The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1868-01-17

INTO DlOSSOEl lHGit- jIt W do III bCot
friend, am ing my playmates-kind,
generous and frank hearted, and | was
his particular care. To be sure. that
was long, long time ago, but | had
not forgotten him, although the swift,
hard years had moulded us into strang-
ers as they took their flight Nor had
he quite forgotten me, knew that.
70 be sure he had never written me,
but l had received innumerable pack
ages of papers mailed at his city. The
handwriting was odd and strange at
first, but after awhile | grew to know
it well. / liked the little romance that
seemed to be growing out of that
sweet, childish memory. In my dreams
| made it very fair and beautiful. l
forgot my face, and let my heart go
out to il sometimes, foolish child that
l was. But that was all over with
now Frederick Lane was very hand
some-I was exceedingly plain. Mel
lie, my petted ceHsin Nellie, was fas-
cinating in the extreme. The sequel
was written out there in my very iace.
| could not help myself.
/ was asked to sing that evening, as
usual Sometimes l used to think 1t
was all l was good for. God had not
quite forgotten me. He had given me
one blessed gift and in my better, tru-
er moments | thanked him for it.
"One song more, if YOU please. Mr.
Lane said, as l started to leave the
piano.
He pointed to the music of "Auld
lang syne," that was lying before me.
Ne had sung it together when we were
children. | wondered if he would
sing it with me now. | struck out IN
to the music aud he joined me with his
rich tenor.
Thank you" he said, as we ceased
singing.
That was all; the next moment he
was by Nellie's side, and | was bowlng
him a goodnight.
The weeks that followed-lying IL
the rich heart of mid-summer-were
very cruel ones. l could not help 1t,
but l found myself loving Frederick
Lane, this, too, in the very face OF the
knowledge that to cousin Nellie he
WAS all-everything But | loved him
silently and proudly ! do not think
it was very hard for me to play my
part, either. l never forgot myself
and leaped over the icy bounds OF the
reserve which / had set between him
and me. When l spoke to hum, nev-
er found my voice softening inyolnn-
CARLY. never blushed before him, or
betrayed by the first look or motion
the secret which l had hidden away so
deeply.
One night, on returning from a walk
which | had taken silently and alone
L had grown the better for it, too, l
came suddenly upon Frederick and
Nellie, who were sitting together in
the unlighted parlor | went forward
lust in time to hear him say:
But she is SO charged +. What a
dear little girl she was To tell the
truth, her soft brown eyes haunted me
for years.
He rose as he spoke, and stood be-
tween ne and the door. | could not
get out again without being observed,
so ] stood waiting in nervous fear.
20, yes. she has changed. ] re-
member she ,cas quite pretty then,
Nellie said.
"She is pretty enough now, Fred
erick answered, little impatiently, |
thought But he has grown so cold
and Formation all the world like an
iceberg. 1t makes me shiver to think
of the many times she has chilled me
away from her. "
But Nellie couldn't give it up So
She knew that my face was homely,
and she was determined to impress
the fact upon his mind.
But she is very sensitive about her
looks"
q don't see why sac need be-she
looks well enough" Fred interrupted.
" SO she does, Nellie laughed; " but
she thinks she dosen't There's where
the trouble lies"
as she then, Nellie, in reality SO
cold ?" Fred asked, shivering again.
For that matter, l guess you've
got il right enough. She's entirely
taken up with.Sam Palmer, now, and
consequently can't find time to think
of any one else.
Sam Palmer, the man who follows
her about so at the picnics; who rides
by her side mornings, and goes after
her like a shadow all the time ?"
Yes" Nellie answered
[ clenched my hands together. |
deserved this, and | knew 1T. | had
made a screen of this well-meaning,
wealthy man, trying to put him be-
tween Fred and myself. / could not
love him-Nellie knew that as well as
T. She told me an outright falsehood.
I saw through her motive, and pitied
her weakness.
Well, well, she has indeed chang
ed. But how stifed the air is here,
Nellie. Let us go out into the gar
dem
Just then the door-bell rang, and
MIR. Palmer was announced. Before
he came into the parlor Fred and
Nellie slipped out at side door.
was thankful for that, for the servant
entered with lights then. For worlds
I would not have put Nellie TO the
shame of facing her there; and
could not have met Fred as | had been
meeting him for weeks.