The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-10-24

sit down but really you mustn't talk IN
that way. don't want to be married
indeed, don't. You know / like you
very much, hut could not possibly marry
you"
Sir Pertinax rose with dignity and
looked rather disappointed. Il had hoped,
Lydia, that you liked me we'll enough even
for husband. What you say, however,
may not be fual, because nothing can
alter my regard for you, and perhaps in
the future you may think better of me-"
al could not think better of you than
1 do" returned Miss Lirripip feelingly,
"and you do not know how sorry / am
that this has happened. We can never
again be the same to each other. l am so
sorry"
Sir Pertinax began to feel sorry too,
for, up to that evening, he and Lydia had
always been like uncle and niece, and, in
an uneasy way, he turned the converse
tion into another channel. But he could
not for long carry it on, and in less than
quarter of an hour he said goodbye. like
sensible man as he was in spite of his
weakness and departed
No sooner had be quilted the room
than Horace emerged from his hiding
place. Lydia bushed to remember all
that he had overheard but he did not
allude to it. Lydia" he continued, al
most as if nothing had happened to dis
turb him, /" / love you truly, and with all
my heart. Will you, can you, learn to love
me, for your love alone will make me COM
pletely happy ?"
"Do not ask me-" replied Lydia, who
was once more seated. "You know what
have just gone through. My head is in
a whirl."
"But think how happy you can make
me, Lydia You would be everything to
me, as indeed you are already, and
would spend all my days in making you
happy" -
1t is unnecessary to chronicle the
whole of the further conversation that
took place. Suffice it to say that at last
Miss Lirripip discovered not only that
she could, but that she actually did, love
Horace Freake little, and on the strength
of that she promised to marry him.
Horace was in the act of presuming
upon this promise by kissing Lydia for
the first time, and was enjoying one OF
the happisst moments of his life, when
another of those furious ratattats shook
the house.
"Another ?" said Mr.. Freake with a
smile. {" shall 60 back to my retreat
until we know who has arrived, for now
must be on the spot to look after you
And in spite of Lydia's protestations, he
once more retired to the back drawing
room.
Two minutes afterwards, the general
very hot and very angry, stamped ur
stairs and burst into the presence of his
daughter. Everything has gone wrong r
he exclaimed. "They voted me out Of
the chair; they flew in my face; they
decided that the wretched foreigners
don't want cold baths" And he pounded
with his stick, which he had brought uI
with him, and looked at Lydia, as though
she were the cause of his discontinue.
DWELL, papa" said Miss Lirripip, sooth
ingly, call the better. Now you won'
have to 60 to any more OF their horrit
meetings."
At this juncturs Horace, who was
troubled with slight cold, gave forth {
stifled and enthusiastically small sneeze.
"Lydia," cried the general, as he threw
himself YEARLY into the armchair, " In
sure there's cat in the back drawing
room. Go and turn it out" Aud Mis-
Lirripip, having no alternative, went eau
tiously behind the heavy curtains, ant
was there received in her lovers arms.
"You cannot speak to him tonight,
she whispered. "Hs would not listen Il
you. You see how cross he 10. Com
again tomorrow"
Horace, therefore, silently took anothe
kiss; and Lydia, having unlocked tn
little-used door of the back room, chased
him, with many expressions of animosity
down the softly csrpsted staircase, ant
with cry of Shoe, cat" finally lie
him out of the front door.
When she returned to the drawing
room, General Lirripip gave vent to som
angry expressions of hostility toward tn
entire feline tribe, and when he had thu
delivered himself went off to bed.
How the story ended may easily b
guessed. When Lydia's father was in
cooler mood, Horace found no difficult
in obtaining his consent to the marriage
which took place three months aftel
wards; and to the end of their day.
neither Sir Psrtinax Popinjay nor Nj
Merton Murlsy had any idea that thir
person was present when they proposed t
Miss Lirripip in Bruton-street, Grosveno
sguare.-Chambsrs' Journal.