National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-01-04

! dSdiusI Tie HlSnt UTeeZeS,- anu tne
! beach had it's fine-dressed people
, from the hotels to make the picture
| prettier. l knew that Charlie was
! with his father that cruise, and
sat alone with bit of sewing on
the doorstep. The very smell of
the sultry air comes back to me, the
line of grey sea where the sky met
it, the sound of the waves, and the
: late few flowers in the little garden.
: The house frOnted toward the sea, a
cOzy little place. warm and snug in
, winter; tried to make it home
like for Joe.
l know l sat that night quite late
till it grew too dusky to see, and l
, let my work fall down in my lap. l
think 1 was little sad, wondering
; if l ever should be anything more
than a honskeeper for Joe; ever see
iltc the world that those crowds of
beautiful ladies lived in; ever be a
whit beyond the old sad life | led /,
never thinking how much it held,
and forgetting Charlie and Joe
would be alone. l felt little bit
terly as | leaned my head down en-
my hard palm-hOw soft and dainty
and how jeweled those hands yOn-
der! How finely clad those delicate
forms! and girls no younger than
were walking there with brave,
strong lovers in the twilight of fresh
air. Would | ever have lover
Not Tom jenkins or Tom Coles
surely, but lover who was full of
the knowledge of books and men /;
one who knew all lyearned to know;
one who could teach me what |
craved. one who was strong and
brave, and whom ] could trust
trust as much as ] could have done
just then!
Nv foolish head went down with
IA silly little sob into my lap, as |
thought how vain and useless my
hopes were.
just then the gate latch clicked,
and in til 0m | saw Johns tall
, graceful figure, with that quick,
: brisk step-like his words. sound
and tirm-coming up the gravel
, walk. Whatever else | had been
: dreaming of was lost as it came to
me in mad, wild whirl of sense !;
"Jenny you love this man, and he
is the lover you dream Of"
laid my hot cheeks down into
my palms. AT any other time he
would have noticed it; but he came
steadily to me, and threw himself
) down beside the steps on the grass.
} He often laid that way, with his
lead on his arm, in the cool If there
We're no party to go out In the yacht,
) or when he came for word from
Joe, or to cheer me. But to night,
| as | raised my face, glad it was
dark, and fearful lest he had heard
. my heart beat, caught low sob
i short and, from the sound fearless,
D but mans sob. 1t struck me like
r a stab. l felt a pitiful weak teal
/ creeping along the veins and settling
| along my heart. But it was my way
to face things, and | sat quite still
d till was sure | could speak il
r broken surge like whisper.
e s'Is it of Joe and Charlie, John |?
It Then my voice broke quite down
% and l sat shivering in the dam
Y wind with the hair wet and cling
ing about my forehead. Johl
c sprang up from the grass and st0o'
'e before me.
l. "How blind What fool hav
80 becnr' But his hand on mine wa
t, cold and shaky, and his vote
rs hoarse. "No Jenny, not that. 10
is and the boy are quite well, and o
20 their way back, for Christie Burn
1t vessel is in; but-but-'his vote
he sinking ever lower, ''it was trout
h le of mine, trouble that seems lik
ut to kill me. I've hidden it. Nv
e tried to bury it. l even tried to L
n careless of it. 1t won't do. 1t
ar there. Andnow when the last hoI
@, is going forever-I am quite be
er JENNY thought ofyou. though
IN YOU might help me and Jenny II
b. Gods sake tell me what to do.
re There was u deep falling in h
ld voice, and John never spoke til;
~ name lightly. | went up to hi
to where he had crouched in the gra
of again, and gathered the damp Ia
vs. from his brow.
do "Tell me, john" l said. But ii
ot despair that had in my voice I
lifted his face and covered it wit
n bis arm, as he had laid hundreds
n. times asleep in the old yacht WHIT
no we were children
is u,,enny, love LoHie Irvinghan
no =, no, ,r, uplearned, ,beof Of tellO
lv and she a fire lady, with fortul
Tre T more tlan [ ccald count Ev
so since the time ] nsed to make b
lis little boats. .and 'rot her on Rovel
ad back, Pve loved hcr--and now
w the more since she is to go abfo'
ce next month for years, ana may
Is, marry nobleman; and l--wl
he Jenny, l would die for her: bu
n, must live, live and work, iive q
I'm work and be poor, and kno W ho'
.t ing of books and fine society," a
~ ~ lie as hers" ... d.
10 With the sudden knowledge II,
ID n woman has when loveitss, sha
~ owed life, such as mine comes
~ ~ bn,. 1 said, "JOhn can't you bear
f. +, nr SORROW. that will never tighten, p
~ w t;nnt,, m '"tly, with a will of iro
w w aH IN i;Ht III. the sunlight has |
49, ny "Dte re tryi.ig to f