Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1869-04-16

attention, Victor was admiring the pure
unselfishness of Mabel's conduct Il, d
repeating again and again, What Il
truly noble nature! Hers is indeed
heart of gold. | love her.
Week after week passed OF. and at
length Victor announced his intention
of leaving the seaside, and return ng t.
his home and his duties. His health
was thoroughly reestablished and al
though man of wealth and position.
he had too much intellect to waste his
time in Il life of elegant leisurc.-lIe
was a barrister, Il .d longed to be back
again among his books and papers
But still he did not go.
The holiday of the two fri.nl, was
also drawing to close and, indeed, it
became necessary for one or the other to
return to town at once; and ii was fl
nal decided that Miss Cllredon should
go first, o attend to the gathering to-
gcthcr of the school, while Miss Mont
goncry remained to pack pand super
intend the removal of certain articles
from their summer retreat.
In the mean time Mabcl's efforts t,
promote the love affair of her fren |
and render herself indifferent on the. sub.
iect of Victor Lansing, had resulted
dsastrously for tie whole party. Julia,
confident that she had won Victor
gave up her whole heart and soul to the
enhancing occupation of idolzing him.
Victor no longer in doubt as to the state
of his feelings, knew that he adored
Miss Clarendon; while poor Mabel from
her constant schemes to av id Lansing
and throw him into Juiia's soci aty, con-
tracted such habit of thinking of him
that at last she could 20 nothing else
end discovered with dismay that she
was hopelessly, irrctricvably in love
with hin herself
But Mabel was capable of heroic self
sacrifice; and she hailed with delight
the urgent business which called her to
London and her duties. The friends
parted, tcnderly promising each other
the pleasure of meeting again in a few
days; an Julia blessed the absence of
Mabel; -" for now" she thought, "Vic
tor must speak,
And Victor did speak, but in totally
unlock editor manner.
On the day following Mabel's dcpar-
ture, he called on Julia; and his hur-
ried and absent manner betrayed the
agitation of his feelings. He carried a
travelling bag, in his hand, and announ-
ced that he was Oh his way to catch the
first train tor town. Could he execute
any commands for Miss Montgomery
"NO,o Julia thanked him, "noth-
ing;" and her voice was scarcely audi
ble.
could she favor him with Miss CLAIR
endon's address?'' Victor asked; and
Julia gave it with dreadful sinking of
the heart; and then, as in Il dream, she
heard great many cordial expressions
of friendly regard, II kinl "good by"
and she was alone.
She sat quite still for long time, just
where he left her; she neither moved
nor spoke; she scarcely breathed, till at
last a long sigh escaped her lips, and she
muttered drearily, g. | thought | would
die if it ever came to this but Heaven
help me! live, and am likely to live.
Oh! why am I so young and so strong
that l cannot, cannot de-"
But this state of fee ing passed away
and, instead of the despair which at first
almost benumbed the sense of pain she
felt, a burning jealousy took possession
of her, an Unsuitable desire to be with
her rival, to watch the conduct of the
man she loved, and to place some eter-
nal barrier between b0thAs soon done
as thought. On the following day,
Julia was in tn school-rOom again, and
new scholars and the loss of old ones,
while her heart beat loudly at the sound
ofevery step that approached the door.
She had not long to wait. Toward
evening Victor Lansing called; and cx-
cept few commonplace remarks to
Julia, which stung her more than utter
neglect would have done, he devoted
himself entirely to Mabel.
Julia's heart was on fire. In that one
evening the friendship Of years crum-
bled away in an hour, beneath the de-
vouring jealousy that racked her Utmost
soul. Her whole nature seemed chang
| n6 and WI iln Ch n vyatnhnl
and movement of the lovers with Il
calm. unruffled face, in her heart she
cursed and hated both, and tortured her
brain with schemes to accomplish their
misery and overthrow.
1t would be tedious to dwell upon this
painful time. Day by day Victor be-
came more deeply attached to Mabel
and day by day the fiend within Miss
Montgomery's bosom became more un-
manage cable, althC yh she still maint liL-
ed an outward semblance of unbroken
serenity. But Mabel noted the light in
her great dark eyes, grown so large and
thought of standing toward her in the
light of rival. So well did Mabel COM
mand her feelings that Mabels fears
were lulled, and she even Coubted, at
times, whether her friend had ever loved
Victor at all, and so allowed herself more
and more to become absorbed i'm her own
love for him.
One night, after Victor Lansing hal
gone, Mabel went softly to Julia room,
and seated herself ON low ottoman at
her feet, while she endeavored to calm
her fiuttering heart sufficiently to make
the avowal that had brought her there.
The Pickering fire cast a ruddy glow
through the room, making of the two
beautiful women who sat, half in the
shade and half touched by its bright
light, picture which Rembrant would
have loved to paint. "Julia," said Ma
bel, at last, " / have something to tell