Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-01-18
An Inexplicable Mes
Sengef.

Sitting in my fireside chair, | have
often told the story of the ''Inexpli-
cable Messenger for the benefit of
some visitor, while my grandchildren
listened to its well-known mysteries
with an interest that seemed hardly
lessened by familiarity. To-day
some touch of youth coming to old
age warns my heart to the world,
and I feel like giving my tale to
wider circle.
My great-uncle, Colonel Anthony
Carter, during the later years of last
century occupied the house in which
I now live. P was then one of
the most active in commerce of sec
ond rank provincial cities. The house
stood in the aristocratic quarter Of
the town, and was built in the man
sion style, light yellow in color, with
four very fiat white pilasters up the
| front, and white balustrade around
the edge Of the roof, from whose GEN.
ter rose the great square chimney.
A considerable yard surrounded it,
and other mansions of like sedate ell
egance stood neighbors to it along
| the same select street.
My great-uncle. in brief, was
chief nabob of the town. He had
seen the world, and meant to enjoy
life in solid fashion; he was especial
ly set IN the pursuit of any object
upon which his desires had fixed, be-
ing man whose temper could bear no
constraint or thwarting. For many
years he had been a widower, and
almost the only one of his desires
left ungratified-for he had public
station and honor as well as private
wealth-was the desire for very
handsome young wife, clever, we'll
bred, possessed of property, of good
| family name, a member in his church,
and in every way worthy of the sta
ton in which he should place her. All
these qualifications he insistsd on :;
he would have nothing less. In the
ordinary course of events the chanc-
es were ALMOST infinite against gain
ing such a prize, but the fortune that
had favored him in other things SEEM
ed about to bless him here,
In one of the neighboring mansions
dwelt Mistress Maria Dwight, with
her niece, Ellen Edgeworth, and upon
this niece Colonel Carter had fixed
his eyes. He had watched her thro'
the last years Of girlhood, until now
she stood before him charming
young woman.
Lovely Ellen's beauty was of that
quality which cannot submit to the
conventional comparison with flow
ers. She was all spirited vivacity,
and her admirers seemed to see the
blood circulate in her veins. When
the old men compllmented her on the
street, she did not hang q blushing
face, but answered wlttily back with
brave, merry, but, oh, how lovely
eyes and well-uplifted head To ev-
cry manly and worthy heart that saw
her she was challenge to win her ;
for those were days of honest gal
; lantry.
| now must tell you fair Ellen
Edgeworth's secret A month before
Colonel Carter began his com tsMr
she had met her fate, and fallen des-
perately in love in three days with
q young gentleman whom she had
) known in childhood, but who had
just returned from long voyage, af-
ter years of absence. | deem that a
dangerous moment when young peo-
pie brought Familiarity together as
F children meet after separation to rec
ognize in each other the change 10
, womanhood and manhood.
Ellen's lover was almost worthy
of his Incompatible good fortune.
In person he was no other than Col
onel Carriers only son, young man
whose veins held much of his fathers
lively blood; so that you see that my
tale contains all the elements of a
troublesome domestic tragedy. But
: | can promise that no blood was spill
: ed, and that the Inexplicable Mess
enger was neither kidnapper mol
sheriff. Godfrey Carter was young
person of temperament as spirited as
fair Ellen's. 1t is needless, then,
to say that the love which had budded
blossomed, and confessed itself In sc
brief time was no tranquil affection,
e but an absorbing passion that dom
f mated their free young natures like a
wizards master spell.
Of all this the red-faced, determin-
ed colonel knew nothing until the
day when he answered authoritatively
r to his son his intended marriage tC
u Miss Edgeworth, by her aunt's per-
I, mission. Then young Godfrey, tho
dutiful son, spoke bravely up ant
: told his secret, begging his father to
:, think twice before laying siege to {
:, lady twenty years his junior who ha(
already given her heart away, and tt
his own son. These injudiciou:
8 words stirred the colonel TO the foun
: dations Look me in the face, sir y
f he clied. after the first exchange O
5 words. Il am in the prime of life
and have never yet been thwarted il
purpose, and mean to make tn,
> girl my wife. Find some other sweet