Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-08-16

which | was hidden in these terms !;
but / took my accustomed seat. l
saw that | was repudiated henceforth
by my uncle; still, l could bear that,
very we'll, possessing Christiana's s
heart. a
He emptied his basin of bread and
milk as usual, only that he took it on
his knees with his chair turned away
from the table where | sat. When he
had done, he carefully snuffed out the
candle; and the cold, slate-colored,
miserable day looked in upon us.
"Now, Mr.. Michael" said he, "be-
fore we part should like to have a
word with the ladies in your presence. "
GAS you will, sir, returned; "but
you deceive yourself, and wrong us
cruelty, if you suppose that there is
any feeling at stake in this contract,
but pure, disinterested, faithfublove. "
To this, he only replied, "You lie r'
1 tllu AOb OIlG WOIu.
We went, through halffrozen rain
and half-thawed snow to the house
where Christiana and her mother liy-
ed. My uncle knew them very we'll.
They were sitting at their breakfast,
and were surprised to see US at that
hour.
"Your servant, ma'am," said my un.
Gle TO the mother. "You divine the
purpose Of my visit, l dare say, ma'am
| understand there is a world of pure
disinterested, faithful love cooped ur
here. am happy to bring it all ii
wants to make it complete. l bring
you your son-in-law, ma 'am,-and you
your husband, miss. The gentleman
is a perfect stranger to me, but | wish
him joy Of his wise bargain"
He snarled at me as he went out
and l never saw him again.
1t is altogether a mistake, continu
ed the poor relation, to suppose that
my dear Christiana, over-persuadeC
by her mother, married a rich man
the dirt from whose carriage wheel:
is often, in these changed times
thrown upon me as she rides by. No
no. She married me.
The way we came to be married
rather sooner than we intended, wa.
this: took a frugal lodging, anC
was saving and planning for her sake
when one day, she spoke to me witt
great earnestness, and said to me:
MY dear Michael, l have give
you my heart. l have said that
love you, and | have pledged mysel
to be your wife. am as much your
through all changes of good aud evil
as if we had been married on the da
when such words passed between us
| know you well, and know that if W,
should be separated and our uniol
broken of, your whole life would b
shadowed, and all that might, evel
now be stronger in your character 70
the conflict with the world would the
be weakened to the shadow OF wha
} it is"
"God help me, Christiana " said
"You speak the truth"
"MichaelT' said she, putting he
hand in mine, in all maidenly devc
tion, "let us keep apart no longer
1t is but for me to say that can liv
contented upon such means as yo
have, and l well know you are happy
| say so from my heart. Strive 4
more alone; let US strive together
| My dear Michael, it is not right tha
? l should keep secret from you wha
you do not suspect, but what distre.
: ses my whole life. My mother, will
out considering that what you hay
1 lost you have lost for me, and on th
a assurance of my faith, sets her heal
a on riches, and urges another suit u
a on me, to my misery"
4 was blest indeed, that day, and
b new world opened to me. We wei
: married in a very little while, and
/ took my wife to our happy home
4 That was the beginning of the res
dence | have spoken of; the Cast
y we have ever since inhabited toget
/ er dates from that time. All OF
e children have been born in it. o.
first child-now married-was a Ii
t tie girl, whom We called Christian
: Her son is so like little Frank, TIL
t | hardly know which is which.
l. y