Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-05-13

came into my views of these things, an,
turned herself away from these allure
ments. Suppose we, like sensible people
live below our income, and set ourselve
TO make provision for time when ex
penses would be greater. would grad
ually accumulate set up business, per
haps, and rise into position of some in
fuence in the way Of money matters
Then / must consent to be ruined, o
written down as miser or churl by
the whole family. Papa lives on the ex
tension principle, just making both end.
meet, as | infer. Well, tight times come
every now and then. He has failed once
in life and may fail again. When the
strain equals the resistance, a slight in
crease of force snaps shafts of tim Ser
If papa gets in trouble and son-in-law il
all right, son-in-law must go to the res
cue, sink or swim. 1t won't answer you
see. I've counted the cost, and think il
too great, have looked over the hedge
before leaping, and am afraid Of the
ditch on the other side"
81 see how it is, answered the friend
"you have large caution"
Am not right ?"
" Perhaps SO. But lovers, whose hearts
are as much interested as yours seems to
be, are not apt to throw prudential rea.
sons of this character in the way of their
happiness. They are usually inclined to
take counsel of love alone"
81 have seen pictures of love blind
folded, but | think love false god"
As you will, )" said the friend. "But
this | know; if my heart was interested
in Nellie, would never abandon her on
the plea that you have advanced; at
least not before | was well assured that
the false life, which, by kind of domes-
tic necessity, she has thus far led, had SO
far fostered pride and vanity as to de.
prave her understanding. Be assured,
my dear George, that in this you sin
not against your own heart, but the maid
ems"
:" spent an evening with her last
week." he replied. :" went with my
mind half made up to let my lips betray
my feelings. 1t so happened that she
was not alone. A young lady was her
guest: very sprightly, outspoken, crit
ical, rather sharp-tongued girl of eight
cen or twenty-smart enough for twenty
and thoughtless enough for sixteen. Peo-
pie and things were talked about with a
fippancy and freedom neither charitable
nor delicate. Among other subjects, the
marriage Of a friend came under discus
sion, and the we'll or i'll chances of the
case were settled in manner that made
my cheek burn
"' / never thought Amy the simpleton
to get married in that sort of way" re-
marked the young lady. She must
have wanted husband If man can
not do better by me than that, I'd advise
him to give my door wide BERTH"
Nellie laughed at her friend, and re-
turneda few asserting remarks that stung
me to the quick. The present of a ring
by the young husband was remarked up
on. Nellie said it was an emerald, but
her friend pronounced it green glass,
adding that nothing but diamond would
have suited her ideas. waited in un-
comfortablesuspensefor eforNsllie's response.
1t came in these words, Nothing but
diamonds for me +"
"Thoughtlessly said, George" remark
ed the friend. You take too seriously
the light speeches of girls, who often talk
without thinking"
"If it was jesting," answered Lane,
the subject was unfortunate at the time
But this was not all. My ears were
quick; and I took in every infection of
voice. Nellie said many other things
connected with the subject of their young
friends marriage to poor young man
who could not afford her respectable
place in society, that it would be folly
for me to forget. When / left her house
that evening, drew veil over her i'm
age in my heart, and have tried not to
lift that veil since. The pain it is cost
ing me | have not been entirely able to
conceal, as witness your observation of
a change in my appearance. But am
strong enough to do what reason tells me
is right. No word or intimation of what
was in my heart have passed to the
young lady, SO that / can turn from her
without dishonor. Heaven send her
happy lot in life"
The voice of George Lane faltered a
little on the closing sentence. He was
fully in earnest, as shown by his subse-
quent conduct. More deeply than he
had imagined was the heart of Nellie in.
terested, as her pale face. dreamy eyes,
and quiet manner long after witnessed.
But he did not return. Two years af-
terward she married, beginning life with
n younr husband lust in business wbo