St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-09-09


joy yourselves better by writing to
either Mr.. Flint or Mason at Wilson's
Mills, Me-, stating when you will be
there, engage boats and other accom-
mOdations wanted, and then one will
not be disappointed nor lose time wait
ing. If you do not wish to tent
out you can get good accOmmOda-
tions at Aziscoos Falls or Parma
chenee Lake, where there is a good
boarding house, etc. There is plenty
of fish and game in this region and
June or September are the best months
to go there, we are told. DAVIS.
AIPs Well That Ends Well.
Colonel Kemp sat at breakfast on
fine September morning i'll the draw
ing room of his country house, Il fine
old mansion situated in a beautiful
Berkshire glade not far from Windsor.
Vis-a-vis to the old gentleman at the
well-appointed table was his daughter
and only child, Victoria, a blooming,
y
lady of about hree-and-twenty.
The colonel, who was a widower,
had gained considerable renown during
the war in the Puniaub. He had earn
ed Il great deal of prize-money and nu-
merous medals and crosses, and. hav-
ing, beside his pension, much private
property, partly derived ftom his de-
ceased wife, he was enabled to keep up
both a country and town house and to
live in good style.
In person he was a tall, sunburnt
man, muscular and active, taking into
consideration his 6S years. His eyes
were of clear steel blue, bright and
penetrating in their glance, and his
teeth were almost as white and well
preserved as those of man of five and
twenty. Like many field officers who
have seen much active service, his
frame seemed rather to have acquired
vigOr by hard work than to have lost
it and there was mingled with his ha-
bitual air of command a natural cour-
tesy which fascinated all with whom he
came in contact. In short Colonel
Kemp was "an officer and gentle
man."
His daughter Victoria owed her name
to her fathers extreme loyalty to hi:
sovereign. She was the "apple of hi.
eye," and well did she deserve his
warmest affection.
The post had just come in, and tn,
colonel, while he twirled his egg spoOI
irritably between his fingers, was con
ming one of his letters with perpleXet
look
"What on earth does it mean ?" h,
muttered. 81 can't make head or tai
of it."
Victoria held her peace, KNOWN:
perfectly well that by doing so sh,
would soon be enlightened.
"Here's letter." continued the colo
nel-"a letter from Sceunderabed-
Calcutta-from my old friend Chevil
stone, containing an extraordinar,
propOsitiOn-most extraordinary, m,
dear-mOst extraordinary ~
Here the colonel hemmed, adjuste,
his eyeglass, and glared fiercely at tn
letter.
"Well, papa, dear, what is it ?" hi
daughter ventured to ask.
'What is it? Just listen, Vic.
And the colonel read:
CALCUTTA, August l, 1867.
My DEAR MP:-ThOugh man
years have elapsed since we fought sid
by side in the Puniaub, I feel satisfie
that you retain sufficient regard fO
your old cOmrade to do him a real kind
ness. My eldest son is ordered by tn
surgeon of our regiment-yOur own oil
corps, you knOw-tO recruit his healt
by two years visit to England. al
rich enough to give every indulgenc,
and he will be in England almost a
soon as this letter. Never having LEI
| India, he knows nothing of our Englis
ways. l have directed him to you. h
to him as a father, and Oblige your oil
friend and companion in arms,
PHILIP CHEVILSTONE."
Victoria laughed during the readin
of the epistle.
"Well, papa" she said, "yOu hav
D often wished you had a son; now yC
, will have a ward"
IA pretty thing" grumbled the co
ii Onel, "tO be plagued in my old age l
e some over grown, overspOilt brat"
d ''Brat, papa Why, surely NJ
$ Chevilstone cannot have young sons
"How do | know that ?" retorted Il
colonel. "Many man makes 70
: of himself in his old age.n
d "But surely, papa, if Mr.. Chevilstol
q was one of your old companiOns-i
. arms, he must be about your own ag
Z so it is not likely
-; "No, it is not likely" snapped Il
Is colonel ''but good many things ha
II pen that are not likely, Vic. r.
letter doesn't say word about Il
fellows age or anything"
y at is certainly vague" assented vi
,e toria.
- "Vague! It's perfect riddle VIII
are we to do here with great grOwi
IL lad who'll eat like horse and ma
II love to all the servant maids"
Is "Oh. papa, it will not be as bad
, thatl Young Mr.. Chevilstone may
an accomplished young man, orr-he
1t she laughed-''a very little boy.n
Dr The colonel smiled grimly.
r 'I1l write and say won't have him
IN he exclaimed. "Why am to be tur
ed into guardian to an Indian hObb
is dehOy against my will ~
ne "But you can't write, papa des
nr There is no time. Remember, J
70 Chevilstone says his son will be h,
almost as soon as this letter which /
announced his arrival ~
~ "That's true I" muttered the colon
b. quite nonplussed.
$50 you see you must submit witt
good grace, papa. And now," she cC
Id tinued, rising, "sinee you have finish
he your breakfast, I'll leave you to re