Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-01-15
and, without his knowing it, helped him
L.. .I..I liAAl1,

''Next to my room, and domiclled IN
luxury, lived young Tankerville, the
Crgsus of our college. His fathers in
heritance had but fallen to him some
months before, and he deserved it. lie
was capital fellow, large hearted,
empty headed, and brimfull of sport.
His pocket book was ever open. Many
a struggling fellow who went to bed at
night worrying over the expenses of the
morrow woke up in the morning to find
placed between the leaves of his Latin or
Greek exercise book small note on the
bank of England. At first such unusual
bcnefcence puzzled us, but we very
soon discovered its true author.
4. =
'Tt was one of those sultry July morn
ings at the date referred to when Lund,
Tankerville, myself and five other
chums stood under broad tree near the
main gate of the now Botanic gardens.
Through the branches aud short shrubs
we could all but see Magdalen college
bridge. We had turned out for an air.
ing that morning Cigars were lighted
and anecdotes OF interest were being
told, when suddedly the conversation
turned and the sub bject OF our remarks
became the belle and the First Lady in
OXon
"Iold,' cried Tankerville, pointing
in the direction of the bridge. why,
there she is. Speak of an angel and
"She rarely ever appears | rejoined.
"'By Jove! and on her morning walk
to fey he continued.
81 glanced at the speaker and said,
Strange, Tank, that no man seems to
have ever approached, much less at,
tempted to WOO, Lady Maud
"'She is proud, returned TOnkerville,
and his eyes dropped little. Brighten.
ing up little, however, he looked in
the direction of Lund, and, with the
faintest twinkle of the left eye, ex-
claimed, with emphasis, "A thousand to
five that not a man in Oxon will kiss
Lady Maud without offending her.
"'I'll take your wager replied Chris
topher Lund quietly, and what is more,
will accomplish the feat publicly and
within thirty minutes.
81 need not say how the boys stood
apart and gazed at Lund in utter won
derment There was silence, but only
for an instant longer Tankerville and
Christopher shook hands. Lund for a
moment scratched his forehead, and,
halfsoliloquizing, said, But where to
raise the five poundsp
"'Oh, Chris, never mind that we all
said in one voice. Here, old fellow,
we'll loan you the sum-"
"Well, boys, | never saw a lad
look as he dill for fully a minute.
His eyes wero literally alight, and
his whole being seemed strangely ami
mated. Within three minutes later our
plans were completed. Tankerville and
your humble servant were to follow
Christopher at safe distance, while he
was to approach Miss Maud Caveliers
midway up the Ifey road. No sooner
said than done. The other fellows
sgreed to remain III the shrub garden,
and for more than half an hour smoked,
chatted, and speculated widely as to
Chrstopher's venture. We walked leis-
urcly behind while Lund bounded for
ward with light step. For fully a
quarter of an hour all was suspense. Our
heroine had advanced far ahead; but
Christopher was quick in his movements
and presently was within a few yards of
Lady Maud.
eve saw him gracefully remove his
cap and walk to her side. Lightning
like we observed her draw up and face
Lund as in indignation. AS watchers
only, myself and Tankerville were too
far behind to overhear anything. In
less than an hour, however, the latter
soon became convinced that he had lost
the wager. Yet for months afterward
he pestered me to obtain all the particu-
lars associated with Lund's daring act.
At last gave in and obtained an intro
duction to her ladyship, then wife.
"Her account of the little episode of
that July morning was touching. l shall
never forget it, In her own words,
softened now and again by smile, she
said:
I" 'Mr. Lund, on removing his cap,
bowed low, and said: Madam you are
lady; am gentleman. AS such, the
laws of etiquette forbid me to approach
you without due introduction. When,
however, you have heard my speech,
know full we'll that your mercy and gen
tleness of spirit will suspend all law il
my behalf. A wager of thousand
pounds has this day been laid that nc
man in Oxon will dare approach and
tender you kiss without giving yol
lust ofTense. have undertaken to sue
ceed and my claims upon YOU are these
/ am the poorest among the poor Law
students at college. l have an invalit
sister at a home in Wales. Her lif,
hangs on a thread and a Thousand
pounds may aid in sparing her to me.
love her with devotion that exceeds des
peration, and should she die, feel tina
my life will be blank
of course. allowed him the kis
an act which he performed with
grace I shall! never forget. On hearin,
his tale, and as his lips pressed my cheek
| felt tear quivering beneath my eye
lid. turned quickly to brush it off an,
the young man was gone. The wager
you will say was we'll won. And now
Mr.. Clifton, you know the rest. M
Chris is to-day the dearest and gentlest
and among the most unselfsh of hus
bands.
"Boys,' said Paul Clifton, drawin
himself up, "my story is told. My oil
friend is no more a struggling law stu
dent. His sister lives and is in ioyou
health at this hour Lady Lund lead
our best society and is adored by poo
and rich. And, Christopher, why he
no less parsonage than the squire Of
we'll, you fellows never mind where. ~
chicago TJjJune.
Sunshine, Song and Sadness.
The oriole sings
And the sunshine filings
It's gold through my window pane,