Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-04-14
kindly tact, as if nothing had happened, so
TINT phi1ip'S dread and omho rr, ss,,o,,, ,.o.o

was engaged talking TO Mrs. Lester, he
caught Margarct's eyes fixed upon his face
with deep expression. He though though
he was not sure, that those sweet blue orbs
were moist with tears and the young man
would have parted almost with life itself
for one tear of aifectionatc pity from Mar.
garet Lester.
He stayed long time, and then went
home, certainly happier than he had often
been in the days of his bloom and gaety.
What Margaret thought of her old lover
could not be known she said very little !;
but that night she heard the old church
clock strike one before her eyes fairly
closed in slumber.
Philip Heathcote's reappearancc in So
ciety caused the usual nine days wonder
and excitement, and then all subsidized. He
was an altered man his abundant flow of
spirits was no more he could no longer
join the dance in which he had shown so
in company, and the bellies, who had so
often gazed delightfully."- on his handsome
face, now passed him by with slight re.
cogntion, or an audible, Poor fellow, how
handsome he ras once!' Philip had grown
wiser through suffering but still no one
is ever quite insensible to the loss of per-
sonal attractions; and the has been gra-
ted harshly on young Heathcotes feelings
for a long time. He gradually withdrew
from society, in great measure, pleading
as his reason the ill-health which he really
did still labor under; and at last his visits
were almost entirely confined to Mrs. Les
ter's, where he met no altered looks or OBJ
trusive coincidence.
And now we must turn to Margaret.
She too was changed not outwardly, but
in her own heart. Love, under the guse
of pity, had stolen in there unawares. She
had been perfectly Indifferent to Philip in
his days Of triumph but when she saw
him pale, feeble, thoughtful, without sim
gle gay jest or sportive compliment to scat
ter round; treated with neglect, or else
wounded by rude pity, Margaret's woman's
heart gave way. She first felt sympathy,
then interest, and so went through the reg
ular gradations, until she loved Philip
Heathcote with her whole soul. He, fool
ish man, humbled and self-distrusting as he
was, never saw this yet he nourished his
affection for Margaret in his hearts core,
never dreaming that it could ever be re-
turned.
If she did not care for me in the old
days he often thought, 'surely it is hope
less to imagine she could love me nova
poor, sick, lame, ugly fellow like me- And
he would look at himself with disgust and
turn away from the mirror with bitter
sigh. All! Philip Hcathcotc, with all his
tal St3ts and RrillanaYn still thpew iUs "kaRs
heard of man who broke the plighted
troth of years, because a heavy atlliction-
it was deprivation of hcaring--fell upon the
lovely girl he was to have married ; and
we have also heard others of his sex justify
him in so doing. Such love is not like
woman she would only have chung the
closer to her betrothod in his aflliction.
Philip, in spite of his conviction Of the entire
hopelessness of winning Margaret's heart, still
continued to hover about her increasingly. lie
saw there was at least no other lover in the way
and that was one comfort. 1t was months be-
fore his eyes were opened to his error; and how
that clearness of vision was effected history say
eth not. Very few lovers can tell the precise
moment when the blessed truth rushed upor
their hearts, flooding them with delicious Joy
To what hope-to what a new and bllssfu eX
istencc, did Philip awake when he knew tina
Margaret loved him He counted all he hat
lost as nothing in comparison to the prize which
his sufferings had won for him. Much he won
dcred at the change, not knowing that it wal
due to his altered character for men look a
the outward form, while women Judge OF tn
heart. But wonder and doubt were absorbed il
intense happiness, for Margaret, the timid, re
firing, but loving Margaret, was all his own.
| Once moro the towns talk was of phili