Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1853-03-02


all did-and it was not long before he came an
almost daily visitor at our home, coming alone on
the cxcuse--L knew it was but an excuse-of
bringing books news, or some such thing, but
often with one or other of the Bcresfords. In
decd after little time knew that |, for one fell
quite into habit of missing him if ever day
passed without his coming, for his quiet, genle
presence had in it great charm for me, and he
had fallen so kindly and naturally into my ways,
that had felt. almost from the first day, that he
was not u stranger but friend.
Nor was / the only one who watched for his
daily visits, or felt lonely when he did not come
Ny dear child seldom spoke much of him when
he was away even when he with us she wa
often very quiet, but | knew that in both their
hearts a deep, true love growing up and thai
my darling would one day be NevilPs wife. AND
he deserved her, and she him. Timid as she w.,
now, knew that it would not always be So l.
knew that presently, when all was understood be-
tween Them her present reserve would pass away,
and my Fortune, as she really was, with her bright
sunny gaiety, with her graceful, hoping, womans
nature, with her deeply-oving, faithful heart, wod
stand beside him to illumine and to brighten hs
whole life. Such happy days those were while
these two young hearts were drawing to each otlt
er-happy to them and me, though over my Jot
there was still one cloud.
among our new friends to whom | had told mr.
Fortunes story. l did not feel that it was a thing
| needed to tell every one but now was anxious
that Nevill should know it, and felt uneasy as day
after day passed, and still he was in ignorance
But, indeed, was perplexed what to do, for he
and | were almost never alone, and in the state
in which matters were yet between him and For
tune, it would have been premature and even in
delicate to ask Mrs Beresford to interfere. There
was only one opportunity had for speaking to
him, and that / lost. | remember that day well
, My father and Fortune had gone after dinner {,
my sister Hates, expecting to be back in an hour
and when the hour had nearly elapsed Nevil
came in alone, bringing a request that they woult
return with him to spend the evening at the Der
q csfords ! thought they would soon be in, so h
willingly agreed to wait; and sitting beside me-
O the open window he presently began-it waS'a6
first time he had done SOTO talk of Fortune
1t was strange without word of preparation o.
= introduction, he spoke of her as only who lov
ed her could speak. For moment | was star
tied, then fell into his tone, and / too talked D
my child as | could have talked to few but him
= There was no explanation between us, but cad
y read the other hearts fully and perfectly. Art
n yet, not even then did tell him Fortunes story
i | longed to do tit was my lips again and a
gain, but | was expecting her return with my fl
:, Their every moment, and feared to be nterrupte,
. when / once had begun. So the time went pas
and l was veXed with myself when it was gone
:, that my tale was still untold
Though it was after sunset when they came j
Nevill persuaded them still to accompany hil
. back remember well his warm though ser
= farewell to me that night. l remember, too, whc
" they were all away, how long | lay and though
" in the summer twilight. l ought to have bee
, glad, and acdS glad, but yet some low sad voic
! that | thought | had hushed to silence years ac
~ forever, would awake in my heart again, maxim
=, me break the beauty Of that summer evening vii
y. my rebeous tears 1t was only for "A little tim
i for |, who had been 50 happy, what right had
8y yS e ef brk THe 6 rs Be A o ffH and
y the soft stiffness of the night claimed me, and
! thought again of my dear child and eagerly al
:. hopefully as ever | had done when / was voun
= | dreamed bright dreams for her future life
. When l was youngl | was but nine-and-twen
!, now, yet how far back my youth seemed. Strang
= there was scarcely two years between me al
= Nevill, yet how every one-how he, how mysc
looked upon me old compared to himl
:. 1t was late when they came home that nigl
II and thought my darling looked sad had tho
/ so once or twice Of late. She slept in a room o
g ening from mine; and always came the last thin
to say good night to me- Tonight, when 81
came, was SllcNcu, lot she lOOkcu as II she ni
l. been weeping. She stood beside my couch-tl
Is light from behind that sreamed through the ope
!! ed door falling ON her bright, unbound hair, al
also herself looking pure and bcautiful-n
. own Fortune! l kept her a few minutes by m
y for longed to cheer her; but she did not see
to care much to talk. / said something abo
II Nevill, and she asked if he had been here lol
y before they came.
le "About an hour" said /.
I ''Ah | am glad, she answered. II was afra
v my poor aunty had been alone the whole nigl
III 1t was kind of him.
eyes, he's always kind, DEAR" l said.
Il Which she did not answer but smiled gent
u to herself, and stood in silence, with my hand
= hers; then suddenly she frightened me, for quic
/ ly STOPPING down, she laid her head upon Ii
u shoulder, and l felt her sobbing. AT first 81
would not tell me why she wept, but whisper
~ through her tears that it would grieve me it can
II at last 1t was because through the wide wol
. she knew not where to seek for father or a m
- Their; because to the name she bore she had
- claim; because to all but us, she said, her life hi
- been deceit, and was so still because she ft
~ so humbled before those she loved, knowing tn
y she had no right they should prove true to h
~ whose first step had been falsehood to them.
IL IL | comforted her as | could. told her that h
IT first grief she must bear still-hopefully if 81
could; that for the rest she should not sorrow al
longer, for all those whose love she cared for sho
10 know what her history was. | told her to ha,
q courage, and l thanked her earnestly and trul
~ for how she had spoken to me then; and preser
rs y, weeping still, but happier and full of love,
=, darling left me-left me TO weep because a gri
~ L should have known would come had fallen ,