Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-11-30

house prcttily aud waited for the neigh
bors to call ON her.
Nor did she wait long Ina month or so
she had the honor of receiving visit from
no less parsonage than the wife ofthe dean
and let me tell you, in the good town OF
Thorpestone. to be called upon by the
Mrs. and Misses Dean was to be at once
stamped with the hallmark Of respecta-
bility. The rest of the town followed,
and Mrs. Lomax, being fond of society
and having plenty of money, soon made
the house the most popular in the town.
Her Thursday receptions were invariably
crowded, and among those who never
failed to attend were Mr.. Newton and
Major Wagstaff. Both found the widow
charming, both soon began to have dim
thoughts that, after all, bachelorhood was
but cheerless way of passing through
the seve and yellow leaf, and each began
to sound the other on the subject as they
walked away together from the pretty
little house on the river bank.
But very soon the day arrived when
they did not walk together to and from
the widows house, but when, on the con-
trary, each went stcalthily by himself,
not on the reception day at all, but when
| Mrs. Lomax was most likely to be alone /;
and MS each walked up to the hall door
he trusted in his heart that the other
would not be there. Mrs. Lomax soon
saw how matters stood, and, being fond
Of fun, played her admirers off, the one
| against the other, with all the skill of
| finished coquette.
The friendship between them had al
| ready began to cool, and when the Major
found Mr.. Newton on Christmas day 49,,
having tete-tete with the widow, over
cup of o'clock tea, he smothered n re-
mark scarcely suited to the sacred char
acter of the day, and strobe back to his
own house with rage and modification in
his heart. That evening Harry came to
eat his Christmas turkey as usual with
his uncle. He noticed that the latter was
unusually pre-occupIed, and being pref
ty shrewd fellow he knew very well the
| cause. He had observed the cleft be-
tween the two men gradually widening,
with feelings of intense pleasure, for he
would have gladly seen his uncle married
to the jolly widow, and thus have some
body to look after him in his old age (;
"and' thought Harry 81 don't mind
much what happens as long MS the major
gets his congo" so, as he sat at dessert
with Mr.. Newton he skillfully led the
conversation up to the matter, and find
ing him in II sympathetic-if Respondent
mood, soon managed to extract the
whole truth.
"Come, uncle" said Harry, "the whole
matter resolves itself into this-both you
and the maj r are sweet on Mrs. Lomax,
and you are afraid he'll cut you ont.
Eli p
"Well, Harry" said the uncle, "you
put things little plainly, you know,
still I'm bound to confess you're not far
wrong. But, Harry, dear boy, remem-
Der, +" he continued, "even if l was for
tunate enough to marry Mrs. Lomax |
shouldn't allow it to interfere with your
future prospects, and whatever money
intended"
"Now, uncle" interrupted Harry,
'please stop talking like that /; you've
been more than father to me ever since
I was little child, and if you were never
to give me another sixpence from TODAY
You would already have done far more
for me than could ever hope to repay ;
so please don't let anything of that sort
enter into your mind. I'm in good bust
ness, healthy, strong and love my profess
sion-what more does young man want !?
And if there is one thing left to make me
hapnier it would be to see you married to
some nice lady, like our friend, Mrs. To-
max ! By the by, uncle, suppose you're
gong to her dance on New Years day ?"
''Yes, of course" said the old gentle
man, with blush.
"And the major, too % asked Harry.
ooh indeed yes" he replied, doleful-
ly "he's going to open the dance with
her she asked me to, but 1 refused, for
you know I can't dance, and I'm afraid
I'm little too old to learn now."
Harry went on slipping his port and
bordering deeply suddenly his eye
twinkled and he looked up and said:
81 suppose, uncle, if anything were to
stop the major going in for the widow
you would try yourself-straightway, I
mean"
Ger think Ter might try" replied
the uncle.
Done with YOU, cried Harry. "Now
mind, uncle, if anything stops the major
l shall expect you to have shot your
self.
And very soon he said good night and
| returned to his lodgings. On arriving
there he went straight to the majors
room and found that worthy smoking
cheroot over novel.
Look here, major, said Harry, ''you re
going to Mrs. Lomax's dance, aren't
you -
eyes r. replied the major, "why?"
"Oh / am going, too, and / thought
If you would care to line downstairs with
me at seven we could have a quiet smoke
after dinner and go together"
Very WE'LL" said the major "but as
| have to open the ball with Mrs. Lomax
at nine, ] should like the cab not later
than quarter TO nine
Harry Newton, as he started to the
| office on New Years day, called his land
lady and told her Major Wagstaff would
dine with him at quarter past 7; and as
he left the room he opened the clock glass
and put the hands back quarter of an
hour. In the evening the major arrived
at Ill full evening costume Harry look
ed for moment at his hair with deep
anxiety and then gave sigh Of relief.
| Come before your time, major, 1t
wants quarter of an hour yet to din
ner"
The major looked at the clock and re-
piled, $50 it seems by your clock, but |
make the hour by my watch. Are you
quite sure you're right?"
| ooh perfectly |" said Newton "but
never mind, dinner will soon be up" and
in quarter of an hour it appeared. 1t
was nice little bachelors dinner and
the major evidently enjoyed it. As soon
as it was over, Harry drew the chairs to
the fire and asked the major to have CT
gar The major hesitated, thought of
dancing with the widow in smoke-per-
fumed coat but when Harry suggested a
certain brand of Henry Clays" the ma
lor specially loved the latter gave way.
Harry went to the side board and fetched
out box, which, alas, was empty.
"Oh, said he, cts odd, there's not
one left. just excuse me one moment,
major, have my case full upstairs on
my dressing table"