National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-04-12

~ nv vi IL Dbbh w HtiI tlltN NtLt lttt-
a-tete tor mOmentt
She was genial enough with the
chill lren: May worshipped her.
Aleck declared that she was the ..iol-
/ liest" woman he ever saw, liberty
/ of speech which quite amazed his
/ father, and little Mabel could not
be won from her side.
They used to sit in the library
OF evenin rs, and sometimes Il caSu-
ally opened door would reveal
such IL cheerful, coSey circle, and
such merry intciludeS Of laughter
would flow out between such pleas
amt talk, that Mark grew quite home
sick with longing to be II Slarer i'll
1t the dimng-room grew dolCfullN
dismal. But if he WAS tempted to
go i'll, Miss lie Baron con -caled at
once. and such Il blank, Woriul 81
lcncc fell upon the children that pa
pa was TAIN to 30 back to the dinlnG-
room and his cIgar, or ii those be
came intollcrabie he betook Himself
to the club. Yet even this was
growing duh. For as the months
Slipped by he bt gan to think that he
10 ed this cold, ;napproachablc girl
/ who bore herself with such naughty
indifference towards him, who would
not be patl on!zcd or he made love 0.
or court his attention., or IN amy W sc
demcan herself as women had been
accustomed to do in his society.
He DID not half know her he had
only caught ,,l.mpScS ot her but he
was sure he had never known amy
woman comparable to her whose
tastes We're So pure, whose percep-
! ti0ns were so keen and fresh. whose
culture was SO wide. Then accident
/ had revealed such flashes of tender
ness and truth OF love, such willing
self Sacrlce, that his capacity Tor
worship was stirred to its depths.
The year rounded to Christmas.
Happy homes grew bright and gay
with preparations for the holy iestl-
yitles Hearts grew tender and
warm. Even Miss lie Baron be
came more gentle and kind.
/ One day Il tree was brought in all
/ green and odorous with the sweet
ness of the pine woods, and while
I the children stood around, eager and
chatteling, queer-looking packages
were brought out from ticir hiding
/ places and hung upon the tree,
80 Miss lie Baron, Go You sup
pose Santa Claus will bring Nol
anything :" shouted Aleck, whose
inclnatI DnS had oscilatcd between
Il set OF chcssneu and Il solitaire
board, with either OF which he was
sure she would be enchanted, but
who, by his fathers advice, had at
last settled down upon Il beautiful
pearl brooch.
Mark Beresiord looked up at her
quickly. She had been very gentle
and sweet all day, and lie had got
to lie in wait for her smiles.
"Of course your father will make
Miss LeBaron present. SAID Mrs.
Conway. quickly. "lier faithful ser
vices deserve 10 be remembered. |
hope it will be something substan-
tiai and useful"
Miss lie Baron'S face became very
cold and proud, and she then and
there resolved that if Mr. Beresiurd
gave her anything, she would III.
stantly decline it whatever ii might
be. And then she grew angry at
tbs scustiyencsS which she could
not control, which was forever max
ing her miserable. Why need she
care 1or anything vulgar, inSo!cnt
woman might SAY ; But she did
care. She was 50 made that she
could not help it. o, il she could
onl5 be as cold and stony as she
seemed She wondered If the mask
imposed upon people, upon Mr.. Ber.
cStord for instance. She hoped it
did. and Vet she could have cried
like a child for very longing to az.
cept the kind friendship winch his
manner seemed daily Inutely to OF
fer her.
Mr.. Bcrcsford, if he was a littl,
egotlStical, was so generous ant
warmhcaltcd, 50 tender and pitliu
towards AL misfortune. But her,
she caught herself up with Il suddei
pang OF sc.lrcproach. What was
, tAe use OF such thoughts. 1t was
her duty to hate Mr.. Berestord, and
she did hate him, OF course.
Meantime Mr.. BcrcSiOrd watched
z her, thinking her proud, sweet fac,
/ never looked more sweet and proud
and the resolution he made grew
. strong and bold-to win her at Ill
p costs, in the very teeth OF her cold
D ness and reserve.
| And here the sterling gold of Nj
Bcrcsiord's character shines on
The man who would bc daunted i
!. his wooing by his lady's coldncss, Il
I rcpulscd from his purpose by on
i little, chilling monoSNllabie, Is II
Il hero of mine. And | think such w
/. men as Thcrcsc lie Baron are wort
), some pains in the winning.
!. The still, crisp December da
Il wore OH, and about dusk Miss Lt
d Baron disappeared from the parlo'
y, The dressing maid could hardly res
o train the children, they were 50 i'il
$. patient to know what Miss Le bir
|, on was going to wear. May nae
copiided TO Aleck certain s!ecuia
e tions of her own, excited by nan
st glimpse of some misty white ,l.'s'li u,
o through hali:opcn door. But no'
:, they or any one was prepared to SCI
. her come down looking as brigh