National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-06-14

STATS. w Oulu tldt she were my
sister, my niece, anything that
would give me a right TO take the
work out of her hands, and pres
crbc for her change ofair and scene
rest, and a little pleasure! Then |
fell to thinking, as / strolled across
the Common. VIII 1t sad, strange
tyrmt Custom is. Society would
let me do what | pleased for my see.
clothes to the Sandwich Islanders,
arithneticS to the HOttentotS-but
would by no means let me lift the
burdens OF this poor girl, who was
my neighbor, with one OF my fin
gers. l cried ont against the alb
surdity of such a decree. Why
mus pile up useless wealth. and
she suffer3 But for her sake Unjust
not seek to help her.
As came home, though, / did
indulge myself so far as to buy a
tea rose in full bloom, and a pot of
hcliotrope. They stood in my room
ever night and the next morning /
sent Ellen to her with them, and
the request that she would take
care Of them for me. ! had taken
it on trust that she loved flowers.
and I was not disappointed when
Ellen came back and told me that
Miss Nora was 50 ovcrjoycd to get
them that she almost erie l.
| appened to meet her that day
as 1 went up from dinner.
II have to thank YOU again." she
said earnestly. 81 am grateful the
flowers VIII be such company for
me"
Iasked her thcnif she would find
time the next aft teruOon to 90 and
see some pictures with me. 1t was
when English collection was at the
Atheneum and there was one paint
ing Of "iiinda" which / lOnged to
have her see. 1t was the face of one
who waited and watched, and some
how had associated it with hers.
She could not refuse, she said: : it
would bc such rare pleasure She
mus take time somehow
While we wee talking. Mrs. Lee
came through the hail. She nodded
to me, but she east on my comNanl-
on a look of singular distrust and
dislike. / noticed it then. and re
lnembered it atterward.
She spoke to me that evening
about Nora Hastings. She had ob-
served me talking with her She said,
and would | tell her if | was going
to marry her? / might think it was
a very strange question, one which
she had no right to ask, but If !
chose to answer it, she would con
vince Inc that she had good reasons.
L had no cause for hesitation
The thought OF marrying Nora
Hastings had never occurred TO me,
and told her 50 frankly. / Irela
ted to her the beginning OF our ac.
qualntance, and its slight progress,
including my invitation for the next
day. Then | waited for her reply.
II hardly know what TO say, Mr..
Prescott, she began, i'll her soft, in.
slnuating voice, shaking gently her
head, with its long fair cuIls. ~
am sure it would be kinder to say
nothing, and it's not at all neccssa
/ ry, since YOU do not think o mar
rying her, Mr.. Prescott"
But what if had been intend
ing to marry her, Madame y !
spoke up a little sternly, perhaps
/ for had satisfied her curiosity. and
| was determined She should MAKE
the explanations at which she bad
hinted. think she was unwilling
to refuse me, still she spoke witt
/ hesitation.
1T is nothing ~at least il any
other gentleman III my family had
+ been going to marry her, | should
have said it was nothing and kept
silence but have looked on yor
as my ersonal friend, and | Shoul,
have told you that | consider Il heI
an artful, designing girl, who haC
tried TO entrap several OF my hes
| boarders into marrying her, and hat
failed hitherto"
| half wonder that this did no
shake my confidence in Nora, but
did not for al instant. Her fac,
her pure, Dble face, was her beS
, advocate. 1t rose before me thel
| and replied uullinchingly,
II am sure, MIS-. Lee, that 20
1 must he mistaken. AS little as
5 know Miss Hastings, | would h
! ready to answer for every act of ht
!, life though she has iranknc~
Il and simplicity of manner whic
might possibly mislcad some. | a
t certain that you do her an injustice
!. LET us hope that do,' she SAT-
/ with a smile,
{ ut has ceased to be of interest
y me, now that | know 1t mot like
II to affect the happiness of one who
!. consider my TREND"
u She diverted the conversation /
/. To other channels /; but | believe
:, had been a little veXed by her p,
tinacity in reminding me that ! Ii;
t, assured her ] was not going to mi
n ~ Nora Has iigs. L had told h
the simple truth when ! said Tia
I. the idea Of such a marriage had II,
ii er occurred to me. Bnt now th
~ she had put 1t into my head, 1t q
ii occur to me again and again.
a. took such an interest IN Nora a.
had never taken In any one bcioI
n Perhaps could not win her but
{. / coud--l paused, and strant
III sweet thoughts driited through Il
Il. mind, of WAT 1t would be To