Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-04-20

nothing more and he had an uncomiorto-
bic sense Of the limits of that He expected
high words expected her anger to flame up,
and then be quenched by his hands leaving
him victor. lie was not prepared for her
look or manner. She merely said Is that
all p and left the room quietly. without any
show Of anger or sulienncss She came back
to us, taking no notice Of our questioning
faces, picked up the book, aud went on with
her reading. her voice rs clear aud sweet as
before
From that night she went about the house
the same, yet not the same. The old willlul-
ness aud pctulance were hushcI beneath a
mighty purpose. Her mother aud ! would
rather have had back the old teasing itlulness
than this unnatural quiet What her father
thought, no one knew ! used to see him
watching her from under his heavy eyebrows
some times, but he never relaxed hi. rigidity
Of lemeauor toward her.
Elmer Carson, 20 long repulsed, again
ycntured 10 the house aud this time took
heart lie did not care for rebufs it was
the broad acres he wanted. If he could
have woocd and won the farm without incud-
ing Marcia, it would have been more TO his
liking.
This went ou for several months. One
day her father said:-
go Marcia. Elmer Carson b.. asked my
permission to marry thee. and have given
it. wish it 10 be so
\ glcam. like au echo Of hor own strong
will, shot from Marcias eyes she raised
her face FROM her sowing hut .hc made no
reply
The next day when Elmer Carson asked
her to be his wife, she answered .--
%" My father has settled it; have moth
ing TO do with your arrangements. But
warn you both that have said would marry
Edgar Jewett, and shall keep my troth.
"' Edgar Jowott has just been arrested for
forgery | don't think thee win c,so to marry
him now
There was succr in the smile with which
he said this
"Shc started, cxclaimiug,-
at is false know il j.. laac' Whore
is ho2
"' In Jail in S.
''' must 90 to him know il 4. false =
Repeating this over and over again, She
fed to me in an agony Of mind ! cannot de-
scribe.
The testimony against Edgar Jewott came
in thick and fast Those who were his best
friends, with sad faces, confirmed il to the
girl. She was kept from seeing
him. II would do no good, they said, and
only make it harder for her alterward. His
trial would come on soon, aud most likely he
would escape the punishment somehow, for
his family had great wealth; but Of his guilt
there was no question. Il was proven to
have been he who presented the forged check
at the bank in Wheeling that day. The evil
1ence was all against him. His friends sue
ceeded in getting him released on bail, and
be disappeared-no one knew where.
Marcia, mere wrath Of her former
self, yielded passively to her fathers will,
The preparations for her marriage went on.
The usual forms of the society were obsery-
ed. She accepted everything like an autom-
aton, but did nothing of herself. | could
not endure to see her thus, and begged her to
refuse to marry him now, before it was too
late. She only said
''' 1t does not matter now what becomes
of me
her great trouble never alluded to Edgar
Jcwett in the most distant manner There
was to be a large wedding as has always
been the custom among US. In the kitchen,
Aunt Judy, an Old black woman, who had
lived with the family ever since twas fami.
y, was in her element. Miss Marcia was her
hearts delight, and nothing should be spared
in making her wedding-cake. went into
the kitchen on the morning OF the dreaded
day hearing Aunt Judy, to my surprise, sing
ing one Of her most joyful Methodist hymns
"' Why, Aunt Judy = exclaimed, sing.
ing that way when Marcia is in such trouble!
What can we do anyhow 1t is wicked for
her to marry that man There is no love in
it. He wants her money, and she obeys her
Father because her heart is brok en-.
$50 New you min, honey ncyl min Use
les as sho'a as can be dat itll all com out
right. | had vis'un las night. use to
iay EN- often down in Ole Yirginny, an
illus som'thin came Of EN-. | know dis is
III comm out right honey.
SO don't see how il can, Aunt Judy |
I'M going up now and get her ready. feel
Is if were dressing her for the stake
go | tell ye, honey, jes be quiet. De Lord
5 gwine to liver Miss Marshee out Of all dis |
yere trouble, right at the 'leyon't hour. So
ion't fret any moa, but 60 long o Miss Mar
hee an keep her spirits up.
"There was nothing for me but to 20. So |
Sent up into Marcias little chamber with the
heaviest heart ever carried. I knew it was
Iseless to 60 to aer mother, it could only add
o her distress, and avail nothing. There
var nothing to be hoped of her father |
ound Marcia very pale and quiet, but with
ook that had taken the place OF the old pas.
i've wearincss.
"Thc last touch was given to her dress
Ter shawl aud bonnet lay on the bed ready to
&c put on The assembled guests down stairs
we're waiting to start to the mceting-houso.
Marcia desired US TO leave her alone for
little while sent word that there should be no
lelay,-thosc only who were to be attendants
Waiting for her. 1t was done as she request
ID, and We sat down in the parlor-thy
Jnclc Archie, Comfy Britton, Mary Lacy,
md myself Out on the long porch Elmer
larson walked back aud forth, like bear
led by rope Archie said
We waited ten minutes fifteen, twenty -
he did not come. Then went up stairs to
zee why, Her room was empty Ga the
,ed, just where | had put them, were the
White shawl and bonnet. Her gloves were
her handkerchief had dropped
rom her lap and lay on the floor rushed
lown to the kitchen to Aunt Judy before
poke to any one else. To my surprise she
vas not to be found Her aid in the kitchen,
dull mulatto girl did not know, or would
Iot tell, where she was went to the parlor
u fever Of dismay, and we began our
earch. was romantic in those days, what !
yer thee may think of me now and went
0 the garrett searching in old chests to see |
ghether, Gineyra-like, she might not be hid
en away in one Of them Our search was
n vain Every nook and corner Of the house
nd yard were searched and re-searched, but
ot trace could we find Of her, or the direc-
ion Of her fight.
All this while the stolid groom walked |
round the parlor, with a sullen light in his