Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-09-04


away up to her own room, frightened, utter
ly puzzled, bewildered, not knowing what to
do or to whom to speak. 1t was a comfort
to be summoned as usual to read TO Mrs.
Griihths. She longed to pour out her story
! to the poor lady, but she dreaded agitating
her. She read as she was bid. Once she
stopped short, but her mistress impatiently
motioned her to go on. She obeyed, stumbl-
ing and tumbling over the words before her.
until there came a knock at the door, and,
contrary to his usual custom. Guy entered
the room. He looked very pale, poor fellow,
and sad and subdued . wanted to see You
| Miss Belinda" he said aloud, " and to tell
you that hope this will make no difference,
and that you will remain with us as if moth
ing had happened. You warned me, mamma,
but could not help myself. It's my own
fault Good night. That is all had to say"
Belle turned wistfully 10 Mrs. Griliths.
/ The thin hand was impatently twisting the
coyerlet - OF course,-who would have
anything 10 say to him? Foolish fellow,
she muttered in her indistinct way. =. Go
on, Miss Barly.'
40, but tell me first, ought | remain
I here?' Belle asked imploringly.
d" Certainly, unless You are unhappy with
US" the sick woman answered peevishly.
/ Mrs GrilIiths never made any other allusion
to what had happened. think the truth
was that she did not care very much for any
thing outside the doors Of her sick-room.
Perhaps she thought her son had beer over
hasty, and that in time Belinda might change
her mind. To people lying on their last sick
beds, the terrors, anxieties, longings OF life
seem very curious and strange. They seem
/ to forget that they were once anxious, hope
/ full, eager themselves, as they lie gazing at
the awful veil which viii so soon he with
drawn from before their fading ewes.
\ sort Of constraint came between Guy
and Belinda at first, but it wore away by de
grees. He often slluded to his proposal, but
in so hopeless and gentle a way that She
could not be angry, still she was disc oieted
and unhappy. She felt that it was false
and awkward position. She could not bear
to see him looking i'll and sad, as be did at
times, with great black rings under his dark
eyes. 1t was worse still when she saw him
brighten up with happiness at some chance
word she let fall now and hen.-speakng
inadvertently of home, as be did, or Of the ro-
ses next year must not mistake her
She could not bear to pain him 10y hard
words, and vet sometimes she felt it was her
duty to speak them. One day she met him
In the street, on her way back 10 the house.
The roll of the passing carriage wheels gave
Guy confidence. and, walking hy her side, lie
began TO say, " Now never know what DE
lightful surprise may not be waiting for me
. at every street corner. Ah Mis- Belle. my
whole life might be one long dream of wonder
and happiness, if ... '' Don't speak like
. This ever arain | shall 90 away. ' -aid Belle
lnterrupuns' and crossing the road, ln her
agitation uhaIr '.e very H97g5 o- TWO o'hl'i-
bus horses. 81 wish c1uia IKE y ln enough
to marry You shall always love you
enough To DE your friend please u'n TAX
oianythIng else. Belle sald tins Do bright
brisk, mplorlng, decl4td way ana ."iei %
nave put an emu To lHe .n"t.e3- l"ai a"f
She came to me and told Aer A.le story.
There were almost as many reasons for acr
staying as Tor her leaving the poor chLli
Thought could NOT ADVISE Aef 10 g. I'r
the assistance that She was able To send home
was very valuable. t"gy laughed, ana Ut
terly refused To accept sizTcnco oi her sala-
ry.) Mrs. Drlihths evidently wanted Der :.
Guy, poor fellow, would have given all De
had 70 keep her, as We all knew too wei.
Circumstance order, events sometimes.
when people themse.'es, with All TIER l'weIs
and knowledge oi good and pi c'l, are hat
passive instruments IN the hands ol late.
News came that Mr. Barry was ui, and little
Belinda, with an anxious face, and q note ln
her trembling hand' came INTO Ms Vflihti7
room one day To- say she must g3 % hum cl-
reetly. our father Is Il, wrote Anna
" Circumstances demand Your immediate re-
turn % hum. Guy happened o. De present.
and when Belle lett the room Ae followed her
out INTO the passage
'' ou are gong he SAID
don know what Anna means h} err
cumstances' hut PAPA is lil' ana wants me-
said BELINDA almost crying,
" Ana want yon' sall u"y oNi Una c
don matter 'i course '''---'' since you
"i7h IT,
Aiter all, Ilr.al was wei s-e was -e-
ing' thou-hI belIe' as sue went 20 pace up
her boxes FOOT "uy sld l4'e "a1i'le' a.t
She seemed To carry 1t away IN her box with
hcr other possessions
IL would De uilhcuii 70 describe WHat ue
lett, poor lelloW' Wlen he came upon the i1-
gage standing ready-cofdei IN the iali' ana ..
he i3nnl that beAe had taken Ain aI Al-
word. lie was so silent d man. So ,eli-' li-
taned, SO diihueht OF his own suene'h I'D WIN
her love in time, Sc unused to the ways Of
the world and oi women that he could De
Judged by no ordinary rule. liis utter de-
spaIr and bewilderment would have been
laushable, almost. II they had not been 50
genuine lie paced about the garden with
hasty, uncertain footsteps muiterlns To NM
self as he went along, and angrly cutting
at the Iose-hedEes. ' OF course She must g,
since she wished ito course -he must
. ofcourse. of course. What would the house
be like when she was gone? For an IN
slant a vision Of a great dull vault. without
warmth, or light, or color, or possible com
fort anywhe e, rose before him. lie tried 10
imagine what his life would be il She never
came back into il, but as he stood still, try
ing to seize the picture. it seemed to him
that it was thing not to be imagined or
.lL+r lVl..r..,-.,. b.. l,,l,,..l b.. .-.,,, I.,,