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

sily-given aid was nearly being as ia
tai to me rs the ice prison would have
! been. How | was carried home to my
/ fathers house, and suffered many days
from the combined effects of the plunge
and the blow, l could tell you only as
it was told me. was long uncon-
scious, and for some time after the
dangerous symptoms had abated I
| could take no notice of what was
passing around me.
Il was gradually recovering, howev-
er, both physically and mentally; and
one morning | became aware, upon
awaking from dose, that ] was not
alone. Some one had come in while
slept and was sitting by my side.
A soft hand was LAID on mine, and, us
| looked round, gentle, well-known
voice spoke. 1t was Mary Percivals.
L am SO thankful, dear it said so
very thankful. | was still weak, and
cried. She stopped and kissed my
forehead Bless you she whispered,
and with an arch smile, continued, 1T
was a funny letter for you to write to
me. Besides, l thought paused,
looking at me Then she said, L must
talk to you about it another day, and
scold you; but thank you for it now a
thousand thousand times | came to
give you my answer, and found you
here. Oh Frank How could you be
afraid of me? How could you doubt
my love ? But that is all past now,
and l must not tire you even with my
happiness. Goodbye, dearest. And
she went out very quickly, the tears
binding her
ut is shame to speak of this; but
you are my friend, and it is necessary,
if,you are to understand my feelings.
You can imagine them. What had
come to me or to her? / scarcely
needed; | made no response to her
words, but this she doubtless attrib-
uted to my weakened state; and when
she left me lay looking wonderingly
at the door AT last thought struck
me, rang my bell. 1t was answered
by my mother l asked her il there
were any letters for me. She feared /
was not equal to exertion, but went to
fetch them. AS soon as l was alone
again | searched for one. / cared for
only one l found it. You shall see
it in the original
He handed me the letter. 1t was
written in firm, clearly cut characters
moro Greek than Italian" and was
MS follows:-
"Shaiioiyord Rectory, jan 4th.
"MY DEAR FRANK, 1t was so kind
OF you to depend upon my sympathy.
Be assured you have it. I do hope
you viii be accepted; but of course
you will, and be immensely happy.
You can't think how glad l was to
hear about H. Do you know, fan
cied, like vain thing, that you were
Just the least bit in the world what
Fred would call 'spoony' upon some
body here. should have been so sor-
ry-don't be angry-for Charles and |
have been engaged the last two years.
We have said nothing about it, except,
of course, to papa and mamma; and
the same post that brought your let
ter brought one for him, offering him
a long expected living. Now we hope
to be married this year. Dear old
Charley he is SO good. | shall, we
all shall, be anxious to know more
from you. What weather Fred is
skating. He says of us, of Charles
and me and you, Poor things poor
things ! We don't think SO, do we
hope some day to see and love your
wife. can guess who it is. | know
you like the name of Mary. With
good wishes from all of us for the new
year, believe me, your sincere friend.
"MARY HoRNER."
Blundell was standing by me, look
ing over my shoulder, as read.
81 took in the truth at once" he
said. Don't you
"Why," ] gasped, "you had reversed
the directions. / saw that at glance
when you gave me this.
Exactly To say that / was not
I confounded shocked at frst-would
: be untrue. How could it be other
: wise =? But in the calm reflection o.
succeeding days (for l was left in
: quietness to gather strength) feol-
! ing OF satisfaction grew upon me
: grateful satisfaction that / had escaped
= rejection Humiliation on the one
hand, and the sorrow Of inhicting use
5 less pain on the other; that | had lost
no friend, but had found noble heart
II