The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-01-24

eyes. admire, said Carleton quietly.
81 never saw but one person whom /
really thought l could love, as man
should 1--we the woman who is to share
his life, and She. Here's your bon
net, Alice, ali right at last. Come, I'm
in a hurry"
Gas you always are," said Alice,
laughing.
"Yor wife, whomsoever she may be,
will have sore need of the divine gift of
patience !"
"a man ought to be hurried when for
ty patients or so, are still down on his
list, and the sun scarcely an hour above
the horizon" said DR.. Carleton, philo-
sophicaly, as he lifted his sister into the
sleigh.
Nina Pelham was never in better spir-
its, and never looked lovelier than at the
moment she entered DIR. Carleton's trim
little sleigh, in the dazzling winter noon
of the next day. The exquisite plumes
Of the new French hat foated like soft
cloud above the pink roses that harmon
lied so perfectly with the faint flush on
her cheeks; and through the embroidered
drapery of her arms the coral bracelets
cleaned like rosy serpens. Her lips
were all smiles, her eyes all liquid bright
ness; and although she noticed that DR..
Carleton was unusually silent as he ar
ranged the leopard-skin robes OF the sleigh
around her. she chartered on, full of levity
and girlish vivacity.
"Why, where are we going 7" she ex-
claimed, as the spirited horses were sud-
denly turned into an unpretending and
secluded street, instead OF darting Park
wards
81 am taking you to-day in an entirely
new direction" said DIR. Carleton, com.
poSedy. 81 was called yesterday, in a
most unexpected manner, to attend lit
tie patient, whose sister, as l understood
was nm old schoolmate of yours, and ar
old acquaintance Of us both !"
''lndeed J" exclaimed Nina, unconsci
ously; land may ask"
sit was Miss Anna Wharton"
SIS it possible :" calculated Nina, will
well-acted surprise, although the coz
sinkingat her heart nearly choked he
voice. "Poor, dear Anna--I hope sh,
is well :"
"Far from it," said the young ply
sician gravely. "And what is harde
still TO bear, she is in grca, want-almos
penury !"
He looked penetratingly at her as h
spoke.
81 wish / had known it." said Nina
artlessly, sit would have given me 81
so much pleasure TO have assisted her
Why did she not come to me for aid
should so like to see her again"
"Your wishes shall be gratifed | au
bringing you to her humble home to-day,
returned Carleton, gravely, as he drew
his horses close TO the curb-stone. "Allov
me to escort you up the stairs-they ar
somewhat steep and narrow to unaccus
toned feet"
Miss Pelham followed him, scarcel
knowing what she was about, so chagrin
ed and bewldcred was she at the unex
pected turn events had taken. As the
reached they reached the second landin
place, he threw open door and beckon
ed her to enter.
The room revealed to her sight wa
very small, and scantily furnished, ye
exquisitely neat On low couch nea
the whlte-curtained window, lay sic
child, with wan, attenuated cheeks, an
eyes that seemed to burn with preternai
ural lustre, and close beside him sat Ar
ma Wharton.
"Miss Anna," said the doctor, as sll
rose in some surprise at their entrance
"here is your friend, Miss Pelham.
wish her TO fully understand, throug
you, that l am perfectly aware of tn
depth and sincerity of her friendship, 4
exemplied in the case of coral bracee
she now wears"
Nina turned pale and red by turns
she almost wished that the earth migl
open and swallow her up, so bitterly MOI
titled was she at that instant.
"Wait moment, if you please, Mi
Pelham" said DR.. Carleton with freezin
politeness. "Allow me to return this fiy
dollar bill to you, as Miss Wharton VIII
is TO become my wife in a few weeks hs
no present need for it, Her gratitude
of course proportioned to your extrem
: generosity. My servant will drive you
your home,' he added, "as circumstance
debar my accompanying you in person.
And Nina Pelham left the room wit
the comfortable conviction that she ha
lost lover, aud Anna Wharton ha
gained one.
Is it strange that under these circun
stances, she thought the coral bracelet
rather dearly bought 7