Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-04-04
LEFT BEHIND.

IL was ~ v ClOCh VI july morning,
and the largest fraction of humanity had
been some hours earning its daily bread.
The idlers had just risen from the break
fast table. To this latter class belonged
the young man who leaned lazily on the
piazza railing, and looked absently out on
Lake Winnipake. Beside him in huge
chair, sat little woman rocking to and
fro, with an untiring movement, and
with deft fingers plying in and out
among bright silk and crewels. She was
idle, too, in her woman's laborious way,
but there was lack OF repose in her in
dolence that made it restful to turn again
to her brother, who stood in statuesque
inaction, looking into the still water
below.
"What are you going to do, to-day 2"
the little woman asked.
Nothing"
''There's great deal going on, and
very nice sort of people, too. Do you
see that pretty girl down there at the
lAnding9"
The one with red 2"
eyes; don't you think she's pretty ?"
81 hadn't thought of it."
''Well, she is-remarkably. Wouldn't
you like to meet her l could easily
manage it.
'I'm not particular. Is she worth
while 2"
"Ben, you exasperate me. Do you
take an interest in anything 2"
81 don't do anything else In Wall
street. I'm off duty now. l believe in
resting in a philosophical sort of way"
"Well, 1 suppose you are tired, poor
fellow know how you feel. I am
tired myself most Of the time"
"Tiredl Hook like it, laughed the
young man. 'Ill tell you how it is; I
simply want my liberty. Tt doesn't pay
this dancing attention on half dozen
girls whom you never see again"
"Oh, well, don't, then"
Ben Adams at twenty-one had per-
formed his social duties with great zest.
-Four years later he was still heart whole
and beginning to take a purely fraternal
interest in blushing debutantes. He
danced less and went to the opera alone,
or with his friend Rutland, confirmed
bachelor of twenty-nine. With entire
resignation young Adams acted as usher
at many fashionable weddings, and with
out sigh saw Catharine, Kate and Kitty
led down the aisle by other men. And
so he approached his thirties and within
a year of them leaned idly over the
piazza railing OF Lake Winnipake, and
declared to his sister that "Robinson
Crusoe was the luckiest fellow of his ac-
quaintance. Give me desert
isle for summer sojourn. What would
refresh man like going back to savag-
eryw
II don't think it would be enough of
a change to benefit some I know"
laughed his sister. ''Well Ben, all l
can say is, you are very different from
what you use TO be-"
In the meanwhile the boat below
pushed off, and Adams followed it with his
eyes, chiefly because it would have been
more trouble to look another way. The
young lady in the stern was Miss Joseph
inc Vail, and the boy at the oars was her
twelve-year-old brother. Josephine was
young lady of views supported by more
or less logic and by what some thought
an extremely pretty face. Her enemies
but she had none-would have said
that while she despised conventionalities
no one was more annoyed when obliged
to disregard them, and while she re-
tented the protecting limitations of her
sex, she was quite willing to accept the
attentions based on the theory of their
existence. Her father said one day
"Nothing would take the kinks out of
Josephine ike settling down with good
husband" The young lady took it in
high dudgeon, and went away meekly to
wonder if it were true. On this par
ticular July morning Josephine accepted
her brother Toms services as oarsman,
not because she was not perfectly able to
row herself, but because it would keep
Tom out of mischief.
"Don't rock the boat, Tom. 1t doesn't
brighten me, but ] can't read"
There was d pauae.
Row near the bank, in the shade,
Tom."
Another long pause.
"Say, sis, said Tom at length, "now
we're off, Pll tell you where we're
going"
"Where you're going9 Why you're
going to take me out for row."
'Not much. Tn going two miles
about to sec some fsjlows who are camp
ing out"
"And going to take me9 think you
are mistaken, sir. Give me those oars. :"
"No you don't. Lave 'em alone and
sit still"
"Tom, turn. this boat instantly, or I'll
n
Whnt'll you do7 Corc now; you sit
still or Ill----"
"Tom, there's the Desert Island just
ahead. Don t rvn into it. Be careful !;
you're going straight toward it"
"We might land there" he said,
blandly.
"To be sure we might, said his sister,
glad of anything to divert him from the
ffst scheme.
"All right, just as you say"
Tom turned his boat toward the great