Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-04-17
Miss Dabney.
A sENslRLE LOVE sT0nY

II had been universally conceded among
Louise Dabney's friends that she was not a
favorite with the gentlemen-that fortune
so essential TO feminine well-heug. Whether
it was from lack of beauty-though about
that there were diversities of opinions-or
because of a cold and critical manner, GER
tain reserve irresponsive to the masculine
touch-stone, an innate disdain of Irritation,
of making an effort to please one sex more
than another who could say Louise was
herself aware that she inspired the mascu-
line heart with no serious sentiments, and
she may have wondered secretly by what
spells other girls who were not so well l.bred
nor so intelligent, and certainly no fairer,
gathered groups of lovers about them, while
she stood by alone and uncared for. Not
that she coveted purality-but what charm
had they to which she could not aspire
Every woman loves admiration, and it is
not to be supposed that Louise Dabney was
superior to this animal weakness.
Louise has never had Irritation, love
affair." or proposal" her friends would have
told you but they were not quite correct in
their verdict. She had had "an interest"
to put it mildly, ever since that dreadful
night on the Continent when her uncle had
been brought lifeless into the little out-of-
the.way. place among the mountains, and had
left her alone among people speaking an
unfamiliar jargon, with the sea rolling be-
tween herself and home; and Loring North
cote had come to her aid, though a total
stranger, had taken her burdens upon him
self, and had been like a shadow in weary
land to the desolate girl, and had finally es-
corted her home across the sea, with his
widowed sister as chaperon. Since that pc
riod there had been more or less intercourse
between them, TO be sure, but the half-ten-
der regard he had manifested toward her
had seemed to crystalize, without develop
ing into anything more personal and par
| ticular.
alt is only his way with all women,' she
said. and excused him in her heart. And
when she had thanked him for all his kind
ness, and said, " How can | ever reward
you 2" "By always coming to me when you
need kindness" he had answered, but he
thought, She is less emotional than a
sphinx" And though Louise had more
than half expected that their relations would
grow closer as time sped had, perhaps, some
right to expect it, yet Mr.. Northcote had
never advanced a step nearer; and if she
had abandoned hope, the flame still smoul
dered ready to be rekindled by word 9
touch, and nobody the wiser not even til,
interested friends, who thought Louise neg
lected her opportunities; that any othel
airl would have had an offer, at least, under
the circumstances
1t was the following season, which sh'
spent at the fine old mansion of a friend
when seeing the company dispensing day
after day, by twos, she resolved to anus,
herself like the rest-to do as the Romans
Every woman likes to believe that she ha
her own little attractions, and how was sh,
to make sure of it if she attracted nobody
Besides, these was nothing else to do. IC
abstain from the popular amusement seemed
like reproaching those who engaged in 1t
Mr.. Leroy appeared to adopt her views. |
She walked, he followed her like her shadow
if the river alured, his boat was at hand
| if driving were in order, he handled tn
reins like a Jehu. Their acquaintance haC
begun, moreover, under the most favorabl
auspices, to take a romantic view OF II
She had discovered that her pocket had beel
picked on the cars of both money and tick
cts. A handsome stranger steps forward t
the relief of the distressed damsel; graf
tude on one hand, gallantry on the other
he has established claim to conversation
and discovers that they are both bound 10
the same hospitable roof at Valley Farm
Could a Irritation be ushered in more pre-
pitiously?
Really" whispered Mrs. Furniss, fort
night later, sitting on the veranda and lool
ing toward Louise, who sat in the hammock
which Leroy was lazily swinging, Il believ
Miss Dabney has made an impression"
"Who is Mr.. Leroy ?" asked the gentl,
man to whom she spoke, and who had jus
arrived in the last train.
A capital CATCH"
"AIliterative at least. And has Mis-
Dabney landed him y
"She could if she would 1t isn't hi
fault if she hasn't"
81 shouldn't say that Miss Dabney wa
susceptible"
GLOW did you find that out, Mr.. Nortf
cote 2" laughed the hostess.
"By natural processes, | believe"
I'm told she isn't favorite with you
sex but exceptions prove the rule. nev(
, knew her TO have Irritation before, | col
fess."
ais this a Irritation ?"
son her side, yes. It's her very indffe
; ence that attracts Leroy. He's used to bein
made much of, and to have the girls throw
! at his head, so to speak. As she doesn
want to marry him, she can afford to
audacious"
al didn't think she would condescen
{ to flirt."
/, "You seem to have made study of Mi
Dabney. | think she didn't wish to be lie
out in the cold All my guests seem to
paired off this season. You will have to d
vote yourself 10 me, Mr.. Northcote, unless
import another blessed damose.' "
"Don't, | beg; | am content with Il
q hlpssinps the Gods have provided"
"You might dispute Louise with MIR. l.
roy, to be sure"
!, "True. Let us begin by interrupting Il
- teie,d-tete."
!. "Mr. Northcote," said Louise, "this is
= pleasure for which Mrs. Furniss had n
/ prepared u.s."
"Excuse me, but your friend doesn't loo
t. as if he regarded it in that light" sa
= Northcote, aside. :" hope | am not de tr0J
81 didn't know that such humility as tn
hope suggests was trait of your sex"
"Shall go away again :"
d "Why, certainly not, Immediately
r would look as if had snubbed you"
II "Aud I'm not sure but you have"
n 1t was doubtless pleasant to have a spC
II tator witness her refutation of the popul
g. prejudice respecting her want of attractio
5, and that the spectator should be Mr.. Mort
t. cote added piquancy TO the affair. "At lea
= he will see that somebody finds me worth CT
A. tiyating," size reflected Butt spite of II
lr she found herself incapable of entering in
N the spirit of Irritation with the same unco
cern after Northcotes arrival. She felt
perpetual insane desire to shorten the wal
il and drives, that she might hasten back
IS his neighborhood, and know just how
rs was passing the time, that she might 5
RI his face and hear his voice. But the furth
lie she withdrew, the closer Leroy pursued, Z
ID old adage that bird in hand is worth t'
sr in the bush not holding good in love affair
le But when Miss Dabney ventured to iiirt, s
ID did not know it entailed serious resul