The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-12-15

Clullntu hTs. Juch, VIM 'h' Huttti
with you ?"
II believe-I think-fve got cold
in my head" faltered !, looking all the
time at Agnes, who was playing with
her bracelet and pretending not tc
laugh.
Jack" said I, that evening, as he
went out to the gate with me, there
no use trying to mince matters--if ]
can't win Miss Agnes l shall take
arsenic.
Jack squeezed my hand--he had
been through the mill himself
ado you think she cares for me,
Jack p asked, plaintively, about a
month afterwards. Il declare, honest
ly, I've the greatest mind in the world
to jump off the pier. or hang myself
peaceably. Now, what does she mean
by flirting with that great whisker-
ell Carew? Oh Jack, do be merciful,
and tell me what you really think"
Poor Maycliffcl il was about the
thirtieth time j had asked him the
same question.
"Why, how can l tell, Arthur? You
might as we'll ask me to read the Hin
doc alphabet as to decipher the mys-
teries of woman's heart. Why don't
you ask her yourself?'
"AIe ask her !" and the cold chills
ran through me like veins of ice
"Jack, | dare not, for my life '
"Well, can't give any better advice, ="
said he; only remember, my boy, that
faint heart never won fair lady"
He turned away and left me stand
ing in the amber blush of twilight
among the crimson clusters of CHINA
mon roses and the tall carnals of gleam-
ing lilies Up in the sky the new
moon hung, a curved thread of silver,
and one bright star bore its lance of
pearl against the radiant horizon. l
looked absently up at the fair atmos-
phere--down at the blossoming garden
Of flowers thinking, in my perplexity,
how like to the blue heaven was Ag-
ness eyes, and marvelling that the
pink roses were SO akin to the dainty
color that came and went upon her
soft cheek Beside the low French
window that looked out upon the piaz
IA | saw the flow of muslin drapery
through the fragrant gloom--it was
there Mrs. Maycliffe was wont to sit
with her baby.
caught the refrain of the low deli
cious cradle-song she warbled to the
tiny sleeper. A bright thought struck
me. l would take womalss wit into
counsel
"Nettie, said I, sitting down on the
piazza step, and leaning my head
against the rose-enwreathe pillar just
opposite the window, 81 wish you'd
tell me what to do. I'm desperately
in love with your sister; and-don
laugh now-I haven't the courage &c
tell her SO"
paused an instant, and then went
on love her better than life. Nc
that is not saying enough would
die to make her happy. Oh Nettie
can't you give me word of encourage
ment l dare not tell her OF my love
because my heart sickens in dread
from the little word "no !" Will she
speak it, do you think ? Nettie, vii
she break my heart ?"
Ispoke with trembling accents fresh
3 from the deepest recess of my soul
The very air seemed to sob around
me as l ceased One instant of silence
in the sost-pulsing fragrance of the mid
summer twilight, and then there wa'
fiutter of hight azure robes and the
fall of fairy footstep. Ere l could
look up, soft white arm, cleaning
! with the clasp of a blood-red cora
bracelet, was around my neck, and {
shower of brown curls nestled in IN.
breast.
"She will not--she will never !"
The voice was that of Agnes Day
/ held the coy, coquettish trembler t.
my heart.
Life has been trimming with sweet
. ever since. Many a golden momen
has paused to sprinkle its chalice o
Joy around my footsteps as it passe'
into the world of the bygone; but il
all my existence there never came
second time like that l had beel
pleading to Aggie herself, while Net
tie stood smiling iii the background
: the veriest of roguery cleaning in he
halle eyes through the dim culver
7 joyous tears.
$50 Tn really to have brother-in
. law !" she said, putting aside the rose