Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-04-24
4 HERY NARROW ESCAPE

wine be was respected by his neighbors and
worshiped by his tenants, and he rode to COW
er on the best Of cattle yet with all this the
Colonel had two eternally ginning skeletons
in his cupboard.
The frat was the possession Of ne'er do
well son, and the second was the non-pos-
session Of a wife.
Augustus Ohopleigh, jr., although a neer-
do well in the eyes Of parent who was rigid
and precise, WAS, after ali, but an ordinary,
"every day young man" He betted a little,
1t IL true be belonged to q club where play
was sometimes high Of an evening be could
drink his ciaret Ike man; he was con.
noisseur In cigars be POSSESSED two or three
long tailor's bills aud he was given TO stay
ing in toNn sometimes for week st time.
still. after all uhat could be expected Of q
- api'u,d Young fsllov Who rad received d
a first rh, and ves therefore un-
fitted for auY 4. tioua gaik IN life Who was
good lookiuf. who dressed we'll, Who found
life at stately Dun Dun Hall little monot-
Onous At times, aud Who had handsome an
nuAl allowance
But IN the eyes Of the Colonel all these
little peculiaritts were heinous crimes, and
the poor old gentleman, a. he pondered in
the solitude Of what be called his study" 4"
saw very clearly that unless the young man
was settled in life with a wel-bred, well con-
Quoted girl, he would infallibly follow, at
headong pace, that broad road which leads
TO destruction.
Often alone at Dunn Dunn Hall, deprived of
the society Of bis son and not caring very
specially for that society when offered, it was
hardly to be wondered at that the Colonel
yearned for a suitable partner in his exile.
The MEMORY Of the departed Mrs Chop
leigh could hardly be said to be yet green,
for she had succumbed to an aggravated at
tack OF jungle fever some twenty years be-
fore, when Augustus, IT,, was but a stripping
in plaid dresses aud bare legs It might be
said that the remedy was easy. Why didn't
the Colonel take unto himself a second Mrs.
Chopleigh2 There were plenty of eligible
spinsters who would have jumped at an of
fer from such a fresh faced, active, wealthy
gentleman, who was little beyond the prime
Of life. There was, however, an almost in.
vincble obstacle. Unlike most military men,
Colonel Ohopleigh was painfully shy. Per
haps remembrsnces OF the departed Mrs
Chopleigh, who was known as the DUN DUN
Tartar, had driven out the youthful assurance
which had won her. He had loved at a dis.
tance score Of times, but had never placed
himself within speaking reach Of the various
objects of his affection.
Suddenly matters took a different turn
A young lady of strikiDgly prepossessing ap.
pearsnce-M Mlllicent Vaujohn, only daughter
Of the local vicsr-bad been espied by the
Colonel proceeding up the lane which ran
parallel with his grounds, as he paced along
his favorite shrubbery walk. Being on his
own property had inspired him with cour-
age he had gszed at her, and she had
bushed and looked down. He hurried into
the house and shut himself up in his study.
II am "a, he said to himself, ~ am
well am well looking my waistcoat is of
decent girth; | have a good complexion
and a man is only as old as he feels. Why
shouldn't l? l may be called an old fool.
Well, there are plenty Of older fools in the
world. I-yes-I will"
Miss Vapjohn was walking at the identical
spot at the Identical hour the next day, and
the next day after that, and so on for more
than week, aud each day the same little
dumb comedy was played-sheep's eyes on
the part of the Colonel, bushes and looking
downs on the part of Miss Mllicent Van
john.
Did Miss Vanjohn walk up that lane so
regularly with a fixed purpose OF course
she did. Punctually at four o'clock every af-
ternoon Sir. Augustus Chopleigh, jr., met
her at the the top Of it. 1t was rather an
odd thing to do-the daughter of a well.
known parson, meeting sub rosa, the son Of
well-knOwn Colonel. The following conver-
sation explains it;
"Oh, Gus | begin to feel so awtuly gull
ty, meeting you like this Why can't we
love each other openly There's nothing to
be ashamed Of in it,"
For more than one reason, my darling,
I've bad reputation down here. II the old
man were to know l was spooning you he'd
rush off to your father and warn him. II
your father were to know, he'd rush of to
to niue and tell him that wasn't fit aspir-
ant for the hand Of his daughter"
but is your father such terrible old gen.
tleman, then? What is he like? l have
never seen him"
''No, don't suppose you have. He fights
shy Of anything with n Ietticoat on it like
the plague. He's tall old fellow, with
fresh complexion and a gray mustache, and
always wears shepherds plaid trousers, sum
mer and winter Why, what's the matter?
What is there to laugh at, MillieP By Jove,
il you saw him in temper you wouldn't
laugh"
"why, my dearest Gus, hes--he's in love
with me-"
"The old boy--my father in love with you
Nonsense, my dear, nonsense, l say. Why,
he's more afraid of girl than an earthquake
or boa constructor, or anything. What on
earth makes you think that he's in love with
you ?"
"why, Gus, every day when come along
here he's walking in the garden, and he
makes such eyes at me. try not, but
know blush and look awfully silly"
"Dy Jove, Mile, it's no laughing matter.
A mans father his rival in lovel"
That evening Gus appeared at home at an
unusually early hour.
"Well!" was the greeting of his parent,
you're not here so precious early with that
goody -goody face for nothing, I'm sure, you
young scamp! When you tuIn up punctual,
ly to dinner know you want something out
of me. But, mind you, not another half
penny do you get. I've already advanced
your quarters allowance and If you've been
squanderiDg it l don't help you. And not
only that, sir but Tn going TO put stop to
it, and Augustus Chopleigh's man Of his
word"
"What a deuce of hurry you're in, faith
err" said the young man. II don't want any
money"
"Well, what the dickens is it then ?" asked
the old man, seeing that his son looked con-
fused
"Wby-well, I'm in love, that's all, " re-
piled Gus land I'm going to be married to
the best girl in England-a perfect lady,
well connected, well bred, and"
The effect of this speech upon the old
Colonel was electrical. He jumped up from
the table, rushed toward his son and shook
bis hand heartily, his face beaming with
pleasure, Rs he exclaimed you're sure of
what you say? 1t isn't Fhne or the Jollity,
hey A lady, well bred, we'll connected"
"I've been a bit of sosma, perhaps, faith
er, said the young man, but I've never
gone in for low form, so that when tell you
she's all that could be wished, you must be-
lieve."
"Of course will OF course do !" roar
ed the old Colonel. "Who is she p
"Well, don't want to slve you her name
Just now, but you can take my word for il,
that she is nobody to be ashamed Of" said
Gus.
"All right, all right won't ask any more
questions. so long as you are going to steady
down with good lady Like wife, don't care.
By Cad, Gus, l thought you were going To
be milestone round my neck for the remain
der of my life. Aud now, my boy, you've
astonished me, I'm going to astonish you.
What do you think is about the most unlike
ly thing should do ?"
"Give up hunting p replied Gus, ''or sci
! your orchids, or"