Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-05-07

frequently TO meet MN with Jane, at her
fathers house. / saw that he was in |
love head and ears; and what vexed me
beyond everything else was, that Jane
would always treat him respectfully
After he had parted from us on one occa-
sion, and she had treated him with usual
consideration, was determined to bring
matters to an end. proposed before l
left, and received the assurance that /
was the chosen man.
Well, Benton, continued to call. / do
not think he knew of the new position of
affairs, but it made no difference. I de-
termined to cut him, and did. l met
him in the street in broad day, and cut
him dead. Who should find that very
night with Jane, but this contemplate
Benton! He had risen to leave the
room with agony depicted upon every
feature in his face. l saw it all at a
glace-he had proposed and been reject
ed. All the devil there was in me re-
joiced l have no doubt that l grinned
maliciously upon him as he passed out.
l could heartily have added a kick to the
repulSe he had already received. But
Jane was distressed. She was sorry for
him She wouldn't have it happen for
the world She respected Mr.. Benton
so much
"Mr. Benton is fool'' said I. "Don't
waste your precious sympathies on such
a creature as he.'
Mr.. Benton is a gentleman" replied
Jane, and then the poor girl turned pale
the tears swan in her eyes, and she hid
her face in her handkerchief, and sobbed
hysterically.
I saw that had been unjust-that 1
had been mean and cowardly-that my
words and bearing had been hateful and
contemptible-that there was not the
slightest ground for my feelings, but l
was too proud to confess it, so approach
ed and kissed her forehead, and asked her
to forget the matter.
met Benton in the street frequently
after this and was wicked enough to re
joice in his woe begone appearance. /
was stirred to this partly by the fact that
he had once or twice called upon the fa-
mily, and had been treated with the most
considerate cordiality. The fact was ]
loved Jane almost madly, and somehow
could not bear to have any other man
think of her.
Cards were distributed for the wed.
ding, and one was sent to Mr.. Benton
f But this gratifed my malice 1t seem
ed cruel to invite man to witness the
consummation of the ruin of his hopes
so I was pleased / doubted whether
he would come, but he was there, so calm
and gentlemanly that l could not hell
feeling how mean l was in his presence
and this of caurse, did not help the mat
ter. / was now more offended than ev
er. l could almost have quarreled witt
my wife even on the wedding night, be
cause she treated him with such marke
attentions. / determined at any rat
il that | would cure her of her liking to
It him, and was almost maddened to hea
e her express the hope tnat he would nj
II forget her when she should become Sc
tied in her new home.
A few weeks passed away, and he cal
L. ed at my house-at my house! An
/ Jane very coolly informed me of it.
hope you had pleasant time with ii
t. gentleman / said, drily. l saw the fl
is fash in James eye as she replied, M
lo Benton is alacays pleasant There WI
ee an emphasis on the word always that {
Tended me. l will not tell more of tn
L foolish scene. Enough that l was the
d. oughly discounted, and came out of
K hating Benton the more, as l was mo
nd convinced that he was better man th
myself. / could not bring myself to col
le' mand my wife not to see him, without
er single reason, so took my satisfaction
all behaving like bear, and making h
nd miserable for week.
'Se Some days had passed away, when o
on evening a party of merry friends cal
in. and James bridal array became
subject of conversation. A lady of
his party expressed wish to see some al
US Gle of ornament belor ging to the brit
y; dress. Jane endeavored to change
I'VE conversation. saw that she was tr'
DIS bled, but repeated the lady's requ'
She replied that the article was not
aid home. I inquired of her whom she
mi lent it to, She replied that she had
ore lent it; and her lips trembled, and
ian cheeks burned, as she said it. The
He dies saw that something was wrong,
o4Fo1fiar from