The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1844-10-03

COttager that day; nut II ncr image alter
ward would sometimes rise before him,
he dismissed it with passing regret
CHAPTER II.
YEARS had passed away si2co the G.
vents narrated in our last chapter, and
Osmond, having completed hi, collegiate
course and made tour of two years in
Europe, was once more on visit at his
guardians. He had been received by
Mrs Webster, now widow, and by her
daughter with smiles and courtesics; and
Annabel was arranging in her mind what
her wedding dress should be, and in what
style her household should be arranged.
Not that Osmond had said anything to
warrant the supposition that he contcm'
plated a speedy marriage, but Annabel
and her mother had no doubt he would
now settle, and whom would he choose
but her whom he had tacitly regarded
from boyhood as his future wife? Be-
sides, Mrs Webster had more than once
known third parties to tease Osmond a
bout her daughter, and in no case hid
he uttered a denial, but seemed to con-
slider the marriage as matter of course.
And such indeed had been Osm nd's
determination when he arrived from Eu-
rope. He remembered Annabcl as quite
u pretty glrl, liulc affected it is true,
but to atone for this, very accomplished,
and having an exquisite taste in dress
She had, moreover, left on his mind the
impression of an amiable heart, for he
noticed that she was always dutilul TO her
parents, and kind and condescending to
the servants. But now, on his return,
though he found her improved in person
al appearance, her allectation, instead of
disappearing as he hped, had grown into
a habit; and, on one or two occasions,
he had overheard slight alterations be-
tween her and her mother, when it was
supposed that he was out of hearing
These things made him hesitate in exc
cutting his first resolution to propose for
Annabcl at once. He determined tn
wait, and observe, before he made the f.
nal step.
The Sunday after his return he rode
over to church in the neig hboring parish,
intending to dine with the minister, an
old friend of his father. After service
the good old man came out and shook
him heartily by the hand.
Welcome back my dear young friend,
said the rector, you grow more and more
like your father. You will come and
dine with me- That is right. You know
our Sunday fare, so | need make no a.
poogy. Leave your horse here; the SEX
ion will bring him over to the parsonage;
and then we can walk home through the
orchard.
At dinner young lady sat at the head
of the table, whose appearance sirusk
Osmond so iorcibly, that only polieness
restrained him from staring at her. She
was eminently beautiful; and, moreover,
it seemed as if he had seen the face some
where before, though where he could not
| tell. He knew the rector had never
married, and he had never heard Of any
relatives. Besides the name was a strange
one Elmer. Miss Elmer! He had new
er heard OF a family in the county Of that
name. When they adjourned to the IL
brary. Osmond could not help abiding to
the subject.
'Ah! yes she is a lovely creature, said
the kind old minister in reply to the
young rams remark, and she is as good
as she is lovely. You are right in sd, ing
the name is strange one in the county
he poor girl is an orphan. Both her
parents died about four years ago, short
ly after they moved into this nclghbor-
hood. They were but poor colt gers,
though they had seen better days. As
there was no one to care for their daugh-
ter, recei, ed her into my house, and
when poor old Hannah, my honsckecpcr,
died, the dear child took her place, and
| think we shall never part, for ! love her
as my own flesh and blood, and believe
she would make any sacrifice for me.
The conversation now changed, and
after awhile Osmond left, promising to
return soon again. Nor was he long in
fulfilling his promise, for the iInaie OF the
beautiful housekeepcr was constantly he
fore him, and the week seemed dull in
which he did not ride over to the parson-
age at least twice. Annabel began to
wonder a, the frequency Of these visits,
but as she knew nothing of the attrac-
tons ofthe good rector's household, she
remained in happy ignorance of the
threatened destruction to her plans.
1.-THE rector saw the growing interest
of OsInond in his protegce, he AT least
said nothing, but suffered matters to take
their course. The young man, let him
come as often as he pleased, was always
welcome, and, after while, the minis
ter did not hesitate to leave the house,
keeper to entertain his guest, If duty re-