St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-11-17

I-th Lancers, a brilliant Adonis whom
ladies were terribly partial to. In his
face Harry Kendall read something that
made him tremble for his own hopes,
and showed him, too, in startling
moment of time, how his whole life's
happiness was bound up in them. That
rapid glance of recognition awOke a
storm of anxious fears in his breast,
and left the green-eyed monster raging
there.
! Was he at this important crisis of
fate to stand tamely aaide and leave
her to the wiles of that handsome LO-
thario, to be whirled away from him
forever in the waltz, during the en-
chanted hours of that festive night,
while he kept lonely watch over old
money bags Maddening thought
And tomorrow she would be gone.
| Oh, why had he not known sooner
Tomorrow it would be too late
No; he could not let love and hap
piness go down the stream without
making an effort to hold them fast.
Duty might go to the winds for once.
He would go to the ball, where he
cOud see her that night. And rs to the
colonel Surely he would not sport
his stately, antiquated presence i'll such
IA giddy, uncongenial scene. And if he
did-BreretOn might say what he
pleased-the cOlonels shortness OF
sight was proverbial
| Alas! Venus with her wicked ELF
Cupid had strangely bewitched this
misguided son of Mars, as there is evil
dence enough to prove that they have
bewitched many stalwart hero in ev-
cry age and cline!
The bank, great solid building of
dark gray stone, stood in the enclos-
ure. AT the rear was Il court encircled
by Il fence, in which was wicket gate
opening into lane a short distance
below the main entrance, and used
chiefly for communication with the
back premises. AT night it was always
kept locked. The front of the build
ing, on the other hand, faced one OF
the principal thoroughfares, and was
approached through a massive outer
gate, which, like the smaller one, was
carefully closed after nightfall.
Capt. Kendall did not change his
mind. AS the evening wore Oh he
slipped out, merely informing the sen
tinel that he should soon return. The
old soldier, who had known and loved
his young officer for some years, shook
his head ominously as he saw him de-
part, but inwardly resolved to keep his
counsel if possible.
The truant meanwhile sped on his
wilful way, and banishing all anxious
reflections, appeared in the ball room
in time to secure the hand of his fail
charmer for several dances. Fortune
seemed disposed to smile prOpitiously
on him, and the coast was clear. The
colonel was not to be seen, and no one
else cared to enquire too curiously
what officer ought to be on guard al
the bank on that particular night. A,
he led out the lady, the scapegrace low
er had the satisfaction of seeing his
rival turn away with a lowering brow
He was determined to lose no time
now. In the maze of the waltz, while
the soft undulating strains of Strauss
stepped the senses of the dancers il
sweet dreams of delight, under the
rOseate light of the many wax candles
i'll that perfumed, crowded ball room
a question was asked, and an answer
tremulously whispered which trans
ported two young people into il tempo
rary paradise of their own creating
where there were only they two, anC
no room for any other besides. n,
wonder that at such ii moment all mi
nor sublunary considerations were for
gotten.
But, when brief, ecstatic hour ha,
passed, and they emerged once NOR
, from the rosy pavilion whittier the,
had retreated among the flowers, Their
loomed, dark and erect in the distan
doorway of the adjoining ballroom,
tall, martial figure, whose gray hea,
lowered above the company visiol
, which struck a sudden chill to the az
dent lovers heart.
' "By JOve ~ he exclaimed with
{ start. "There's the colonel :"
The sharp ejaculation, breaking il
5 strangely upon the dulcet tones of love
< astonished the pretty creature VIII
hung on his arm.
e "What of the colonel ?" she aske
. softly. why should he not be here
l poor man ?"
f "Because | am here who ought to b
on guard i'll street, and because
e shall he cashiered to a certainty if h
= sees me-" was the abrupt reply.
= 'Oh, do go away this minute. Dc
S dear Harry" she pleaded in terrified
B, beseeching accents.
e He looked at her, then around hin
S irresolute for Il moment. The colon,
= had turned his back, and was movin
e into another room. No, he could nC
= 90 just yet; the temptation to renal
# was too strong.
,Vhnn hat
T py and to be parted so soon? No,
S cannot, darling" he whispered fondl,
e ''But, never fear, we will keep out
V his way"
Il She did not urge him any more. 81
II did not fully understand the magnitud
! of the offence, nor the risk it involve,
:. and was too glad to keep him lit
h longer by all available means.
II There were a number of receptiO
/ rooms in the locale where the ball W;
V held, all of which were thrown Ope
s for the occasion. Keeping a caution
V eye around them, the young peop
e contrived to pass from one apartmel
l. to another, whenever they detected Il
n dreaded form of the colonel approach
ing. After time he settled down qu
l. etly at whist table in the distanc
N and they gave themselves up wit
/. reckless gaiety to the enjoyment of Il
D evening. Another hour passed, III
IS supper time came, and still they dane,
at or fingered in quiet hooks, and ma
m aged successfully to elude the ey
a whose recognition was SO carefully
to be avoided.
Id "What a comfort it is that he is su,
a may-pOle, and may be observed fro
r afar !" laughed the girl, who had caug
Or the infection of her lovers audacity.
; {; At length the dreaded time of pal
IN ing was at hand. The early mOrnil
train was to bear away the lady to h