' and he grabbed
hold of his hair just as though he was
going to pull it all out" and the small
boy suited the action to the word, and
tugged at his own curly locks with such
an assumption of desperation rs brought
the tears in his eyes. "Good heavens ?"
he says, 'how cruel and selfish you are |!
am sure don't know how can love
you. Are you going to marry him 2"
And Vic says: Il am.'"
"Oh! You are" thinks the attentive
listener.
1T would be awful silly she says"
the small boy rattles on, ''for us to
get married. l might think was hap
py, for little while, cause b'lieve l
love you as we'll as could love anybody,
md then I'd be jolly miserable, for
must have sealskin jacket and new
switch, and hair like mine costs like
Oh no; that's what she said to ma this
| mean she says: For nev-
be could be happy without a fine house,
and carriage, and all sorts of nobby
things and ever so much more can't
And so be good boy she
says, 'and console yourself with May
Newton. She likes you, Pm sure, and
she is a sweet little thing, and would
make You an excellent wife,"
81 don't believe she ever will, them"
| muttered between my teeth. 500 on
Ned"
"'No, she wouldn't says Charley !;
and as for her liking me, you never
were more mistaken in your life; or if
she does like me, il is because l am the
friend of the man she lOves--Arthur
Bell" Um Arthur BelD-" 'ycs she
loves him as dearly as l do you, and has
loved him for years. 1t was for his
sake she refused handsome Phil Akers,
to say nothing of that rich old bachelor
Quimby that all the other girls are pull
ing caps for. Poor little wretch!
know how to pity her. You'll both
recover says Vic, 'and ten chances to
one, fall in love with each other.
There's nothing like catching ball on
the bounce"
"'A heart on the rebound think
You mean Ned" say, with astonishing
calmness.
"Well, perhaps | do" assents the
small boy, whistling a couple of bars OF
yankee Doodle" thoughtfnlly. "Any-
how" ending with false note that
makes me shudder, "Vic stuck to It
she'd marry you, cause you was so
slap-bang-set-'em rich; and
Charley smashed his hat ON his head and
walked out of the room like this" and
slipping from the table, the small boy
seized my hat from my hand, literally
smashed" it upon his curly head, and
strobe out into the hall in such melo-
dramatic manner that | smiled in spite
of myself.
When he returned | lefl the easy
chair-not quite as much at ease as
when sat down in it-took possession
of my hat, restored it as nearly as pos
sible to its original shape, and said
"Ned, you've been remarkably enter
taining-in fact, l never met such MI
entertaining small boy before; hut
wont wait any longer. Give my re.
specis to your sister,
"'Don't you mean Your loyer asks
Ned, with wide open eyes, and adds
confidentially: "0h! come now, you
needn't be bashful. know all about il
you know" ftlt
81 don't mean my love-" say, mosl
emphatically.
"And when'll you come again?"
Impossible to tell" ri =
"But the knife-the one with six
blades, or five blades and iile?'
"Pll send il tomorrow morning
early"
You're trump!" exclaims the smal
boy, cutting a caper. "And say, ,wher
you marry Vic and ask me out to youl
country house to spend my vacation
will you give me boat and Shetland
pony-one of them real jolly ones with
hair hanging all over their eyesg"
"When | marry Vic / wiil," prom
Use, solemnly. "Good-bye."
But never marry Vic.
Mr.. Quimby, the rich old bachelor
does though; and precious time, the,
say, she has with the cranky, hot tenn
pered, asthmatic old fellow.