News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1898-12-14

"AnuhOlU, | didn't steal the TubieS"
death and elopement alternately arc
treated cur fathers with despairing anG
most exasperating dutifulness. The
month of June found ourselves and our
affections exactly where we and the"
had been in March.
A daughter is, take it, harder to re
sist than a son. 1t was for this reason,
and not because Sir Matthew was in any
degree less stubborn than my father
that the first overtures came from the
Marstons.
Sylvia was Drumming over with de-
light when she met me one morning
Papa is ready to be reconciled ~ she
cried. "Oh, Jack, ism It it delightful
"What, will he apologize?" 1 asked
eagerly as I caught her hand.
Eyes, she said, with smiling lips
and dancing eyes, "he'll admit that
nothing has occurred to prove Colonel
Merridew's guilt if your father will ad-
NIT that every sane man must have
thought that Colonel Merri lew was
guilty"
"Hum!" said doubtfully "I'll tell
my father"
My father received my report in d
somewhat hostile spirit. At first he was
inclined to find new insult in it aud
I had great difficulty in bringing bin
to a more reasonable view. His sugges-
tion at last was-and | could obtain no
better terms from him-that Sir Mat
thew should admit that nothing had &C.
Cured to suggest Colonel Merridew's
guilt, but at the same time it was con.
'ceivable that a sane man might have
thought Colonel Merridew guilty
When next met Sylvia, communi-
Gated my father suggested modification
of the terms of peace. | explained that
It covered a real aud most material con
cessiOn.
Papa will never agree to that, said
Bhe sorrowfully, and no more he did.
Negotiations and pourparlers contin.
ued. Sylvia grew thinner. became alb
sent and distract in manner After a
month Sir Matthew forwarded fresh
terms. They were as follows: Although
Colonel Merridew may not have stolen
the indianapolis rubies, yet every rea-
sonable man would naturally have con-
cluded that he had stolen the rubies
My father objected to this and proposed
to substitute Although Colonel Mer-
ridew did not steal the maharaiah 8
rubies, yet a reasonable man might not
impossibly think that he had stolen the
rubies.
Sylvia and built hopes on this last
formula, but Sir Matthew unhappily
objected to it. Matters came to a stand
still again, and no progress was made
until the vicar, having heard of the
matter (indeed by now it was common
property and excited great interest in
the neighbOrhood), offered his services
as mediator. He said that he was a
peacemaker by virtue of his office and
that he hoped to be able to draw up a
statement Of the case which would be
palatable to both parties. Sir Matthew
and my father gladly accepted his
friendly offices, and the vicar withdrew
to elaborate his eirencon.
lu6 NICdT WAS u Illuu VI BTbdU lDUel
lectual subtlety, which he found very
few opportunities of exercising. There.
fore he enjoyed his new function ex
tremely and was very busy riding to
and fro between our house and the
Marstons'. Sylvia and | grew impa.
tient, but the vicar assured us that the
result of hurrying matters would be an
irremediable rupture. We were obliged
to submit and waited as resignedly as
we could until the terms of peace should
be finally settled. At last the welcome
news came that the vicar, lying awake
on Sunday night had suddenly struck
on form of words to which both par.
ties could subscribe with satisfaction
and without loss of self respect. / called
on the vicar before breakfast on Monday
morning. He greeted me with evident
pleasure.
Eyes, said he, rubbing his hands
contentedly, II think I have managed
it this time. " And he hummed light
hearted tune