The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-12-27

marry young girl, and that he he'd
thought Of me, because had none of the
social advantages which might have given
most young ladies Of his own set great
expectations an made them harder for
n mf die aged man to win. This snspi-
cion aroused my Indignation, and l felt
like showing him that mt least | was not
TO be bought fanced what it would
be TO be his wife. and to love him, abd
then TO find ont that my love was super
huous or unwclcome; that he wearied of
its expression; that he expected in me
only well-bred mistress OF his house, a
wcll-iniormed companion for himself. |
had heart, passionate, woman's heart,
with a strong power of loving 1t rose
within inc, clamor,ng against being de-
iranded Of all the warmth and brightness
of life. No, would not marry Judge
| llhbard--I would retain my freedom
| would not break myself against a rock,
but wait for the warm loving human heart
! that should be mine SOME day, mine only
Then answered my guardians letter,
| and accepted the situation of MIS-. Brad
| sInw's governcss. Atterward | went to
bed in n mood of,irtuous self satisfaction,
expecting TO sleep the sleep Of the just
instead lay awake half the night, haun-
ted by strange sense of loss-a vagne
feeling that Twas missing n,thing which
might have made my life fuller, richer,
better worth living. For Judge llib
bard's Gne position and stately houSe-ior
the case and elegance which would have
be mine as his wife--I had not one
regret. ! liked such things but WAS
! no Circassinn girl to he bought or sold.
| The sense Of loss the vague regret--were
only for what ] fancied my lite might
have been it Judge llibbard and / had
loved each other. believing that we did
not, the matter became one with which
had no concern, and ! tried to put it aside
| steadlastly.
The xt evening 7 found myself again
walking Ivy his side. The sun had set,
and the September moon was ilooding the
splendid mountain landscape with silver
light. We walked for while IN silence,
and then he said:
"Well, Madeleine, have you thought
of that matter !"
II have
"And the result"
hardly dared meet his eyes, bis face
looked 50 eager and earnest in the noon
light.
4 sent to day my letter Of acceptance,
l said, slowly, half wishing, even ther,
that had something else to tell him
"Next year shall be Mrs. Bradshaws
governess"
For little while he did rot speak,
and the moon shone steadtastly - the
night wind stirred my hair->ome late
bird going home to its nest dropped down
"A gush OF quiver.ng melody. The scene,
SO full o. peace and IF low, illness, instead OF
soothing me stirred my heart almost to
pam. / felt the tears stealing up TO my
eyes, and was glad when he broke the
silence.
"Wcll, Madeleine. Ipresume you were
wight. OF course IT you had loved me
you would have decided dliftrently-not
loving me You have taken the only true
course. When remember the twenty
one years b.tw e us, wonder AT myself
and the hope h,d of pleasing you"
longcd to tell him that it had not
been the Year, but the feeling that, just
rs he WAS, he did not love me. had
not tho courage, and again silence fell be-
tween u-, which after limo, as before,
he broke.
81 can never cease, Madeleine" he
said, with grave tenderness, 80 feel
strong and peculiar interest in your wei
fare. 1t is filter. perhaps, that should
be your father than your lover-but in
some capacity [ feel that ] must guard
you from making any great mistake in
life. Will You make me one PROMISE
one which JeanEetiee made me two years
ago-thst you will never say yes to any
suior until you have talked the matter
over with me! know more OF men
than you possibly can. Perhaps shall
be able to save you from such terrible
ship-wreck Of life sS Is constantly coming
to my pro 'essional knowledge"
| did not realiZe then how hard 1t
wonld lie TO keep such propise-lna
tender earnc>tness seemed to compel me.
telt that owed hun something-and |
gave the required pledge.
I "Rememher." he said, ''I hold you
solemnly bound. II you had had father
to watch over your interests ! should
never have asked this; as it is, Yam sure
that am right"
II wns still week before went away
from Conway, and Judge Hbbard re-
maired there all that time. He did not
avo me, or him, ana his quiet pleas
ure in my society constantly strengthened
my conviction that he never had telt for
me any of that tervOr and tnmult OF pas
sion without which, 7 thought in those
days, no love was worth a womaps tak.
ing
At llst Twent TO Mrs- Bralshaw's 7
had money enough 10 pay the expenses
OF the journey, and buy me a tall bonnet
ard "a new pair OF g'oSos. There. my
mans ended and Irather fancied com
inc 50 nearly tIthe end Of my resources.
There was a spice Of rcckIessncss and ad-
venture about it which had its own
charm.