Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-04-26

dwell upon her faults She admitted that shs
had some. Vague confession by no mean.
implying that Cynthia knew that, al that mo
inenI, she was proud, vain, insincete, aud pet
nlaui, aud that she was crushing duSn the bet
ter feelings Of her heart, TO give the victory
within herlo tho worst. II Handy wanted her
she thought, he might WOO her with more re
spect 10 her pre,ensions. Aud no should wco
her. II he loved her as he said he did, she
knew her power was great. lie should bring
his homage not coldly to the womanhoOd with
in her, but 10 herself-io Cynthia Susan Simp.
son, 10 spite Of the full display of all her faults,
and even in opposition 10 his better reason
She was not to be deirauded Of her triumph,
and II would be great one, indeed, il she fire-
ed him, by her faults themselves, TO surrender
at discretion.
They reached the steps over the stone fence
which led on 10 the highway. Ia their path
lay disabled srasshopper. Frank set his fuci
on II and crushed ii firmly. Miss Cynthia,
said he, few women lave the courage 10 treat
rejected suitors thus. II is the true humanity.
lie helped her over the steps, and paused.
He took the hopwreaih carefully from his arm.
and gave il into her hands She took il with
an indi6eren, air, and, as she took il, crushed
some Of the green blossoms. She would have
treated him with more courtesy [had Frank bat
known ~ II she had been entirely indifferent
TO his admiration.
Miss Cynihia,' said he, now in grave aud
measured tone, which, in spite of herself. i'm
pressed her with sense Of the powerlcssness
Of her little arts when bsuush, into conflict with
his seii-possession and sincerity i know very
well how you have dealt by many men, and |
am not disposed To fall into the ranks, and take
my chance among your many other paiienl sui
tors. II is true, that the wound that You n-
fict un me, will leave its scar for life but |
cannot make my selfrespecl an offering even TO
you. And il you have feelings of true noble
ness which have always fancied discerned
ia you, yon would respect me, esteem me. love
me less, for such sacrifice. | shall never of
fer myself again TO you. Cynthia started
Slight and rapid as her movement was, he saw
ii, and repeated, 4 shall never offer myself
again 10 you And leave this place to-mor.
row, never to return to il, iill have subdued
this love for you. Tonight shall be at the
wedding. am eroonsinan to Seth Taggart,
and shall stand up wiih you ! am going home
to consider fully wba, has passed, TO convince
myself (if can) calmly. whether my love for
you has been an error in my life, for which my
judgment is responsible, or oaly its misfortune;
whether the Cynthia have loved is really ca
pable, as have dreamed. Of scattering the
clouds that dim her beauty, and shining forth
in her sweet qneenlincss upon the lonely dark
ness Of the man who can teach her what il is
TO love. do not know what | shall think
To-day has shaken my confidence in you. As
] said before, ! shall make you no further OFFER:
but, il | make up my mind to renew The one |
have just made you. shall say Snip, during
the evening; and, if you answer Snap | shall
understand il is favorably received by yoo.-
Mind, he added, 4 think il doubtful whether,
notwithstanding my love for you, | shall think
it right 10 say it,. | AN going into the fields to
mediate till evenide' upon my course, and
may bring back the conviction, that for the
present rejection OF my suit ought TO be much
obliged to you. Nor shall say Snip more
than once. ln this uncertainty leave the mat
ter 10 your consideration
What imperinence = thought Cynihia. I
never heard Of such thing = And she began
Ia cry, standing alone upon The highway, hold.
ing her hop-wrealh in her hsrd.
Il don't know what had better do. wish
he had taken some other way of speaking to
me. Oh why should he be so very unkind
don, care. II is his luss great deal more
ilran mine, II he is really in love with me-
The evil spirit was coming back, and it
whispered, lie will certainly say Snip bat
you had better not say Snap. too readily
She walked on thinking, imagining t,i-
umph, when suddenly the thought came to her.
that she was confessng to herself she wanted
to say Snap and why! It was not possible
that the tables Of her pride was turned upon
her; that she was in Frank Handy's power to
refuse or to take that she loved him i don't
care for him at all, was the suggestion OF The
bad angel i only want to teach him for the
future to behave. He is presuming, exact
ing, sefconceiied fellow
Have you ever, in the course Of your expe-
ricnce' said the good angel, seen any other
man like Frank Has not the conversation OF
this very day raised him to hight in your es-
TEEN e. which is 4. which must be alnios,
That is, he s,a.ds before you in light
in which no other man has ever sood beforel'
Il don't believe hs loves me, said her per-
verse heart, 'or else he would have taken
great deal more pains TO win me-
'Ah ! said the good angel, what better love
can man give, than that which sees your
faults and strengthens yuu against them True,
he has set his ideal Of womanhood so high,
that you do not come up to it hut he sees in
you capabilities for good, beyond those of other
women, though to the hight of your capabii-
ties you have ever attained
'Oh shall be worse woman, and an un-
happy woman, il do not love Frank Handy,
and if Frank Handy does not love me, said
her heart, now turning to its better instincts.
as she threw herself upon her liule, white,
dimity covered bed, in her own chamber, and
shutting out the light from her eyes, thought
what life would be il Frank never said Snip.
Frank who was even then walking in the fields,
trying TO think all the harm he could Of her,
Here she lay, and cried, and disauietcd her