News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-04-06
They were destined to have very re-
L. /. l.. Rruk.

lucy WSLc OcStlHSu W uHfc VOL y 10
markable effects on the lawyers future.
In the first place there came to him on
the Friday morning short but sweet
note from Mrs. Higgins:
"MY DEAR Nh. CUTBn-Your
original and amusing way of proposing
for dear Rosa's hand has made us both
laugh, but my beloved child is quite
alive to the honor which you are con-
ferring on her, and can promise you
that all the affection which you lavish
upon her shall be amply repaid in kind.
Please come at once; she is waiting for
you. Very faithfully yours,
FLORA HIGGINS"
"What the deuce does this mean ?"
asked Mr.. Cutbill, with blank look.
He wrote at once for explanations, and
then received curt note, begging him
to call at Mrs. Higgins's. Thet lady
and her daughter imagined that the
lawyer cherished the unchivalrous
design of retracting his proposal, and
this they were determined to prevent.
Mr.. O. was confronted with his own
handwriting. He vowed it was not his,
but was driven at last to own that
possibly he had written the letter in his
sleep. He had heard of such things
happening, and though he did not
believe he was somnambulist, he could
not, of course, swear that such was not
the case.
'tBut if you wrote the letter in your
sleep, did it betray your unspoken
thoughts?" was the clever Mrs. Hig-
gins's next searching question. She
smiled kindly as she said this, and Mr..
Cutbill gave in. After all, why shouldn't
he marry dear Rosa? He returned to
Cover street an engaged man but by
that time he had come to guess who was
the culprit who had played him this
trick, and thought with indignation of
the precocious depravity evinced by lit
tie Carrotson.
This was on the Saturday and Mr.. |
Cutbill had scarcely reached home when |
Brown, his quondam friend, marched in
with beaming face. 1t should be said
that this Brown had behaved very badly |
to Cutbill, but now there was emotion
in his eyes as he advanced upon the
lawyer and forcibly grasped his hand.
You have acted nobly in forgiving me,
Cutbill. shall never forget
it. No more generous letter
than yours was ever penned but
enough, I've brought good appetite
with me-"
81 don't in the least understand
you" Mr.. Cutbill was about to say,
coldly, but he checked himself. Since
Brown praised him for his generosity,
it was as well to take credit for such
rare virtue. Brown had evidently come
to dinner, and as the lawyer always dined
we'll, his sudden arrival did not matter
much. But over their wine, by-the-by,
when the two gentlemen had quite
their reconciliation, Mr.. Cut
Dill thought it best to tell the truth,
md avow that it was to a pestilent
boy, named Carrotson,
hat he was indebted for the pleasure
Of having Brown to dine at his table.
As If to corroborate that assertion, that
very evenings post brought letter
rom the lawyers third correspondent,
the Peer, which ran thus:
"MY DEAR Mr.. CUTBn1-What on
earth is the meaning of the enclosed
note, which, I presume, is forgery {?
Yours truly, c."
A visit which Mr.. Cutbill paid to
Westminster School on the Monday
night might have had distressing con-
for little Carrotson, but for
Mrs. Higgins's interference. As it was,
she lawyer only went for the purpose of
asking how many letters Carrotson had
thought proper to write in his name,
md he sm1led-rather a grim smile,
cautioning the boy against
practical jokes for the future. Little
Jarrotson laid the lesson we'll to heart.
He got many q welcome reminder to
his end from dear Rosa, who, after her
marriage, become his ally, and often {
invited him to dine in Cover street, s
where she gave him no washing bills to
balance, but treated him like man, I
md tipped him sovereigns, earning in !
his unqualified opinion as to &
Ter being "brick." i