Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-02-11


il was the same Smith. She went throug III
the rest Of the evenings employment will
the same cheerful air but rather earliei
than usual she babe her father aud brother
good night" and retired to her bedroom
Once there, The poor girl sunk down on the
nearest chair. Her face was deadly pale
and her hear, ihrobbed as though il would
burst All At once the state OF that Door
little heart was revealed to her. She had
not known before that she so much loved
the young gardener-thst she had been 81
happy IN the consciousness OF being loved
by him, Tor though he had never told her
so, she was sure that he did love her. But
to discover how she loved him, by hearing
that he vas not worthy to be loved, was .
trial to poor Mary, which was almost more
than she could bear. "A drunkardw did
her father say! II could not. could NOT
be Perhaps Mary thought more keenly
on this subject than almost any other Girl
in her station Of life would have dcne for.
besides being naturally GIL of fine taste
and feeling, she had hld better education
than was usual with farmers dauphters.-
She felt most keenly and bitterly the dread
fol import Of her fathers words. "If il
should be so. what should she do :" And
then she thought that perhaps she had been
mistaken IN the young gardeners attentions,
and that he might not, after all, care for her.
except as an acquaintance. This thought
was not much Of 4 consolation, certainly.-
Then she thought, should she speak to her
father on the subjeeti No, she could moi
do that. A good Aow Of tears somewhat
relieved her; and after she had knel, down
and uttered her nightly prayer, with an ad.
dIiional one for help IN her present trouble.
she was much happier. But still, when she
was in bed. she did not. rs was her q, ont.
fall Immediately into a deep and quie, sleep.
She lay awake mos, OF the night, fererish
and wretehed, aud it was nearly dawn be.
fore she sunk to slumber Her last thought.
before sleep csme over her, WIS the happy
one. tina; he who looked so bright, 50 happy.
and so good. conld not be the dreadful thing
her father had called him.
When she awuke neat morning. she felt
as IT all she had heard the night before had
been nothing but dream. and when she
did collect her scattered thoughts sufficient.
ly to see the reality, she found that she
could think with much less distress on the
subject, even when she dweit on the worst.
An. she did not beiisvs the worst.
Sunday came again. Mary thought for
one moment that she would not 20 TO
church; but it was only FOR moment. II
was better that the matter should come 10
conclusion one way or another, and she had
a kind Of presentiment that it was not Ear
from crisis. She was right; Of course
Harry Smith was at church, and Of course
he was ready, AS usual, to present his arm 10
her on coming out. She did not hesitate
TO take the offered arm, for at the sight Of
him, all doubt Of his worth had vanished.
IL was lovely summer day. Their way
lay through the fields How joyous every
thing looked The sun sbone, the birds
sang. the flowers gave forth their riches;
perfume-all nature seemed instinct with
life and love. Whit else than he did, could
Harry Smith dol Jack, my boy" he
said to the little brother whom Mary was
holding by the hand, "suppose you run home
by yourself, and we'll follow presently -
Mary instinctively grasped tighter the little
hard she held; but the next moment she
let 1t go, and Jack, glad to be released,
scampered of, to make his way home as he
best liked. This proceeding of Harrys
was rather bold. but he was a slraight-for-
ward fellow, who felt no shame in doing a
thing there was no reason to be ashamed
Of His next proceeding was perhaps still
holder. At a few PAGES disiant, there was
a grassy, sofi-looking, hower.strewn bank.
Let MS sit down here, aud rest awhile"
said Harry, leading Mary 10 it. Mary Of
Tered no resistance. IL was becoming very
difficult for her TO breathe, and she lrem-
bled so that she was really glad to sit down.
Harry took his place beside her-but
here we need not be minute. Any one may
Imagine how the young man told his tale Of
love, and how joyfully, though iearfulIy and
rembllngly, the maiden listened. When
he had done, and was waiting for an answer,
she looked up, through her tears, into his
face. Her bushes and gatherings were
gone aud she looked pale and earnest, as
she said, calmly--"I do not think that you
could have spoken as You have spoken, that
you could look as you do now. if you did
not think yourself worthy Of the love you
ask from me. know nothing Of you but
what have seen, aud do believe YOU TO
"c "o''"y' Dut 4 must tell you WHAT
have heard said Of you" Mary then told
him exactly what had passed that evening
with her father. She saw that Henry chang
ed color as she spoke, aud he averled his
eyes. lie did not reply, aud his hand
somewhat relaxed its grasp OF hers. 81
thought my father must have been mistak-
en-" continued Mary, and then she stopped,
FOR she could say no more.
"No, he was not mistaken, Mary" said
Harry, again raising his clear bright eyes
TO hers-"bui il was a hard name 10 give
me. will not conceal from yos. and 1
would not have concealed il from yen, VI
you had not heard il, ihs, have this sin TO
reproaeh myself with. remember once
meeting your father at the public house in
our village, when was drinking With some
Of my friends. But May, you must not
cast me of for this sin. do believe still
lhsi am worthy Of you. ! would not have
asked you 10 love me, if had not thought
that ! was worthy of you. People see The
evil that man does, but they cannot see
his sufIerings, his struggles, bis resolutions
not the less sincere because they are brok-
Ell. A bad habit is so easily formed.
was so cheerful with a Id of friends. and