Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-09-03
BEATRICE LANCASTER.
ny MIRIAM ?. HAMILTON.

1t was late in the afternoon. A long row
Of girls and boys stood in a regular limo be-
fore their teacher, in little red school house,
rccitng their spelling lesson, while the re-
mainder Of the pupils fdgetted in their seats,
piled and replied their books on their desks,
and cast restless, eager glances out Of the
open door. and then at the teachers face, for
it was nearly time for dismissal and weary of
a long afternoons confinement, the children
could hardly wait for the tinkle Of the bell
the signal Of their release. At last the SPELL
ing-class took their seats. the bell sounded.
and instantly there was a scene of confusion
boys rushed out of the door. and gave vent
to their pent up spirits in whoops, yels and
somersets, and the girls, more quietly but not
less gaily, ran out into the open air. Soon
their merry voices died away in the distance
and the teacher was left alone in that Just
now crowded school-room.
She was young and striking looking girl
Her form was erect, her step stately. and her
features. though irregular, were pleasing her
abundant raven hair was wound in sort of
coronal around her head, in singular but
not unbocoming fashion her complexion was
d clear olive, and her mouth firm in its ex-
pession, almost unpleasantly so when closed,
but when she smiled she was positively beau
tiful then her whole countonanco changed +;
her large. fiery eyes grew soft and tender, and
the pride and hapieW that spoke in her every
lineament, marring her otherwise almost per-
feet beauty, disappeared.
Just now one of those boamng smiles light
ed up her countenance; she stood by her
desk, in her usual erect position, holding a
note. yet unopened, in her hand. 1t had
been brought to the school-room during the
session, and now that she was alone, she pre-
pared to read it. She seemed in no haste to
break the seal. She looked at the bold, firm
handwriting. and pressed it to her lips then,
slowly unfolding it, she read
"For sometime past, Beatrice, l have been
unhappy; you have observed it, and to your
inquiries as to its cause | have given false
and evasive replies, but can deceive myself
and you no longer. | sought you last night
with the determination to tell you alt, but |
could not utter the words that would, | felt,
give you so much pain. But | must trust to
it, What my tongue refused to tell, ! must
trust to my pen. 1t is useless to hesitate !;
the sooner it is all known the better for us
both. Beatrice, find that have mistaken
the nature Of my feelings towards you. As
God is my witness, when we were betrothed
thought loved you. lstill appreciate your
rare loneliness, aud better STILL your many
eNcelencics of mind and heart; but our af-
foctions are beyond our control, and much as
their is admirable about you, no longer love
YOU At first determined never to acquaint
YOU with the change in my sentiments, but l
shrank from a Lifetime of deceit. ! could
not at the altar perjure myself by taking
those solemn VOWS, and knew, too, that you
would spurn the offered hand without the
heart accompanied it, | have done very wrong
in hastily entering upon our engagement with
out a proper knowledge of my true feelings
towards you. | was charmed by your beauty,
dazzled by your wit. and attracted by your
virtue ! mistook the whrl of emotions |
( felt for love- Bat it is better for me to ac-
/ knowledge my faults than to commit sin in
! leading you TO the altar while my heart is
another's. Forgive me and forget me. Fare
we'll, and may you soon find some one more
worthy of your love than your friend lif you
will allow me that title.)
LOUIS MEREDITH"
Every particle Of color forsook Beatrice
cheeks as she Iead-her lips were white, her
hands trembled violently she could scarcely
hold the letter, death-like faintness stole
over her, and she sank into chair and buried
her face in her hands
Not tear, not moan escaped her; she
sat there, motionless as a statue, but IN hei
heart what a whirlwind of emotions was rag
ing How long she sat there she hardly
knew; when at last she looked up, the twi-
light was deepening, and she rose with star
from her seat. Her couutenance bore the
traces of her suifering--she looked haggarC
and wan; the agony Of these few hours hat
changed her fearfully, but her eyes flashed
with all their usual fire, and her lips wer'
firmly compressed together. She drew her
self up proudly, as il she despised hersei
for her weakness, crushed the lotter. whicl