Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-04-26

we liked best to sit there, hand clasped in
hand, feeling how entire was the happi-
ness and satisfaction of the others pres
ence. AT length he said
"I know that l shall be giving good
mother to my little Laura. should be
cruel were l to forget her in my JOY"
Il could not at first divine his mean.
ing. l looked at him inquiringly.
"Your little Laura ?"
"Yes, my child, my little girl You
knew of her existence, surely" I"
"Nop
Il had supposed that the Henshaws
had told you all my history. Did you
not know / had been married? My wife,
my Laura, died five years ago, and my
little Laura is just five years DID,"
What could l say; who had so often
said that l would wrong no dead woman
by taking from her her husbands love? !
could give up Hiram Woodbury., perhaps,
but / could give up my life as we'll.
clutched at hope. asked
Ibid you love her-your wife?"
"Tenderly-most tenderly."
"And she loved you?"
"With all her heart"
"Shc was your first love ?"
!" Yes, the love of my youth. But,
why these questions, Agatha? Are you
not satisfied with the love pledge you
a love as strong and true as man ever gave
to woman 2"
"I must be-" l whispered, in voice
whose calmness startled me, it contrastcd
50 strangely with the tumult of my heart
II must be. love you so we'll, Heaven
help me, that l have no other choice. And
yet l had thought to be the first love o.
the man / married"
"You are my love, Agatha, my own
dear, true love! You will be Laura's
mother, will you not?'
Heaven made me truthful. | did no
deceive or belle myself in that hour.
answered honestly.
II will be Laura's mother, so far a
seeing to her wants and being kind to he
are concerned. l will love her if can
If l can not, you must not blame me
We cannot force our hearts to love merel,
because it is our duty. was born jeal
GUS, and it would be hard for me to for
get that you loved Laura's mother befor
you loved me; perhaps better than yo'
ever could love me" XII
IL believe you are better than your owl
estimate, Agatha. At any rate, whateve
you arc, l love you"
1t was with such an understanding a
this that We we're married, but my wed
ding day was not as happy as my girlisl
hopes had always pictured it. A phan
tom seemed constantly at my side--Hi
rams first wife. She became shade,
between his lips and mine, and made hi
fondest kisses seem cold.
"How did she look? I wish / coul
know"
asked him this question as we sa
I alone together on our wedding night
Had he been thinking of her, too? H
opened his trunk and took from it mir
iature painted on ivory, and placed it j
, my hand. Oh, how lovely she was-jus
Q the being to be cherished in a man
Q inmost hcart-idealized, wrapped roun
with loves idolatry. She looked like on
to die young with that clear, transparen
I, skin, the brow SO white, and the vivi
. rose bloom in the cheeks. The eyes wei
8 large and blue, with an innocent, appea
0 ing, unworldly look, and the hair, in tn
! picture, was dusky gold. How could b
}. ever love me- with my dark, Pawnee fac
Q and irregular features, after that?
). asked him the question l could not hel
= it. ha
}, II do love you. dear; is not tn;
Q enough. ! love you as tenderly as an
u woman's heart can ask"
y / was silent on the subject afterwart
for very shame, but the demon of jealous
a made his lair in my heart, and ! q
b afraid his wicked eyes looked out Of mil
now and then. gaal Ya
q For five weeks we were travelling togetl