National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-07-19

ing beside her III the May twilight.
This was an unexpected blow, some
thing which, knowing the man was
her cousin, he had never feared.
The news sank into his heart with a
dull, dumb pain. She would never
have cared tor him then,-never
had. 1t was well he ha , not gone
away and left those two who did
love him to mourn. After all, per
haps this existence Of plowing ard
planting was all he was good for
Fate had placed Linn lightly
gagged his capacities better than
he could have done himself. SO he
settled back into the old grooves
with a grim resignation which was
not yet content. still he felt him
self at odds with the life which did
not offer him what he wanted.
When autumn came aud it was
time for him, if at all, to make the
change he had planned in spring he
was surprised to find that the incli-
nation to make it was gone. Some
healing ministry, call it of nature
or OF grace, God knows, had been
at work in his soul and uncon-
scsously to himself, through the
long summer days and swift, short
summer nights he had been learn
ing the sweetness of duty pure and
simple-duty done for it's own sake.
He had begun to ask himself, not
what he wished, but what lie ought
to do and he felt that in the very
fact of his being to those two who
loved him their all on earth, God
had called him TO certain duties on
which he would never again feel
tempted to turn his back. Recon
cilcd at last to the appointment of
Heaven, he was at peace also with
his own soul and new light came
into his eyes, a new visor ana man
illness into his life.
He could think of Angeline VIII
marth in these days without pain,
There would always be in his heart
for her the tenderness Il good man
feels for Woman once beloved but
whether she was his or another's, he
could reckon her loss or gain among
the "all things he was content to
leave with heaven.
He had heard in the summer that
she was TO be married at Christmas,
but he heard no more auGut it after
wards. Her preparations were 90
ing on, he supposed, but he seldom
saw her. He had never spoken with
her for a more than passing good
day since her engagement.
One afternoon i'll November he
brought home from the post Office a
bundle of papers. his Boston daily
among them. Sitting bN the fire
and turning them over, his eye was
caught by the heading, III large let
tcrS-
ANOTHER CASE OF DEFALCATIoN.
He began to read the article,
with the kind of careless half inter
est people i'll the country feel III the
excitements OF the city which can
not touch them, personally; but
suddenly he started up, clutclIng
the paper tight. and strainlng his
ewes over it as if he doubted his
own vision. The NAME of the de
faulting and runaway bank-tellel
was that of Angie Wilmarth'S cous
in and betrothed lover. Thank
Heaven that no mean selIiShneSS
stained his soul i'll that hour. We
was honestly and heartily touc 81
at the thought OF Angles sorrow
Poor girl If there were only amy
thing he could do to all or comfort
her. He took his lat and went out
With some vague purpose ol oiler
ing his help, which the fall Wlm
shattered, as it blew across SlHS brow
/ 3ii course there was uotnins n
cuul do-he could not even spcat
~ her on such a subject Her grle
" uld be sacred-and he, had he no
been used this many month to tn
idea that he was nothing to her an,
; more
e. Still he went on in a purpoScleS
sort of way, toward her house
: went on, until he saw slender {
p ure coming US ifto meet hlm, unde
, the lcafiess -elm boughs, over tn
c dead and rustling leaves which la
t thick upon the foot-path Like ON
, in Il dream he moved forward. ii
l had meant TO pass her Mltll Just
= good.evening, but when she put OF
i her haud to him, and lie looked INT
D ncr fair, still face, the words con
- before he knew it to his lips
/. II have seen it all IN the pape
- Angie, and am 50 sorry"
k eyes" she said gently, 't W
If ruin him, am afraid
1t "And YOU! | thought most
+ you. You were to have been ma
70 ricd 40 soon" :,
" ssNot TO him." she said hurricdl
,p "nevcr to him. That was dohe VII
It two months ago. had never low
III b,m. It was vanity which ma
If me conseut to Marry hun. lie W
handsome aud gallant, and he p
* missed me all the good things
k, this life. But toupd after awhi
to that none of them would pay me
myself; and | told hun the trut
,s. something in her hurried, ca
an est tones. or the swift color IL
ye stained ber check, OF her shy, h'
[ veilcd eyes, or ali togeeheI, ~
,y. ,John Osrood courage. and he 81
. holding her hand still, .,
he olt was because | had none Of
i,s go,d things of this life to prom