Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-02-01

SIG WIS Obllktl 10 tOnIthN lllht MI. ArllUfutl
had paid her marked attentions in spite OF ev-
cry effort she made to avoid them.
"'Docs he not know we are engaged? |
said.
"a mocking laugh came from behind the
window curtains. l turned my head and saw
Miss Rurick, who had been there during our
entire interview Her face was not a pleasant
sight. Her lips had the satirical curl which
have mentioned, but an ominous expression
of the eyes showed that a more dangerous
sentiment lay beneath.
docs Mr. Grardct know Of your engage
ment 2 Yes, he knows all about it, said
Miss Rurick. i thought it my duty, Sir, rs
a matter of course to inform him of it,
"She looked straight into my face with an
air Of defiance, and I looked as keenly at her
in return, puzzled, / remember, to divine her
motive for this proceeding. It was only af-
terwards that | came TO know that her object
had been to provoke personal quarrel be-
tween Garardot and myself, hoping that it
would result in my destruction. Can you be
lieve that friend 1t is frightful enough, but
it is true. said nothing more at the time,
and soon rose and took my leave. Annie fol-
lowed me out. She was trembling.
"'Do not-do not-quarrel with this per-
som! she faltered
II laughed and replied
Why should you suppose any such thing,
Annie | will come back and see you this
evening
II then mounted and rode to nay friend
Hamilton's, whore 1 found him and Girardet
1t is unnecessary to dwell on the interview
which was somewhat stormy. / informed
Girardet of my engagement to Miss Dare, of
the report that he was paying her his address,
cs, and when he did not deny this forbade
him to continue them, as they were disagree
able to the young lady and myself. Then the
storm began. It ended in Girardet's growl-
ing out in voice Of suppressed passion that
should hear from him the next day, and there
the interview, which Hamilton had vainly tried
to make a more peaceful one. ended. / rode
back on the same evening to Annie's, as had
promised laughed away her apprehcnsions,
and returned home leaving her quite Mt her
ease.
II did not hear from Girardet on the next
day, and when we next met at Miss Rurick s
he made no allusion to our interview; a stiff
bow was our entire intercourse. In week
he seemed to have transferred his attentions
10 Miss Rurick and the whole matter passed
over; We rarely spoke to each other, but !
heard that he eXprossedfor me, behind my back.
feelings of bitter dislike. For this | cared
nothing, and determined to have no quarrel
with him. and so some time passed Finally
his attentions to Miss RurCk became open
and undisguised, and the young lady received
them with unconcealed delight But shock
was coming. suddenly Girardet, having no
doubt amused himself sufficiently for the mo-
mcnt disappeared from his friend Mr.. Ham
ilton and the ncighborhood. without having
proposed to Miss liuricH.
This greatly onuged the young lady. She
snapped at everybody who approached her.
and was the special object of her sarcaslns
and animosity. She treated me with extreme
and ostentatious discount sy, as though to en-
phasize her dislike, and | was AT u loss to un-
derstand what the origin Of this additional
hostility could be. She may have attributed
Giiardots failure to address her to something
| had said to her prejudice, or the old laugh
ter of the gossips as to my own attentions and
their withdrawal may have REQUIRED to her
morbid mind As to the secret springs NOV
ing her to hate and insult me, | knew moth
ing Innocent Of any intent TO hurt or offend
her, was quite tranquil meeting her sting
ing speeches with n laugh, whenever | could
and so the year passed. and III the spring OF
the next Annie and myself were married
Il should like to end my story here, friend,
said Manthorpe wearily, but unfortunately
can not My life was all sunshine at that mo.
meut. and was blessed by kind Heaven
with the greatest truest Of all earthly bless
ings II pure womans love. The spring fitted
by the summer passed like a dream the
autumn followed in all its sober beauty. But
with the autumn came the shadow that was to
efiacc all this sunshine. One day | heard that
Girardet had returned to his friend Hamilton
and with his return came the great woe of my
life"
".
Manthorpe got up, and going to the win.
dow, looked out on the road. He then came
back and resumed his seat.
They will soon be here now." he said in
the same weary, almost hopeless tone II
must make haste to tell you the rest. With
my marriage to Annie the true happiness OF
my life began. and discontinued entirely my
habit of visiting, rarely leaving home unless
absolutely compelled to do so. At times i
was necessary: business took me to the coun
ty town and one court day | met Girnrdet
there. As soon as | saw him | observed that
he had been drinking. and the scowl ON his
face when his eyes met mine left no doubt OF
his feeling for me. He plainly hated ms more
than ever, and | thought saw that he wished
to pick a quarrel with me. This for many
reasons ! was desirOus of avoiding. ! there
fore transacted my business as soon rs posi-
BILE, and went 70 mount my horse and rid,
home. As did so Girardet placed himself
directly in my path.
Il am proud and restive man naturally
but my marriage had improved me, and
could see from Girardet's face that his pota
tions at the village tavern had been deep anC
frequent | therefore attempted to pass him
but was stopped by yolley of language st
coarse that believe l would have struck hin
with the whip l carried in riding, if the by
ISLANDERS had not interfered. ! was much en-
ragged.
"'You shall repent this insolence, sir!
exclaimed but as the crowd laid hands OF
Girardet and took him into the tavern,
mounted and rode home. BY the next day
had rtgained my good temper and resolved
to forget the whole drunken scene and fo
some weeks l saw nothing more of Girardet
only heard that he had become deep drink
err and was seldom sober that his attentions
to Miss Rurick We're more open than ever
and that he spoke of me in terms of gross dis
respect.
This was the state of things when the woe
full dtHOlnmeHt took place. DESTROYS o
avoiding II quarrel which | may say feareC
as much on his account as on my own, ! re
manned quietly at home, hoping that he woul,
soon leave the neighborhoOd. l was com
PEELED one day, however, to ride to a neighbor'
on business, and while passing along Il mar
row road through thickct. met Girnrdet rid
ing ont with Miss Rurick A glance at hi
face showed me that, early as the hour was
he had been drinking deeply. Drink brutal
ICES nll men; some it renders peculiarly say
age, and saw that this was the mood of Cir
ardet Mt the moment therefore attempte,
to avoid an encounter with him by moving t.
one side of the road in order to allow him t.
pass. 1t was all in vain as l moved aside Ii
wheeled to face me.
Stop" he said. in tht tone of a maste
speaking to a slave,
Wei, Sir I said, halting I have stop
ped. What do you wish =
~ have a word to say to you "
Say it, | returned feeling my anger Ri
ing.
''Tis reply was volley of brutality whic
enraged me almost beyond control Seein
his condition, however, l suppressed my il
| dignation rs much as could, and said:
=" Mr. Girardet, you are under the effect {
drink go home and cool off do not provok
me further, Sir-or-'
II was afraid to trust myself, and attempt
]