The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1868-07-07

ardent is mine ior you-or stop, dearest,
behind il blows the conduit Yon know
the mystic language of both viii you
choose and give me ons@"
"Hush-hush, Ferris" said the blush
ing and trembling girl, plucking and hand.
ing him the rose
This passed when the attention of the
company present was drawn to some en-.
gaging objec' Never before had Ferris
received any evidence Of Annie's love,
save from her tell tale eyes The flower
was placed next To his heart, and he left
the apartment. He had proceeded but
few steps when he was accosted by poor
mendicant, clothed in rags, who WAS ex-
posed at that late hour Of the night 10
the inclemency of the season
pray sir" said the beggar to Ferris,
"can yon give me irife ?" | am nearly
starved and chilled through by this cold
night, sir"
Ferris, after few moments conversa-
tion with the poor beggar, for he had not
the heart to turn away from the suffering
Of a fellow creature, handed him purse
containing five or six dollars, urging him
to seek immediate shelter and food. The
beggar blessed him and passed On.
few nights subsequent TO this occur.
renee he WAS again at the fathers house
Mrs H., Annie's mother, received him,
as she did most of her visitors, with
somewhat constrained and distant well
come. Being woman of no great con.
versatonal powers, she always retired
early, and conducted her intercourse in
the most formal manner. Ferris was
much surprised that Mr.. H. had taken no
particular notice of his intimacy at hls
house, for he seldom saw him, and when
he could, the old mans eyes bent sterny
upon him in anything but friendly and
inviting spirit. In this dilemma, he was
at loss what course to pursue, since
Annie's acknowledgement of affection for
him, and now he was equally distant
from the goal Of his happiness, for his
better judgment told him that the consent
Of her parents could never be obtained
On this occasion he had taken leave a.
usual, when he was met by the beggar of
the former night and again solicited for
aims, declaring that he could find no one
else TO assist him, and that the money he
had before bestowed upon him had been
expended for food and rent for miser-
able cellar where he had lodged
Again Ferris placed n purse in the
poor mans hand, at the same time telling
HIM that he himself was poor, and con.
strained to the practice of rigid economy
in the support of those dependent upon
him He left the beggar and passed on
he way happy in having contributed TO
the alienation Of human SUFFERING.
Not long subsequent, Ferris called one
evening at the house Of Mr. II and fortu
nately found Annie and her father alone,
the former engaged on piece Of EN-
hroidery OF new pattern, and the latter
pouring over volume # ancient philos
ophy
Ga his entrance, the old gentleman
took no further apparent nstiee of h,m
than slight inclination OF the heal and
Good evening, sir"
lie took "a chair by Annie'- side, and
told her Of his love in low hut ardent
tones, begging permission to speak to her
father on the subiert
80, he will not hear word OF the
matter, ! know" said the sorrowing girl
mo longer ago than yesterday he spoke
Ia me relative to q connection with K
| can never love but one man said the
beauty, giving him her hand.
Ferris could bear this suspense no long
er In fact, the hint relative to hor al.
lance to am ther spurred him tp action.
He then proceeded to that part of the
room where Mr.. II. sat, and after few
Introductory remarks he said:
"You have doubtless observed, sir, my
intimacy in your family for more than a
year past. From the fact that you did
not object to my attentions to your daugh-
ter, / have been led to hope that it might
not altogether be against your wishes.
May l ask, sir, with due respect, your
opinion in this matteri"
81 have often seen you here" replied
Mr.. H., and have no reason to object to
your visits, sir"
'Indeed, sir, you are so very kind.
have neither fortune or rank to offer your
daughter but still, emboldened by love,
| ask you now for her hand"
The old man laid by his book, and re.
moving his spectacles, asked:
Does the lady sanction this request p
She does
And you ask
'Yeur daughters hand,'
Tt's yours
Ferris sprung in astonishment to hi
feet, saying:
4 hardly know how to receive your
kindness, my dear sir looked for diff
ferent treatment
listen, young man, said the father,
do you think should have allowed you
to become intimate with my family with.
out first knowing your character Do
you think should have given this pre-.
cious child land here placing his hand IN
Ferris) to you before | had proved you
No, sir, ont of Annie's many suitors from
the wealthiest and highest in society,
long since selected you as ono in whom |
could feel confident. The world calls me
a cold and calculating man-perhaps
I 4 l. l. 4