Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-04-10
THE MAJORS STRATAGEM

hASh INV llNllR, ne ndJOT CuSeflully
responded in the following:
Arkansas had been a State some ten
years when l became one of her citizens.
was very ambitious young man. De-
voted study had failed to win for me a
name of any distinction in the East, SC,
in this wild country, was determined
to get living if nothing else. Know
ing nothing of the State, l had no par
ticular point in view, but mounted on q
good horse, struck out for some place
to suit my fancy. One evening, when
the winters sun, losing his glare just
above the tree tops, sank down like a
ball of dull fire, stopped at a large
double log house. The surroundings
spoke of refinement. The yard was a
perfect wilderness of shrubs and flowers,
and the fields lying ad jacent bore evi.
dence of fine state of cultivation.
''Get down, sir; get down." said a
polite old gentleman, coming out to the
fence. "Here, Abram, take the gentle
mans horse. Come in and have seat. "
The room into which he ushered me
was large and comfortable The furni-
ture was old fashioned, and as l held out
my hand to the blaze, l wondered how
the great old brass andirons had escaped
the cannon molder in the early days of
the American revolution. My host. l
soon learned, was Judge Blake, an emf
nent jurist of that day. When I told
him had come to practice law, his face
beamed with pleasure.
Young and ambitious, of course, "
said he. Well, l shall not discourage
you. We have need of youth and ambi-
ton in a country like this. The ability
that would often go unrecognized in an
older State, many times meets with bril-
liant success in a country where oratory
has peculiar charm and where logic,
although an audience may be unedu-
Gated, finds an appeciative conviction.
Let me introduce my wife and daugh-
ter"
| arose and bowed to a pleasant mid.
dle-aged lady and girl of surprising
]oveliness.
''Mr. Brindon will remain over night
with u.s." said the Judge. 'Houses arc
scarce ir this section, My dear sir, d
turning to me, "my wife brings me the
welcome news that supper is ready
welcome news indeed to me, for l have,
as no doubt has been the case with you,
ridden several miles to-day. Come"
AT the table, the young lady whom
they called Jassamine, sat opposite me-
| had ample opportunity for studying
her face, at first pleasure and then {
fascination. She would occasionally
steal glance at me, and my eyes, fall
ing, would rest on the cold roast of {
bear into which my appetite, despite my
admiration, was making something o.
an incision. After supper we sat arounG
the log fire. l found Ja9samine to bc
proud and well educated, though she
did not affect that refinement
winch prompts so many young people tc
despise their surroundings.
"lf you are going to practice law, ,
SAID the judge, 81 don't know of a bet
ter place than this. Our county seat il
about four miles from here. 1t is no
much of village, but its legal business
Is large. The letters OF recommendation
which you have shown me"-which
had shown, too, rather proudly" will
admit you into the best society. The
one from Judge King should be treas
ured as precious document. l am go
ing to town tomorrow, and if you de
sire it, will assist you in locating.n
thanked him warmly. l fancie(
Jassamine's eyes rested on me in ap
proval.
y y
The village was indeed small, but, a.
the judge said, there was future befor,
it. There was evidently not much of
past behind it. The court house ant
jail were log structures, very much alikt
In appearance, | thought. The business
houses were small, and seemed to b,
filled up with the skins of animals.
decided to. locate. Offices were few, bu
after much persuasion, I found room
with the county clerk A boarding
house was the next question. This wa
even more difficult than finding an office
Young man." said the Judge, "i
you don't mind the distance, YOU car
board at my house and ride in ever,
day."
was delighted, and shook the Judge
hand with tight grasp of gratitude.
| was anxious to know what Jassamin
would think, whether or not she woulC
like the idea of admitting a boarder anC
especially if she would like the though
of my being the boarder. That evenin.
l found her alone in the sitting.room
Her face showed no surprise when / tolC
her.
II hope You have no objections" ," sait
I, disappointed.
"I2 Why should have2 Whateve
father does is right"
Don't you get very tired of living
here in the woods2"
oh, suppose we all get tired livin.
anywhere. 1t is the mind rather thai
the abode that makes life agreeable"
" Then, " said l, in an attempt at com
pliment, :" life should be agreeabl
to you for you have more mind-than-
more mind than"
abode ?" she Immediately suggested
Finding that could not finish the sen
tence as | had intended, | dropped it
and catching up handful of little moth
ings, discussed them. While we wer
talking a footstep aroused Jassamine
and fancied she changed color. Sh
went to the door and said "good even
ing, in cordial voice A man entered
She introduced him as DR.. Gray. | di
not like him. / thought that he rathc
overdid the work of smiling. Ever
time Jassamine said word, he wou
turn to her and smile. He did not smil