St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-10-22
JOHN GREEN'S SERIOUS MISTAKE.
There's a Penalty for rlarrying and He and
ClceIy Found II Out, Though Not Too Late.

and rich. 1t was a matter OF certain
knowledge that if one intrusted these
three particles of Information to any
person over the age of five and
twenty, he or she Immediately made
answer, either by the opinion, "He
ought to marry" or by thequestion,
"Why doesn't he marry?" 1t is true
that one lady, on learning his chief
points of social interest, had ex-
claimed, Dear me! He is wiser than
Solomon" but then she "a eccentric,
and had had three husbands.
John Green was loose knit, and
wore a heavy, square brown beard;
but there was a kindly humor in his
eye that told Of charity within, and
was vastly attractive to children and
some Others who were shy in conver-
sation. He was a stock broker in a
very large way Of business, being sole
partner in the firm of Green, Richards
& Van Schaacht. Richards had been
dead for 10 years or more, and Van
Schaacht, an Americanized German
Jew, had settled permanently in New
York as a banker and broker, to
look after the American interests of
the English firm. Green, Richards &
Van Schaacht were what is known
as arbitrageurs, which means that,
with the aid Of the cable, they did
business bet ween London and New
York or Amsterdam, buying in one
market and selling on another. 1t
was responsible work, demanding
great %quickness and energy, and
necessitatiDg, moreover, heavy trans
actions at the end of the day, owing
to the difference in the time between
England and America.
John Green was a man who liked
to do things himself, and he had no
confidential clerk to whom he cared
to leave important matters. Couse-
quently it was often 7 or 8 O'Clock
before he got away from the city.
Then he would go to his club for din
ner, and afterward play pool or bill
lizards until it was sufficiently late to
60 to bed. One day was very much
like another, except that on Satur-
day he was able to dine earlier, and
so sometimes went to a theater. On
Sunday, il 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 i%nto.society, be-
cause, as he said, the men seemed to
think he could talk of nothing but
nonsense. II dare say they're right"
he would remark plaintively, "but I
don't like to be reminded of it,"
One Sunday his aunt told him she
was expecting a visitor.
"Oh, really! Who's that !"he asked,
stirring his tea slowly.
"Well, she's a daughter of a very
old friend of mine, who, poor soul,
has lately died, Mrs. Walters, John
dare say you have heard me speak
of her. She left me a little legacy by
her will, and asked me to look after
Cicely as far / could. | don't think
it's right for a girl of her age TO live
alone, so | have asked her to come
and stay here until she has time to
look around and make a better ar.
rargement. She is a nice littlething,
and 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.
days?"
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 call which had been Ions
owing, so it was three weeks before
he went to Hendon again.
1t was a very hot day, and ht
walked with his waistcoat unbut
toned and his straw hat far back or
his head. AS the public house in tn,
village was closed, he thought h,
would approach his aunt's house by
the back way and ask William, thu
butler, to find him a bottle of beer
He lounged at the door which opened
on to the little red-tiled yard, Will,
William placed a tumbler on the win
dow sill, and drew the cork. Johr
watched the beer approvingly as i
frothed into the glass with a velvety
flop flop against the side.
Good beer, William" he said hold
ing it up to the light. ~ suppos