Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-09-06


llartwell when was twenty years old, it
was not altogether my fault, for it would
have required sterner stuff" than ever
possessed to resist the temptation and If
never told my love, my lght-hearted in
experience was alone to blame. So loved
IN secret, making our mutual friendship
the medium of a thousand little attentions,
but ! never let " concealment /" enaw at
my heartstrings, nor on my downy cheeks
1t was not an absorbing passion; indeed,
there was little of passion about the senti-
ment with which regarded her; yet
must admit that she filed my breast with
more tender emotions than any of her
glrlish companions could have inspired
The dreamy interest with which she had
so unconsciously invested me, am sorry
to confess, was not of permanent nature.
It was as brief, in short, as violet's exist
ence. We did not quarrel; we only part
ed. Parted good friends and well-wish-
ers; parted for years in the kindliest pos
sible manner, with no severe regrets ON
either side; parted, to form new friend
ships, new and stronger ties. aud to fill
new stations in life.
! married five years afterwards. Mar
ried happily married one whom / had
never known in my youth, and found in
her jewel wherewith my manhood vas
adorned. And was Marion forgotten?-
Yes and still, when l heard of her mar
rage to wealthy scion Of the Raymonds,
family of proud social position, queer
sensation thrilled my heart. There was
nothing Of pain in it, nothing Of regret or
of remorse, for there had been no deceit
on my part, save in concealing from her
the sentiment which she had once instilled
in me, and oh! how innocently. So in
wardly prayed for her happiness, and then
then once more forgot her. We had
not met since our first parting. We lived
in different States the revolutions of life's
great wheel never threw us together -
home duties filed any vacuum in my
heart that her absence might have made
in former years, and we were strangers.
Time passed on. Children came like
blessings, and our family circle grew apace
amidst their prattlc and the care which
they demanded. Fortune favored us in
basket and store, and if l had an ambition
beyond my fireside it was only nurtured
SO far as it might increase the happiness of
those whose love and welfare had become
my absorbing objects. Life was not an
empty dream, but Paradise of sterling
reality.
We have new neighbors over the way
said my wife, one evening; and, with a
woman's pardonable vanity, she proceeded
to expatiate upon the respectable ty, the
apparent wealth, the handsome furniture
and the rich dresses of the fresh accession
to our neighborhood. Not until she men,
toned the name Of the family, however,
did ! feel any interest in their coming,
but when she told me that, its identity
with the name of him who had married
Marion Hartwell caused the old light to
glimmer in my eyes and illumine for mo-
ment a dusty and neglected corner in my
memory. Simultaneously her name rose
to my lips, greatly TO the surprise Of my
wife. In answer 10 her half-uttered ex-
clamation, framed very pretty excuse
that former friend had married one Of
that name and SO it was decided that my
wife-possibly INDUCING. on her own ac-
count, as well as mine, little curiosity
that all women have inherited from Eve
--should quietly ascertain certain particu'
lars which she had the means of doing. in
alady-like way, and report to me on the
following evening as we should gather
about the fire.
Yes" said she at the appointed time
] think your old friend is there. There
is fine, venerable, elderly gentleman
and his queenly old wife; son and hi
pretty, young wife, and lady in black
with darling little daughter, who ha'
been tie wife Of another son, now dead
and her name is certainly Marion. Shall
call upon them
My dear wife," / replied. promptly
bat with undue emphasis, it certainly
will be the proper thing for you to do
and if the widow is indie ed the lady whom
] conjecture her to be, you will not resre
having made her acquaintance"
So Marion, thought !, has loved an
lost since parted from her with such
sweet goodbye, and has come back to fin
me, not the bashful boy of long ago, but
staid business man, at the head of youn
and prospecting family. ! wondered wheth
er she had forgotten me!
I was not long in doubt. "The widow,
said my wife, after she had called upol
the Raymonds, (" remembers you-imper
fecflv nerhans-hut she ia anxio,ls IN re