The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-04-28

| demanded"
| have"
Lead me to it,"
There was hesitation in his look.
and l repeated my demand with an oath
He stood irresolute for moment, and then
said that if / would wait moment, until
he had adjusted some affairs in his room,
he would comply with my demand. This
added new food to my suspicious. | curs-
ed him for his artfulness. He could not
deceive me, and reiterated my demand
that he should show me the room at once.
81 do not think that up to this time
the shameful nature Of my suspicious had
really been appreheuded by him. When
these dawned upon him, there was fire
in his eye, and quick, painful swelling
Of his veins and muscles which / prey to
God may never see again. Pain, indig-
nation and determination were all there,
aud / felt in a moment that l had reused
a nature whose depth and strength I had
failed hitherto to measure. With great
self.control, however he said, I" Mr.. Ken
nedy. you are unjust to woman whose
happiness, fear, is dearer to me than to
you Did ! feel at liberty to disregard
her peace, would sooner hug dagger to
my heart than yield for moment to your
insolence. Even now, you can only enter
my room on my conditions. Stand here
for moment, and will call you"
Take your own course" I doggedly
replied.
"He passed up the stairs and l, to
avoid suspicion, looked up to the sky II
was one Of those calm winter days that
show heaven as pure and blue as if a
storm had never stained it. had stood
thus hardly ten seconds when Mr.. r.IBenton
descended a few steps, and spoke my name.
followed him up the stairs, through
dim passage, into a room chaste in its ap-
pointments, but filled with light as soft
and pure as if even the glorious day with
out had been refined by passage through
some rare medium. In my state Of mind
| could hardly comprehend the objects be-
fore me at glance But knew that I
was in an artists studio. Benton was 81
lent, but my eye selected at once the prom
inent painting in the apartment. I look.
ed, and was struck with fit of shivering
1t was the portrait of my bride-my dar
ling Jane. 1 was dumb. 1 could no
have spoken had it been to save my life
I have no idea how long had stood
thus, when Mr.. Benton approached me
and took my unresisting hand. +" Mr.
Kennedy" said he, with choking soun(
in his throat, I" l know of no proper wa,
for me to contribute to the happiness 0
one whom I have loved as I can neve
love another, except by doing pleasur
to the man whom she has honored wit
her love. thought it would be pleasan
to you to have portrait Of your wife, a
she appeared in her bridal attire and a
my solicitation she has been here nun
Der Of times to sit for her picture He
friend Miss Stevens has been here wit
her, and your servant has inst passed fror
sight when you came up, with the packag
containing her dress. IF I have don
wrong, forgive me but I thought it woul
make you all SO happy.
"As be closed these words, uttered wit
honest emotion, every one of which wer
like dagger to my heart, l found strengt
! to lift my eyes to his. The big tears WEI
hanging upon his eye lids, and his face,
that exquisite light was as beautiful as
it had been tho face of an angel W
looked at one another moment, and the
, moved by common impulse, threw on
selves into one another's arms, and erie
sir-cried like two babies"
Oh my God Tom, that was the har
| est thing that ever happened to me.
t was killed-killcd by a magnanimity tt
|, great for my mean heart to fathom
, seized him by the arm, at last, led hi
| down stairs, and took the way to my ov
house. You know my impulses and u
! know could not stop until l had ma
a clean breast of it. / went straight
\. my house, kissed Jane dozen times, to
the whole story and made myself ride
b. lous. Poor Jane She was ashamed
a me, and do not think she has got over
yet"
" And Benton" l suggested.
Benton remained, and drank tea wi
!. us, in accordance with my earnest wish
h and sent the picture home the next da
but he has not been here since. l dou
II whether he will ever come again. 7
!. fact is, your friend Fred Kennedy ne'
Ealt So humble n he has since that d,