The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-06-16


before Christmas Day. But I ought
to have told you that ! had seen the
Percivals frequently between my visits
to Surrey. They were living then near
London, the mother and daughter.
( Mrs Percival had been widow some
years. and had talked to Mary lit
tie about my admiration Of the other
Mary. Mary Perciyal was interested
in the subject, and seemed often in
clined to return to it. 1t was not a
topic of conversation that / by any
means objected to; but didn't half
enjoy it under the circumstances
There was something unlike herself
about Mary, certain constraint not
to be concealed. II was not very no.
ticeable; bat I, who knew her SO well,
noticed it, or rather felt it. and was
uncomfortable accordingly At tho
same time l was perfectly sure that
my friend was sincere both in the in
terest she expressed and in her man
ner toward me-
"There was no afectation in Mary
Percival-far from it. Looking back
from later day upon the events and
feelings Of that time, | was more wise
to know the truth. Then | was only
a selfish man who was not coxcomb.
Let me see, where was L? told you
| went home before Christmas. was
entered at the Inner Temple then
and one day, early in the new year, j
was alone in my chambers, when an
idea, which had been a long time sim
mering, boiled and dubbed into de
termination. 1t was to write, to write,
sir, to Mary Homer, and learn the
worst or the best An ! / can Jest up
on it now. wrote. The thermome-
ter stood at twenty. Thera were
blocks of ice in the river like hore-
hound candy; but let my fire out
while at my absorbing task. l wrote.
l have bad habit of spelling several
sheets of paper when write an inn
portant letter / can show You a fac
smile of this, discarded because of
the capital Ms being of two varieties.
There it is, read it." This was the
letter.
"London, Jan. 3D.
"AIY DEAREST MARY I cannot call
you by any other name and speak tru-
ly. Forgive me if the truth is distaste-
full to you. Forgive, too, this method
of making it known In all our hap
by associations l have not dared yes,
that is the word-to tell you this. "A
faint heart, you will say; but the
bright particular star always seemed
so far above me- These are calm
words, dear, when my love is warm;
these are cold words, when my heart
is beating wildly. L would rather
read my sentence, if it is to be ban
ishment; but oh 1 would ten times
rather hear it, if it has one word of
hope. Let me have but that word,
and / will be with you. In any case,
l feel that you will deal tenderly as
well as truthfully with me.
yours, devotedly
FRANK"
"In that same hour" he continued,
81 decided to tell Mary Percival OF
what had done. There is pretty
accurate copy of my letter to her.
1t ran thus
London, Jan. 3d.
Il know, dear Mary, do not look
in vain for sympathy from you. /
need it greatly to-day. You will be-
lieve this when l tell you what l have
done. have written to ask some
one to give me her heart. Can you
guess who it is ? | am not hopeful,
but l am not despairing. | cannot
say more now than that in all my for
tunes l am confident of your sisterly
regard. Yours, aflectionately,
FRANK"
} When l had read this without re-
mark, Blundell went on with his mar
rative,
81 had finished these letters and
folded them, when there was rap al
my door, followed immediately by the
entrance of my opposite neighbor
, We'll, | neverr was his exclamation
; ARE you out of coal ? looked round
upon the black CRATE for answer, hay
ing first put the letters into envelopes
: and fastened them. Il came to see j
you were inclined for skate, my visi
, tor said 4 tried the ice on the "Or
namental Water" yesterday; it wal
pretty good. They say it is capital to
day, but come and have some luncI
: with me before we 60. You are mis-
| cradle here | accented the invita-