The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-12-17
al listflloup.
From Godey's Lodp's Book.
" Is She HappyP"
by KATHARINE DEAN.


by KATHARINE DEAN.
"If you only listen to reason, Helen
how can you be so blind to your own in.
tercst2 This offer is one in thousand.
and it is perfect folly in you to refuse"
But mother, do not love him |"
"Not love him Nonsense, Helen
what romantic folly is ,his2 What could
you desire in husband more than Fred
Stanley possesses ? Is be not from one
of the first families talented, agreeable,
rich. And certainly every one ncknow-
lodges him to be handsome as you do
yourself And what nro you2 a poor
rennilcss girl with nothing but your
poor dover ct beauty And here you
propose to reject the hand Of this man,
who has honorcd you far moro than you
deserve by The unselfsh offer of his love
Helen Irving, You are mad to refuse -
only consider what you are doing. You
know that your fathers embarrassments
are thickcnine every day, and how wo
areto live am sure capno, sec Franky
must be taken out Of school, which is
such pity, now be is doing so nicely;
and VIC must part with Sarah, and you
will have fifty little things that l
am sure you will find very annoying"
Dear mother, Franky mustn't be tt-
ken from school You know l have
long wished to given up my music les.
sons as an unnecessary expense, and We
can do very we'll without Sarah I
should like a little more TO do myself"
"Nonscnse, Helen, how absurdls you
talk, give up your music and spoil your
beautiful hands with houscworkl Neverl
Besides, what would that avail? On
you depends your fathers future ruin or
success You know Fred Stanley is ono
of his prin ciral creditors. If you re.
jcct him, of course We have no further
claims on his generosity; if you accept,
he will consider his debt as cancelled"
But, oh mother, it would be wicked
in me to marry him without love -
Pray what is necessary, Helen, TO
make you love ?"
Perfect sympathy between us moth.
or ~
"And what is there to prevent per.
feet sympathy between you and Fred
Stanley o.
/ do not know mother !"
No, of course YOU do not ! there is
no reason but some romantic folly Of
your own; and where did vou learn this
new theory of yours, Ilelen2 Has
George Merry been filling your head
with this romantic nonsense 81
oh, mother, pray don't speak Of itp'
said Helen, dortiug up, the color quickly
flushing her cheek aud brow. She walk.
cd hastily to the window and began i'm
patiently to drum with hor little white
fingers against the cool pane. How Wild
ly her heart throbbed with the fierce
struggle going on within her 1t seem
ed ready to burst its narrow bounds
she fol. suffocate1 by its passionate flut.
terugs. She turned aud hurried from
the room, and, snatching her bonnet
the little white sun-bonnot banging in
the cool back entry-she passed quickly
out into the clear fresh air, and on. she
scarcely knew whittier; down the little
garden path, and through the open gate
into the shady grove beyond. A muir
muring brook ran through the grove with
allow sweet music; here she paused, and,
sitting down on the soft grass, pushed
back her bonnc. and let tho wind blow
on her flushed cheeks and pull out her
long curls while she tried TO see where
lay the path of duty. 1t was kind, and
noble, and generous in Fred Stanley
thus to stoop to wed her, the simple
country maiden and why could she not
be happy in his beautiful home, surround.
cd by all these luxuries she could so well
appreciate? But a pair of calm sal
eyes seemed looking into hers with such
world of reproof in their earnest gaze,
that che shuddered aud burying her face
in her hands, she murmurcd "Oh,
George, ifyou would only speak Il you
would but help me if you only knew !"
But again her fathers anxious care-worn
face was before her; her mothers rest.
less nervous anxiety, and Frankly, dear
little Franky, her precious only brother
so studiou', so ambitious, how could she
bear to see his bigh hopes brought low,
his bright prospects, for the future dark
ened when in her lay the power togvc him
every advantage of an education, and to
see him rise as one day ho must TO be a
star in the literary world II There was
the light sound Of an approaching foot.
step, aud turning her bead, Helen saw
smiling down nnon har IN. L,udsnme