St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-16


the morning, and in an hour it was
known of all women that the wholesale
grocery concern bad failed. The OBJ
ject knew it first, and straightway all
knew it.
OfcOurse the engagement would come
to an immediate end. There was not
itself on its digifed serenity under
trials. 1t stopped, and that was the
end of it. The next day Tom had a
diamond ring on storage at his rooms.
TherenpOn the young man sat down
to consider the situation. He was now
twenty two, had good general educa-
ton, and didn't know anything very
well. His hands were soft; he knew
how to dance he could sing tolerably
and paint little he could not dig,
neither could he steal. He was, in fact,
a fair sample of the Weston Young
gentleman.
He also considered the situation from
a lovers point of view. Here we have
no right to intrude, and we must learn
his thoughts from his actions.
For several days he wandered around
in the open air, casting about to see
what he might do, but really curing his
heart wound in silent contemplation OF
nature. Herein was he dOubly wise.
In Il moment of inspiration he thought
of emigrating to New York. Other fel-
lows had gone there, and had made
money why not he He even investi-
gated the expense of the journey but
something stood in the way. He loved
the Object still.
One day he happened to pass through
the main street ut high noon. There
was not Il soul to be seen in all the
drowsy place. Some stray hens gath
cred round the overf1owing water
trough before the chief store, aud IL
solitary COW cropped the grass along
the sidewalk. He was a trifle hungry,
and went up the decayed and broken
steps of the store to purchase a lunch.
The door was locked, and he peered i'll
at the dirty windows. Was it here the
hOusekecpers of Weston bought their
sugars and molasses, their teas and
spices? lie felt glad he had not known
it before. What Il horrible place
Dark, dingy, confused with half-Opened
boxes and barrels, ii broken scale on
the counter, rows of ffy-specked bottles
on the shelves, confusion and disorder
everywhere.
just then IL man in shirt sleeves and
irowzy hair appeared and opened the
door. Tom asked tor bread and cheese.
He paid for something, took it away in
Il newspaper, and charitably bestowed
| the whole of it upon the ancient hens
in the street.
1t was good investment. With the
purchase he gained an idea. Ideas are
money to the wise, and Tom Maxwell
was wise above his generation. He
looked up and down the sleepy street,
and contemplated the three establish
ments that supplied the village needs {:
one variety place, where nails, needles,
and dried fish found home one
butchers sho1--a hOrrid den, full of
unspeakable denominations and the
dismal grocery.
The idea grew upon him rapidly.
He considered it two days, and then
resolved to try it. Little did Ia i'm
agine the immense social char es his
| decision would involve. How could he
foresee the sights, the snecrs, and in
sulting condescension that would be
bestowed upon him He saw nothing,
not even the outcome of his love ex-
pelience that would spring from his
new idea.
The following week the village car
penter received an order to turn the
lower story of the old Allen mansion
into something new-what, he could
not exactly comprehend. There were
to be two immense windows, with n
wide door opening into Il parlor. Be-
hind this were to be two large rooms.
and in front there was to be a wide
piazza, with ample canopy and broad
steps, and with spaces for flower bor
ders on either side.
The news spread quickly through the
village. Every body knew that Tom
Maxwell had embarked in some insane
scheme, and was tearing the Allen
mansion to pieces. Poor boy his sad
love experience had injured his mind.
He was throwing his money away.
His friends should interfere and save
him from ruin. At night the returning
merchants paused before the dismantled
mansion, and wondered what new folly
had broken loose in the town.
Maxwell heard of these things. and
the next morning a high board fence
shut the work from view. This only
excited the greater curiosity. Every
L
consummate folly. What did he intend
to do 2 Was it house, theatre. sbop.
or studio L?
Weeks passed. There was much ham
merlng behind the high fence. Then
came the silent painters and lastly one
night two huge wagons unlOaded sun
dry boxes and barrels at the door. The
same evening every family in the vii
lage, and in all the villages round about.
received a polite invitation to inspect,
on the following night, the new estab-
lishment.
The next afternoon at half past six
the carpenters pulled down the high
fence, and displayed-well, it could not
be called anything. Nothing like it
had ever been seen in the wOrld-at
least so they said; but then Weston
sight never extends beyond Boston.
There was in front a neat garden
with a gravelled walk. At one side the
road passed close to the steps, so that
carriages came directly to the piazza.
Two immense plate-glass windows and
Il double door filed the entire front of
the lower part of the building. Over
the door was a simple sign, or card
''ThOmas Maxwell" Through the win
dows could be seen tables spread with
white covers, and laid with dishes of
the most delicate dried fruit, golden
butter, bread, cake, every thing that
could delight the heart of the house
keeper. The door opened upon par
lOr, carpeted, and furnished with nu-
merons chairs and small tables. Nearly
every table had some choice display of
things desirable in Il gastronomic sense.
A tea-urn graced one corner, aud beside
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