Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-02-14
4 NOBLE GENTLEhAN.


4 NOBLE GENTLEhAN
The story OF an Ola Lady.
| sat spinning at my little wheel in the sun
| for the autumn day was cold when heard
some one whistling, and looking up there was
young Squire Turner, with his arms folded
on the gate, looking over. When he caught
my eye he laughed and blushed and ros,
| and made him courtesy.
He was II handsome gentleman the squire.
and the hand from which hc pulled the glove
shimmcred in the sun with pearls and dia.
mond- and hc was bonuy TO look ut, with
his hair like spun gold in the October sun
light.
When | courtcsicd he bowed making his
curls dance over his shoulders and, said he,
I've spoiled one pretty picture that could
have looked at all day, but I've made another
as pretty, so I'll not grieve. May ! come
in 2"
And welcome, sir" said l. and | set a
chair for him, for he was grandfa,hcr's land
! lord: but for all that | felt uncomfortable,
for WAS not used to fine company
He talked away, paying me more compli-
ments than ! was used To, for grandmother
who brought ME up always said. Handsome
is rs handsome docs, and Beauty il but skin
| deep"
Since I'm telling the story I'll tell the truth
| had done wrong about one thing. Neither
| of the old folks knew that | wore Evan
Lockc's ring in my bosom, or that we'd taken
u vow tu each other under the hawthorn that
| grew in the church lane. never me- ant to
deceive, but granuie WAS old ard little hard
of hearing, and thut love of mine was such a
sweet secret. Besides, money seems to out
weigh All else when people have struggled all
their lives through to turn penny, and they
knew Evan was poor, struggling surgeon.
| thought I'd wait while until | could
sweetrn the news with the fact that he'd be-
gun to make his fortune
Grnnic came in from the dairy five min
utcs after the squire was gone. and heard he
had been there. | didn't tell her of the
fine speeches, but there wiis u kcyholc to the
door She came through, and | have a guess
she heard them.
That night we had something else to think
of. MiefOrtuncs had come upon grandfather:
but didn't foresee that when tho half years
rent should come due not penny to pay it
with would be found
All this time Evan Locke aud had been as
fond as ever Of ,uch other, and he came MS
often as fore TO talk with grandpa on the
winter nights; and stlil every LITTLE while
our Young landlord Squire Turner. would
drop in and bit in his lazy WAY watching me
knit or spin. Once ur twice ha was flushed
with wine, and over bold. for he tried to kiss
me. But squire or 10, | boxed his cars for
his pains. and no softer than | could help
either.
| could not help seeing him when he came.
and did not desire that Evan should be an
cry with me. But lac was. Eli, so high aud
mighty, and spoke rs though one like the
squire could mean no good by coming to so
poor place as the schooluastors.
He made ne angry, aud / spoke up.
I. 4
to have me promise to marry him, said /.
"He thinks more of me than yon do Just
now"
Maybe you like linn BITTER said Evan.
II don't say that replied |. but bad
temper and jealousy scarce make me over
fond of another. pray | may never have "a
husband who will scold me.
For hc had been scoliing me- There was
no other name for it.
Well Evan was wroth with me, and with
him not heart deep, though, thought aud
| did not see him for more than II week |
wasn't troubled much. though. | knew he
would come round again and mayhap ask my
pardon. For before you are wed you can
bring your lover to his senses when you will.
So did not fret after Evans absence nor
snub Squire Turner, who liked me more
than ever But one night grandfather came
III from II lonely ride, aud shutting the door.
stood between grHndmamna and me, looking
at me so strangely that We both grew fright
ened. At last he spoke.
'Tve been to the 'squire's, said he. "For
the first time / had to tell him that could
not pay his rent when due"
| opened my lips Gnndmammn's hand
covered them. Grandpa drew Inc to him.
Thou art young, lass" he said, and
they are right who who call thee pretty. Say,
couldst like the squire well enough TO wed
him p
"Eh :" cried grandma. Sure, you're not
wandering?'
esquire Turner asked me for this lass of
ours tonight OF all the women in the
world there is but one he loves rs he should
his wife, and that is our Agatha"
Il drcamt of golden rings and a bunch of
white roses on Christmas eve" cried grannie.
II knew the lass would be lucky"
But put my head on grandfather's shoul-
der and hid my face. The truth must be out,
| knew.
wilt have him, and be rich LADY," said
grandpa.
And when he Ind waited for an answer,
burst out with mo, and II sob together.
shes frightened" said grnndmamma
Nay, We must all wed once in our lives, my
child"
Then grandpa talked to me. lie told me
how poor he had grown, and how kind the
squire was, and had but to marry him to
make my grandparents free from debt and
poverty their lives through. If refused and
yexed the squire, Heaven only knew what
might happen.
Shell never ruin her poor grandpapa,"
sobbed grandmamma.
All! 1t was hard to bear-bitter hard but
now there was no help for it. l took the
ring from my bosom and laid it in my palm,
and told them it was Evan Locke's, and that
l had pghted my troth to him. And grand
mamma called me dcceitful wench, and
grandpapa looked as though his heart would
break
Oh l would have done anything for
them anything but give up my true love.
That night l kissed his ring and prayed
heaven that he might love me always In
the morning it was gone, ribbon and all, from
my neck. looked for it high and low but
found no sign of it, And / began to fear that
would never marry Evan Locke. The
days passed on and he never came near me-
"Oh, it was cruel in him" thought, ''to |
hold such anger for a hasty word he had pro- |
voked, when l spoke ii that he must know |
that loved him So"