The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-07-01

N"Ie,i MS eyebrows I'VE were not
speaking of love, / believe" he said,
"but of fitness We should put the
vanities of this carnal world out of the
I question when tre look for wives,
Brother Dove"
made him no answer this time.
and we walked on in silence for many
moments, when Benjamin again spoke.
Il believe that she would be admir-
ably fitted for the position" he said,
"and ] intend to act upon the belief
have been resolved to marry for sew
eral years, and Deacon Olmsteads
daughter appears to have excellent
qualities. 1 shall offer her my hand.
Perhaps she will not accept"
| said it angrily. My voice was not
under my control at that moment.
Benjamin Bitterworth understood me
1 saw that in his cold black eye, but
he answered without emotion
"Her father would decide that, ]
think. He is a man of judgment, and
she is an obedient daughter"
perhaps she might choose for her
self, / answered.
Perhaps said Benjamin, "but l
think she has been brought up well "
you may have rivals | continued
ut is not consistent with my cloth
to be any mans rival, replied Benja-
min. "What / do, Brother Dove, |
do from a sense of duty. 1 am not
governed by carnal passions, and l
hope you are not"
Pious words, and spoken with a sol
emn face, but | well knew that under
that cloak Benjamin Bitterworth flung
the gauntlet of defiance at my feet.
We said no more, but went on towards
the stage, he treading softly along the
road on the tips Of his polished boots,
his thin lips spontaneously pressed
together, his black-gloyed hands folded
behind his back, while /, warmed and
angry, put a strong restraint upon my
self TO walk beside him decorously.
After this day we met only under
Deacon Omstead's roof, but we met
there often i went thither to see
Rose ! made no disguise of the fact
He Benjamin Bitterworth sat aloof,
talking 10 her fatheras a general thing
and only now and then interposed be-
tween us, and then only, rs 1T seemed,
to prove his power. In whatever he
did in this way he was aided and
abetted by old Deacon Olmstead. !
could see that plainly. But | also saw
that Rose began to ike me very much.
In that l trusted for, though a stern
parent, Deacon Ohnstead seemed to
love his daughter
Summer faded, and the roses IN my
darling's garden died with 1t. But
there were scarlet dahlias, and Queen
Margarets, and mangolds, blooming
yet, and the naples about the house
grew red in the autumn sunset in
which walked beside her, and gold
en- siJ1u lazy ,-r.--- II si-:--r,-, =
through it l looked at Rose and at the
future At last spoke to her, saying
something ike this
II love you Rose I think l love
you more than ever man loved woman.
Can you love me well enough to be
my wife r
And the golden curls sank low upon
my shoulder, and l gathered my dar-
ling up against my heart. We were
in the garden then, beside great elm,
Older than the house itself, and shell
tered by it, we stood together, | sup
porting her, she leaning on my breast
and we saw nothing save each other S
faces heard nothing save each others
voices and took the little hand III
mine and slipped a tiny ring upon the
taper fingers that had been my
mothers betrothal ring and which, up
on her dead-bed, she had given me
bidding me give it to the girl l loved
upon the day she promised to marry
me.
And so the sun went down, and the
elm trees shadow lay long and dark
across the path, and, mingled with 1t
: fell another shadow-that of Rose
Olmsteads father. He came upon Us
: suddenly, and found us standing to-
gether Rose would have shrunk from
me, but L would not let her go.
"She has promised to be my wife
sir, / said. Give us your blessing
1t is all we need to make us happy
You will give her to me, will you not
: love her very dearly"
The Deacons face was like a stone
| could not read its import but he
drew his daughter towards him and
) stood between us.
you have done wrong, Mr.. Dove,
, he said, very wrong. She is young
and has bat little judgment.
will speak to her alone; l should
have spoken to her before, but
I thought one of your profession could
be trusted. Good evening. Come
= Rose"
And he passed into the house, taking
, her with him; and as / left the garden
, / saw Benjamin Bitterworth with hi'
stately step and folded hands, making
= his way along the road.
The next day a boy came to ny
study with n note. 1t was from Dea
} con Olmstead, and summoned me tC
! his dwelling. / went at once, and II
the parlor found Rose, pale as bly,
/ sitting beside her father. She looked
at me as came in, TO, one moment
, and then turned her face aside and hiC
it with her hand. She did not speak
; Her father spoke for her.
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