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


defect is it that quilted her to
meet your appreciation =
Nonsense. Mark She is rath-
cr plain, and is very qrlet and sober,
and is twenty-nine years old. She
is coming tomorrow"
'llumpht'
Somehow Mr.. Beresford did not
seem nearly SO delighted with the
prospect as he oaght to have been.
He was i.ward.y praying for pa
ticnce, and his mental sollloquy was
not Of the most gallant nature. An
old maid prim, Snuity and plain !.
What an incubus to be hung to an
unoifeuding man No mJrc Smok-
inc in the house. \ cigar would
outrage her nice SenSihillticS. No
more rompS with the children Of eve
ningS; no more playing gplck-a pack
no more trOllin. upon all-tOurS, a
simulated bear. with the accompani-
ment OF merry shouts and laughter.
And then the question OF his own
demcanOr to her If he was cordial
and friendly. She would OF course
think he had fallen in love with her,
and-O dreadful Thought Is h e
might marry him out Of hand, no.
lens vulens. This possibility was
too trightinl to he calmly coutcm-
plated. and Mr., Bcrestord resolved
to open the acquaintance by treat
III, n"r with Il tli4id politeneSs that
Should nip all matrimonial projects
in the bud. Full of this wise deter
mlnation he went home to dinner
the next day.
Mrs. Conway was Invisible, and
neither Of the children WAS TO be
found, and Mr.. BereStord proceeded
to the Sitting-room alone. a lady
was sitting III an caSy-char III Il
| graceful, negligent attitude. Some
kind Of white fabric thrown ont
against the dead black OF her dress
lay upon her lap, and her swift,
white hngeas went up long seam.
Nh. Bere>iord watched her for mo
mcnt before his light step on the
carpet aroused her.
Some people have a passion for
beautiful white hands. Mark Beles.
ford had. He had his own theory
about taper fingers and round, un-
Wriukled Joints. YhcrtSc lie Baron's
hands were dainty enough to salts
ty even such a coitnoiSScm. They
had never been stretched across tie
keyes OF piano TIL tiiey rescnblcd
birds claws. nor roughencd by work,
nor shrivelled by i'll health. And
this sewing displayed them so ad
mirably making the most of every
pretty curve.
Suddenly at Slight movement
she looked up and rose instantly.
VI +. Berestord stood tranStiXed.
Was this the plain, snuiiy, prim old
maid-Mrs. Conway's paragon! !
The black cashmere dress swept
around her in folds whose classic
easc would have made an artist wild,
The white edge OF linen was scarcely
winter than the throat and wrists
it encircled. The beautiful dark
brown eyes met his with look OF
calm inquiry. The surprise and ad
miratiou III his look brought Il rosy
flush to her check. but her sclt.p) Is
session did not waver.
"Mr. Bercstord, is it not :! l am
Miss lie Barron"
Mr.. BereS1ord was conscious of 4
singular sensation. He had ii VAGUE
!, fancy that those clear, proud ey"'
eyes were searching him through
and through, finding ont every de
feet i'll him, and especially discover.
ing his uu.gallant thoughts Of her.
She fall III love with him, indeed
He stood before her trying Ia con
quer his awkward confusion. while
she made il few commonplace Ie
. marks and then, as if she had said
all that courtesy demanded and was
in no wise inclined to 20 Il step be
yond that, she sat down to her worl;
agalI.
The white fingers went swiftly NJ
+ the long seam, and the long lids thai
shaded the brown eyes quite hi'
them from him. She looked as i
she had utterly forgotten his exist
cnce. 1t WAS very awkward an'
uncomfortable. and what could MI
; Bcrestord do but take refuge in hi
| newspaper!
$50 that is what you call Il home
~ woman, is it ?" he said to Mrs
Conway when late that night th
a two stood vis.a.viS on the heart
t rug.
c "Why, don't you think so?' ash
ed Mrs. Conway. with anxious hes
C tation Pm sure her nose is to
5 large. and her mouth is wide, an
II she hasn't Il bit of color, and
e But for all that She j. remark;
bly, lovely woman," he interrupted
at strikes me, Mrs. Conway, th'
you have made very pretty blu
;, der and with that Mr. Bcrcsior
walked away. But there was II fun
\ ny, misclievous twinkle III his eye
y that ycXed aud annoyed Mrs. Con
d way beyond measure. She coul
W not get over her discontinue, an
a., she vented her spite, as II narro,
A. unalniablc woman would be sure
+. do, upon the unfortunate gorcrncS
* Thcrcsc Lc Baron WAS prou
C. but she was also terribly poor, an
IL and poverty obliged her to igno
II. insults that made her heart beat IA
ii. with Indignation. She scorncd
1T aycngc herself upon Mrs. Conwa
|o and 80 took her revenge IN hntil