The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1878-04-24

~ VIC mail, directed IN fine masc
line hand, and she had reftised to graft
his curiosity abont it. He had spe
the -, evening playing enchre Wi
MISS King, and Laura had ssAn him
in for that -urposo - ~ IL =" 10 a.,
another rs.;. -hcers away a. !;
! weed peace to reigh supreme not be,
:. W. Hodge boasts of ga gaole day
I onI an pm which be 'nls eyenin
'ee 4-O>>->s-~ ~s 'urlng it? b
asked himself. y d abb, this trip
Boston How cofAd she leave her al,
trlct schools 1t vas only some nor
sense OF Mrs. Bender's, no doubt. Bu
delaying in the hall on Wednesday evs
nlng to brush his bat, he overheard Mis-
Prue saying to her mother: "EIe
Dow taught school for Laura Waugh,
to-day. l wonder the. committee don
6p q Boston. She asked Ellen Dow
not to mention it, too. And Ellen tolc
me not to say word about it, either, 81
don't you let it out to Mr.. Devens, ma
just to tease him. I wonder if she me
Jack? Her father doesn't approve O
him, and so she meets him on the sly.
pursued Prue, weaving her romano,
from the meagye material in hand. "l
wish you would forbid somebody coming
to see me; and then" But then Mr.
Devens entered.
His Laura suspected of meeting an
other man on the sly 1t gave him 9
cold chill. He had fondly believed that
she only waited his beck and call; il
had never occurred to him as possible
that she could console herself with an.
other lover. And who was this Jack
about whom Miss Prue discoursed SC
volublyP Should he go to Laura and
beg for a reconciliation-he had fully
made up his mind to this step before
entering the house-or should he give
her lesson?
"Did Miss Laura match your fringe
to-day ?" he asked, nonchalantly.
81 didn't like to ask her." said Prue.
" l reckon she had other fish to fry"
When young lady goes to the city
to meet a sweetheart, she can't attend to
matches of another kind" said Mrs.
Bender, facetiously.
:" Did Miss Laura go to meet sweet
heart, eh ?" he asked. with an air as if
it didn't signify in the least.
"She went by appointment, Mr..
Devens, to meet young man, too. I
don't see why it should be kept from
you"
Indeed Did Miss Vaughn tell you
SOP"
"Not she. It's dead secret, but it
leaked out"
$50 it seems"
"Laura's something of firt, like the
rest of us. There was young Sample,
the clergyman-in fact, it's her nature
to be on with the new love before she's
off with the DID,"
"Mrs. Bender, Miss Vaughn is q
friend of mine," said Devens, reproving-
ly, while he thought bitter things of her
and made desperate resolves.
"And I'm sure Laura and I've always
got on well together. But it strikes me
that we must be tolerably familiar with
a young fellow when he signs himself
Jack and nothing more. Shouldn't
you say so, Mr.. Devens? shouldn't
like Prue to be on such terms with any
but declared lover myself"
"Does Miss Vaughn show you her
ove-letters ?" he asked, already caught
N the snare.
mot muchly, Mr.. Devens. But MUIR
Ter will out, you know. believe my
'elf that it is q dangerous innovation to
each servants reading and writing, as
he Vaughns do. No good comes of it,"
Mr.. Devens experienced strange dis
rust straightway. Not being versed in
he wiles of women of the Bender type,
le mistook her airy insinuations for law
md gospel. Laura had played false, had
aiken advantage of their little quarrel to
'ncourage rival. Should he not re-
urn the compliment by bestowing his
ttentions upon some other damsel ?
Naturally Miss Prue became the recipi-
mt of his temporary favor. 1t was Piue
Who drove with him through the lanes
hat led to Laura's school-house, where |
hey were pretty sure to meet her going
r coming, and see the quick color deepen
n her cheek and forsake her lip; il was
'rue who played backgammon with him
n the lighted parlor, with the curtain Of
he window looking out upon the
vaughns' premises raised and the inter-
Or visible; and it was poor Laura, in
be darkness of her own room, who
,atched the game, with tightness at
er heart and tears in her eyes.
"What blessing postal cards are, to
e sure I" reflected Mrs. Bender, as she
,oked at the pair. "Now if that one
adn't been thrown in my teeth, so to
peak, he would have been spooning
yer at the Vaughns' this very minute"
Mr.. Devens, blinded by his feelings,
ailed to perceive that the situation look
d peculiar; he never guessed what a
opic he afforded at the sewing society
nd the Bethel meetings, nor how much
he provided for the neighbors
yes and ears. He never once staid to
uestion how his behavior affected any
ne but Laura. Prue was used to fiirt-
lg with Tom, Dick and Harry, and she
I'D never received a wound.
"It's kinder natural and handy, living
nder the same roof, said old Mrs. Good