Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-11-28

lue nrAl hlernOJui oelJTe beluug reauy lO
my cal, consulted my mother as matter o
form, predetermined, however, TO overrule hs
objections il she should make any, She acqui
esced in my plan at once.
Certainly" she said. "You and Mary wer,
always great friends. Go and see her, and !
your welcome is not what it used to BE-, you'll
know how to stay away afterward." "
So put on my pink muslin, my most beeom.
ing dress, and started of well pleased. Before
had reached the entrance Of the Esterley grounds
May saw me, and ran to meet me--!he same dear
impulsiye girl as ever
was on the lookout for you" she said, "you
dear darling old Frank Tom said you would
come to-day. You can't think how he raves
about you. lie says you would make such a sen.
sstion in society"
had enough Of New England eIfre,pect and
selfpossesslon to keep me from any undue ex-
pfessons Of enthusiasm when went with May
through the house, filed with such adoruments
AZ were unfamiliar to my eyes. admired with
discretion, and suffered neither ignorance nor en-
w to make me ridiculous. The family were all
kind, but iancied | detected about Mrs. Ester
ley and her two elder daughters slight atmos-
pberl cf patronage. | did not mind It, however.
The Squire vas good natured and atherly, May
WAS quite unchanged, and Tom waited on my
steps and listened to my words with devotion
as new to my experience Of life as it was hatter.
! ing They made me stay to tea and afterward
/ | drove with them, and it was almost nine o'clock
when they se, me down at my own gate.
4" need not ask if you've enjoyed yourself"
mother sai4, ch.erlIly, as lwent ln "Your face
tells zoe story. The blues are all gone. And
| here john
/ Sure enough, John Column rose, and came out
! OF the shadow where he was sttiug-tall, strong,
/ sturdy, every inch q man, but not Bit Of fine
/ gentlemaa and liked fine gontlemen best in
those days ! talked to him few moments, but
1 fancy my manner was cold, for be soon went
away, and knew when he was gone my mother
sighed i,te sadly, and said, hal-reproachfuly,
that John WIS not elegant, perhaps but be was
good as gold.
did not dispute her remark was in hur-
ry to get up stair and dream my new dreams,
ponder my new ambitions, and recall all the
events Of the afternoon.
After that the EsteTleys claimed large share
Of my time. Sometimes they wanted me to drive
or ride; then again il was some home amusement
which would not be complete without me. On
some prete1t or other we met daily. | doubt il
Mrs. Esterey and her elder daughters we're quite
pleased at the course events taking, but they
could hardly complain Of it, for until four years
ago we had been near neighborg and close friends
all our lives. The Squire was unchanged by biz
prosperity, and really liked me so Mays friend
ship and Toms admiration carried the day, and
va, almost one Of the amily before June was
over Ny father and mother took the matter
quietly, though do not think it pleased them
They had no ambition Of the kind which seeing
me married to Tom E.terey would crafty but
perhaps they thought there was no danger ofthat.
AT sny rate they we're wise enough not TO strength
en- any fancy | might have by opposition, or to
manifest any yrrsnical desire to abridge my en-
j,yment 1t makes my heart ache to-day to think
Of the quiet patience with which my mother did
alone the tasks 10 which ough, to have helped
her while took my pleasure.
The first OF August-Just Six weeks from that
June afternoon which have called the beginning
OF my experience 10 liie-Tom Esterley asked me
to marry him He made bis declaration Of love
very gracefully all the usual pretty senten-
oes about my being the one thing neediul to per-
feet bis life, the only woman he had ever cared
for, ard so on. Il sounded very sueety, and
can remember it to this day. | experienced no
very tumultuous emotions, but my heart was fut.
terins with grst,fed ambition, and felt certain
pride in his attentions and delight at his prefer
snoe which really thoug ht was love. So said
yes to bis pleading, as indeed had meant to-
from that first June day when made up my mind
that he should like me.
That night told father and mother, as quietly
and briefly as | could, that had promised to
marry Tom Esterley, and he would come the next
day to ask heir consent.
"PooF John" my mother said softly, think
almost unconsciously.
took her up all the more sharply, perhaps,
because her words touched secret chord Of sym
pathy in my own heart.
Z" As il ever, under any circumstances, would
have married John Colman | am not enough
in love with farmers lot for that. Let those
skim milk, and churn butter, and scrub floors whs
are fond fit. For me, shall like such life as
the Esterleys live very decidedly better"
" May your life be happy, dear child, whatever
one you choose r my mother said, still gently,
but with quiver Of pain in her voice which
touched me more than any rebuke would have
done.
The next morning Tom came aud said wha!ev-
er was right and proper to my parents, suppose,
for they called me down aherward, and saw him
alone IN the little parlor, and be told me il was
all settled. | was TO be his wife by the next
sprng-they had not been willing the engage
ment should be shorter than that-but in the
mean time be should persuade them to lot me
make long visit III New York, and We must bear
the waiting as well as we could. Then he kissed
me wondered at myself for taking it all so
coolly. had thought it was in my temperament
to love with ieryor and passion but had mis-
taken myself, probably, aud my capacity for emo
ton was not what had imagined 1t.
That evening, when | returned from drive
with Mr. Esterley, and went in alono, having
parted with him at the gate, found John Colman
there again Something told the moment saw
his face, that my mother had been informing him
how matters stood. He got up and came for
ward to shake hands. knew it was hard work
for him to be so calm by the tense lines round
his mouth, and the unwontsd flush on his bronzed
cheek But he spoke very quietly
q" Your mother has told me, and think the lot
will lust suit you. You were born to love bright
and beautiful things, and to live among them,-
God bless you"
Then he went away.
Mother asked me if had had nice ride, but
her voice trembled. | knew she loved John al
most as Il he were her son, and that she had bssn
sorrowng over the pain she had been forced to give
him. went up stairs, and curiously enough my
own heart was not as light as the heart of new.
ly.beuothed bride should have been, But
looked over to the Estsrlsy mansion, rising state
" in the moonlight, and thought Of the ease and
elegance which awaited me, aud found therein
balm for oil the woes less than its loss.
The next day all the Esterleys called at our
house The Squire and May we're hearty and
tender in their congratulations. ln the manner
of the others there was nothing to complain OF
but received the impression that they we're act
ing under heroic resolve to make the best Of
| had hsrgain