Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-05-24

l learned afterward that he was remark
able mechanical genius, and had realized
a handsome fortune by some of his inven-
tions; also, that he was Jealous reformer,
leading in the van in every noble work.
I had not known Mr. Woodbury. four
days before felt in my heart that here
was man I could entirely love. Still |
was proud, and | strove to retain my af-
fections in my own keeping. l did not
feel sure that he was interested in me, but
there seemed language in his eyes I dared
not trust myself to interpret
By the time he had been there fort
night, we knew each other better than we
could have done in year, had VIC met
slowly in society. 1t was on the fifteenth
day after his coming that he told me that
he loved me, and asked me to be his wife
We were alone, sitting under clump of
pines at the west end of the house, where
we had gone to see the July sunset. We
had watched the clouds silently as they
changed from gold and crimson to the
softer shades of rose and azure, until they
were gone. ThenI looked up and saw
that his eyes were looking at me very
earnestly, with strange tenderness in
their depths. AS he met my glance he
spoke:- p" 0." @
'h" I have only known you short time,
Agatha, but you are already dearer to me
than | can say. Do you think you could
ever love me well enough to be my wife?"
al do" answered, with strange
fullness at my heart, which seemed almost
to choke my utterance. ,.''
God bless you, Agatha. You are
what my soul needs" ~ " tha
His words were strong and fervent, and
he gathered me close in his arms to his
hcart-me, an orphan since my earliest
recollections, and realizing, for the first
time, what it was to be intensely loved
by any human being We did not talk
much of our emotions | think we both
liked best to sit there, hand clasped in
hand, feeling how utter was the happiness
and satisfaction of each in the others
presence. At length he said -
"I know that I shall be giving a good
mother to my little Laurie. I should be
cruel were to forget her in my joy"
could not at first divine his meaning
l looked at him inquiringly.
"Your little Laurie?"
{" Yes my child, my little girl. Yor
knew of her existence, surely?"
"No!"
al had supposed that the Henshaws
had told you all my history. Did yor
not know | had been married I? My wife
my Laurie, died five years ago, and my
little Laurie is just five years old" " .
What could | say, who had said SC
often that | would wrong no dead woman
by taking her from her husbands love-
| could give up Hiram Woodbury., per
haps, but I could give up my life as we'll
| clutchcd at hope; asked, ~
"Did you love her-your wife ?"
"Tenderly most tcnderly."
"And she loved you p
"With all her heart" y. '''
"She was your first love 2"
"Yes the love of my youth. But why
these questiones, Agatha? Are you no
satisfied with the love pledge to you, ;
love as strong and true as man ever CAV
to woman?"
'I must be-" I whispered in voic
WHOSE CalHncsS stdltlCu hlC, ~ Ooheia aoeo'
so strangely with, the tumult of my heart
81 love you so well, heaven help me tha
| have no other choice. And yet | hac
thought to be the first love of the man
married"
"You are my love- Agatha, my dear
~ Fl L - !.
true love! You will be Laurie's mother
will you not q
Heaven made me truthful. | did no
deceive or belle myself in that hour.
answered honestly.
4 II will be Laurie's mother. 50 far a
seeing to all her wants, and being kind t
her is concerned. / will love her, if
can. If ! cannot you must not blame me
We cannot force our hearts to love bccaus
it is our duty. | was born jealous, AM