Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-06-07

Mr.. Thompson had not proposed to me al
ter all, and | was hurt to the hearts cor,
by the coldness of his adieu. My valu,
had gone down with my cousins faithless
ness mine had been at the best but a re
fiected light. | was liked because Jessie
, was loved
She became Mrs Norris soon after this
She was married from my aunt's house, ou
of regard to Mr.. Norris, who was related tt
her, and who dishked Mrs. Gray. "Tha
busybody," he called her, and I am afraiC
she was busybody. Jessie was very
bright and seemed very happy She
teased me numerically about Mr. Thomp
son. She was sure, she said, he had made
love to me, and she looked at me with
cruel significance as she spoke But be-
trayed neither his secret nor mine and
though she vexed me when she quizzed
him to Mr.. Norris, especially about his UNI
breila, did keep silent
Fl" am sure he will be married with his
umbrella under his arm" she said the
evening before her own wedding "Don't
you think so ?"
did not answer her | went out into
the garden, and wondered how she had
charmed him. Alas | might have won
dered how, without seeking it, how he had
charmed me-
Jessie's marriage was a blow to my aunt.
She had always thought | should go fl
first She was also cruelty disappointed
by Mr.. Thompson's Indifference, and per-
haps she guessed the meaning of my altered
looks. | believe got pale and thin Just
then. And l was always playing Chopin's
march.
"My DEAR" said my aunt to me one
evening, is not that very mournful ?"
" like it, aunt" | replied but | re-
solved to play it no more
Mr.. Thompson liked it." she said. with
a sigh. wonder he did not propose to
you," she added, abruptly.
] was mute.
| wish had never asked him here"
she resumed II cannot help thinking"
Don't, pray don't p l interrupted
She did not insist but she made me go
and sit by her. She caressed me, she
coaxed me- and little by little she drew my
secret from me.
"My poor darling" she said, when | had
confessed ALL abe may value you yet"
No, aunt, he never will. But pray do
it, and | will"
spoke resolutely, and my aunt praised
me.
You have always been the best of
girls" she said, tenderly, "and | am glad
you have had confidence in me- do not
mean to leave home this year but now |
will take you to the seaside. You must
have change, my poor darling"
She kissed me, and | remember how calm
and happy felt in that gray room, sitting
by my dear aunt's side, and looking at the
starry sky. The nightingale was singing
again as on that sad evening when | had
felt so broken-hearted tears rose to my
eyes when | remembered it, and his last
kindness, and my foolish withered hopes
but the bitterness was gone from my sor-
row.
d" You must have change" said my aunt
again
Alas the change came with the morn
Ny aunt was late for breakfast | went
up to her room and found her calmly sleep
ing. But, oh too calm, too deep, were
those slumbers. The kind eyes which had
rested on me in love were cl sed, the voice
which had ever spoken in praise and en-
dearment was silenced for ever and ever.
| suppose it was not Jessie's fault that
her husband was my aunt's heir-at-law; but
| found it very hard. Poor dear aunt she
always did mean to make will in my fa-
vor, and she never did. Mr.. Norris behaved
very handsomely, was told. He gave me
the piano which had been bought for me,
few other articles of no great value, and all
my aunt's wardrobe. He kept her jewels,
which were fine, and the furniture for which,
as he said truly enough, had no use.
Moreover, he allowed me to remain in the
cottage till Lady-day though perhaps, as
he could not live in two houses at time,
and must pay the rent whether | stayed
there or not, this was no such great favor
after all. God forgive me, fear was very
sinful during the dark days that followed.
had some friends who did, or rather who
said their best, but there was one who new
er came near me, who gave me no token of
his existence, who had no kind word for me,
who let me struggle through my hard trial
and who never offered hel ping hand. He
might at least have written, have condoled
me in my sorrow, but he did not And yet
he was in the neighborhood He was sat
at Mr. Norris house. Jessie herself told
me SO. True, ne had business to transact
with her husband but still, how could he
do it?
He did it, and did more Mr. Norris was
thrown off his horse one morning and bro't
home dead. Jessie became widow and a
poor one, said the world. Mr.. Norris was
not rich man after all, and he left many
debts only went to see her once |
found her cold, callous and defiant, under
her infiction yet l would have gone again
if Mr.. Thompson had not been Mr.. Norris
executor. He had business to settle with
the widow, and could only interfere be-
sides, | could not bear to see them togeth-
er. 1t was very wrong and useless, but it
was So
Mrs. Gray often came to see me. l cannot
say she comforted me much. She gave me
a world of wearisome advice, and told me
much that | would rather not have heard.
What was it to me now, that accounts
kept him so often and so late with Jessie
They were both free and if he chose to
forgive her and marry her, and if she chose
to marry once more for money! say it
again-what was it to me
And yet suppose it was something,
after all for when Mrs. Gray left me one