Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-09-26

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| He resolved that the next one shoul'
| 'urpass anything he ever wore. Craft,
girls vanity. and she's yours" h,
bought, without the slightest suspicion
hat he was gratifying his own and there
| y fast losing his hold on the handsomes
md most sensible girl there was in the
| neighborhood of sixty miles.
John, too, was considered no small
| 'atch. Many girls heart was set iut
| ering when she heard his strong baritone
'oice lowered to II confidential whisper
| For John was not only dandy but tlrl
| All his heart ever dwelt on with conslancy
was Mary and fashionable suits.
Every year be went to town for new
| rig, from top to toe, of the latest cut. He
| 'elt himselfa foot taller when the salesman
old him that his face and figure would do
credit to the Broadway style.
| OF course John wouldn't show his
| ignorance of city life by ascertaining the
particulars of that style. lie felt satisfied
hat purchases made from the same sales
man every year would secure him the
much lauded style.
The new suit bought, John was giving
| 1t its first airing by il visit to Mary II,
nad made up his mind to propose form .ly
and be formally accepted. The engage.
ment ring was in his pocket, and the
wedding suit should be the one he had on.
He didn't believe in long engagements,
and thought he might allow himself to
,ppear once in his most oppressive
elegance on IN occasion that was It's
impressive as the wedding.
So rigged in tue lalest-long pointed
| pIID nc n,n nt.,ln tiTbt apnuuh IA, nal kt
! sitting and beudng his knees feat dan
gerous to the seams, jacket just long
enough to cover the ends of hi, suspend
rrs, and hat AS wide and big AS everything
else was narrow and litlle-he walked
through The lane that led to her father :
house with the air of one who knows
himself the possession Of all the charms
10 cor quer.
When John entered the front door,
Mary was leaning out OF the back window
reaching for IL cluster OF roses, one If
which, he assured himself, was intended
10 adorn his new jacket.
He thought the opportunity too good to
be lost-an informal kiss would express
naif of his formal -peecn, wnlcn somehow
he couldn't remember.
The kiss was fairly implanted on Mary 5
lips, and so was II stinglng blow, and the
PRINT of slapell fingers, on John cheek.
"lluw dare you. a-a tramp! IA man
in small clothes! a-goUd gracious! It's
John RrdpaIh!
The confusedand indignant exclamalions
which burst from Mary S lips ended in IA
peal of laughter. If Mary's conduct wa,
not suli 'lently dampenlng, Mary's grim
: shn rr tt9I far ma Il
corner of the room, weie.
For the first time In his life John d Il
not know what TO do with his hands ana
feet.
When Mary's enjoyment Of the ridlcu
lou, h I'd exhausted rseIf in ringing laugh
ter, she excused herself. wi b Il shy look
OF concern at the red side of his face, for
her rude reception Of him; and ventured
10 ask what his idea WAS for dres sing in
his younger brothers clothes?
Miss Hepworth," said John, with the
sharpness dt rising anger. do you really
think that l, John Redpa'h, would come
here in the character of my brother"
mot exactly In his character, you know.
But really" (viewing him again with an
ill concealed smile) really, everything Is
to small but the hat, and that's too big"
"Look here, Mary. no more nonsense.
haven't this suit on for nothing. mean
business; will you listen?'
Mary looked eXpectant and ready 10
hull another shaft of ridicule.
"You must know, Mary, that I've come
to prefer my suit to your father" said
John, confident that now things would be
settled in a moment.
"Well, you needn't have come for that.
john" replied Mary, growing very red,
"ior shouldn't give hair of my fathers
head tor dozen suits of yours"
II mean you will let me urge my suit
with your father, won't you, Mary dear?"
persisted Jonn, himself puzzled and ready
to talk plain country talk if this last
effort at furmality failed.
1t did lall.
Mary placed distance between them as
fast as the room would allow. With her
eyes flashing anything but love, she shout
ed acro,s the room:
John Redpath, you are intoerable and
insulting! A moment ago you had the
kindness to tell me that you preferred
your suit TO my father, as ii there was a
probability of his being yours! Now, you
suddenly seem to have such contempt
for your suit that you want him to rid you
of it! 1t is an unheard Of
Hush, Mary! Dear Mary! Confound
il, Mary! It's all a mistake" pleaded
John. rushing up TO her and placing his
hands over her mouth IL don't mean-I
mean-you know l want you, Mary-l
mean the-my suit for you, my marriage,
wedding-that kind of thing"
You have courage to present yourself
as my future husband in this skintlnt suit?
No, John, won't marry you. AS long
as you don't show the sense and stability
of man in your outward appearance
expect less from the man Within" replied
Mary, keeping her lover at bay with a
severe look.
John bit his lips. 1t was his turn to get
mad at such womanish ignorance of mems
style. That's all you know about style,
Mary. Wait till you see the fellows ape
me which,
"Oh! one of the species is quite enough
for me to lose my respect for all. Sodon t
pride yourself on your noble army OF
followers"
That arrow struck home. For moment
John WINGED perceptibly under her witt
cism. Then anger got the better of him.
His look annihilating as he said: 81
guess you've got some other fellow in
your eye, Mary?'
Yes, John, have" replied Mary,
thinki ing OF the man she would like him to
be, and watching the effect of her words
with little pleasure.
John WINGED. But he hoped the ring in
his pocket might yet reverse her decision.
Wont you take this ring, Mary, and let
that other goo' he begged humbly.
mo, John, I'd rather have the other
fellow
1t was said so very quietly and with
such determined 1.-The other fellow" tha
John knew there was no hope for him.
He would have liked nothing better than
fighting his fortunate rival.
Swa lowing his anger, which made his
voice sound harsh and fierce he said:
"If you've some one else, | should Just
like to have the presents | gave you when
I was boy. 1t means mad for good
this time"
Mary started. She was not quite pre-
pared to make such sacrifice. But, of
course, Mary was too proud to recall any
thing, and she really had NJ, de up her
mind not 10 have John, if he stuck to bis