The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-07-26

as she entered the other apartment,
ooh, Bel he is sleeping sweetly /
am SO thankful Now I'll help moth
er finish her work, and then iii come
and sit by him while he sleeps"
mo, you needn't" said Bel "I'l
go and change my dress and arrange
my hair, and go myself Perhaps he
will know us when he wakes
Then | slept, and when I opened
my eyes again, / saw Aunt Mary and
the girls sitting in the room at work.
Aunt Mary came to the bed and laid
her hand on my forehead, saying, ten
DERBY, You have been i'll n long time,
but you are better now, and must be
very careful DO not talk, but let
every thing rest till you are a little
stronger"
was going to ask some question
with regard to my illness, but shut my
bps again and kept quiet; but my gaze
wandered to Bel, who sat near me
She raised her beautiful eyes, full of
tears, from her work, and smiled, then
dropped her long lashcs again, and
worked on quietly. | did not watch
the soft white, fitting hands as it had
once been my JOY to do, but my glance
wandered to the window where Ethel
sat- and though she did not raise her
eyes, | watched her as she worked.
her face, it seemed to me, was thinner
and paler than had ever seen it, but
her light brown hair was brushed back
in the same glossy waves from her
forehead. | fell asleep watching her.
and dreamed she was trying to pull
me out of the water; but Bel held her
back, and kept calling on me to get
her some flowers which l could not
reach
Several weeks passed, during which
| gained strength rapidly Bel was all
attention, and was always alone with
me in the forenoon. Once it would
have filed me with Joy to have her
near me; now | cared no more for her
than | should for waxen doll, and |
hailed the afternoon with pleasure, for
it always brought Aunt Mary and Eth
ell. One Of the girls read aloud, and
thus the hours passed very pleasantly.
At lastI was able to go about again.
The leaves had all fallen. and every
thing looked blank and drear out of
doors. | told them one morning. as
We sat at breakfast, that must soon
go home.
Aunt Mary and Uncle James pro-
tested that | should stay with them all
the winter. Bel also begged me to
stay. Ethel said nothing, and ] did
not dare look at her to read what |
hoped her face expressed l thanked
them all, but l did not say whether |
would stay.
If return alone, Uncle james, it
will be because Ethel wills it. Say,
Ethel, must l go back alone, or will
you go with me y
She raised her beautiful eyes; but
they could not bear my look of admir-
alton and love, and she bent her head
over upon the table and sobbed aloud.
In another moment we were alone, and
went and leaned over her and laid
my hand on her head
ethel, Ethel do not mind what |
said. Forget it. DO not distress
yourself because you give me pain. If
you do not love me l can go away, and
you must forget all about it. e"
Up, like Il flash, came the sunny
brown head, and broad, beautiful
smile dashed over her face.
But do love you, Cousin Gerald.
What then ?"
l began to see how matters stood. l
caught her in my arms, that ! might
look at her attentiyely. She bore the
scrutiny, blushing and smiling through
her tears.
| will not attempt to tell the many
foolish things l said and did--for,
what matters it We were married,
and went home before the snow fell;
and the dreary old house has a new
aspect since the sunshine has been fit
ting through its large dark rooms.
Love is wonderful beauti6er, they
say; and Ethel, too, has grown pretty
beneath its magic influence. Her hair
lies in the same shining waves across
her forehead, and her happy, cheerful
face beams with undying beauty. Her
smooth, white, shapely hands could
bear comparison even with Bells. But
do | love my little darling better for
that? No, indeed l love her be-
cause she is true, aifectionate woman,
my own pearl of price. " God bless
my Ethel
Q