The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-11-03
SELECTED STORY.
John Green's Serious Mistake.


these three particles of information TO
anv person over the age of five and
twenty, he or she Immediately made
answer, either by the opinion, che
ought to marry" or by the question,
"Why doesn't he marry?" 1t is true
that one lady, on learning bis chief
points of social interest, had exclaimed,
''Dear mel He is wiser than Solomon"
but then she was eccentric, and had
had three husbands.
John Green was loose knit, and wore
heavy, square brown beard; but there
was a kindly humor in his eye that told
of charity within, and was vastly at
tractive to children and some others
who were shy in conversation. lie was
a stock broker in very large way OF
business, being sole partner in the firm
of Green, Richards u Van Schaacht.
Richards had been dead for ten years
or more, and Van Schaacht, an Ameri-
canized German Jew, had settled per-
manently in New York as banker
and broker, to look after the American
interests of the English firm. Green,
Richards & Van Schaat were what is
known as arbitrageurs, which means
that, with the aid of the cable, they did
business between London and New
York or Amsterdam, buying in one
market and selling on another. 1t was
responsible work, demanding great
quickness and energy, and necessltat-
ing, moreover, heavy transactions at
the end of the day, owing to the differ
ence in the time between England and
America.
John Green was man who liked
to do things himself, and he had no
confidential clerk to whom he cared
10 leave important matters. Conse-
uuently it was often seven or eight
O'Clock before he got away from the
CITY. Then he would GO to his club for
dinner, and afterward play pool or bill
lizards until it was sufficiently late to go
to bed One day was very much like
another, except that on Saturday he
was able to dine earlier, and so some
time went to theater. On Sunday, If
the weather was fine, he often walked
out to see an aunt who lived at Hendon.
She had educated him after his parents
death, and he was very fond of her. He
did not care for going much into So
ciety, because, as he said, the men
seemed to think he could talk of moth
ing but nonsense. 81 dare say they're
right" he would remark plaintively,
but 1 don't like to be reminded of it,"
One Sunday his aunt told him she
was expecting visitor.
ooh, really Who's that?" he asked,
stirring his tea slowly.
well, she's daughter of verylold
friend of mine, who, poor soul, has
lately died, Mrs. Walters, John; l dare
say you have heard me speak of her.
She left me little legacy by her will,
and asked me to look after Cicely as
far as / could. 1 don't think it's right
for a girl of her age to live alone, 30
have asked her to come and stay here
until she has time to look around and
make better arrangement. She is
nice little thing, and l Shall be glad to
have her."
eyes, Aunt Jane, l think that will
be a capital plan; but l suppose
shan't be wanted any more ON sun
days2"
"Now, John, don't be foolish, but
pass your cup for some fresh tea; that
must be quite cold"
John smiled and gave her the cup.
The next Sunday was wet, and the
Sunday after that John was obliged to
pay a cal which had been long owing,
so it was three weeks before he went to
Hendon again.
1t was a very hot day, and he walked
with his waistcoat unbuttoned and his
straw hat far back on his head. AS the
public house in the village was closed,
he thought he would approach his
aunt's house by the back way and ask
William, the butler, to find him bottle
of beer. He lounged at the door which
opened on to the little red-tiled yard,
while William placed tumbler on the
window sill, and drew the cork. John
watched the beer approvingly as it
frothed into the glass with velvety
flop flop against the side.
"Good beer, William" he said hold
ing it up to the light. 81 suppose you
drink it yourself?"
yes, sir; sometimes"
AS the glass emptied and he looked
through the bottom of it, he saw some
one in pink dress watching him from
behind the hedge, where the chickens
were kept. 1t seemed to him that she
looked different from other women, anC
he set down his tumbler sharply, say
ing: "Who's that in the chicken yard?'
"Miss Cicely, expect, SIR"
miss Cicelyl Who's Miss Cicely'
Oh, remember"
He buttoned his waistcoat hastil,
and walked around to the other side o
the hedge. Cicely Walters looked VI
as he came toward her. 81 beg you
pardon" he began, but l think yol
must be Miss Walters, and as you ar
likely to see great deal more of m
than you will care for, think ough
to introduce myself with as little della
as possible"
Miss Walters laughed, and mad
some conventional remark of greeting
Decidedly" John thought, Il" she i
different from other women. Won
der what it is?"
"Have you been robbing the nests?'
he asked her.
Yes; I've found two eggs; yestel
day theirs were four. l believe the CO
eats some"
"Do you always feed the chickens i
the afternoonW
Nearly always, except when it
wet"
Curiously enouph. John ALWAYS n