Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-04-22

COUSIN Oi inc harIcrS, came to mo this
morning and asked my permission TO mar.
ry thee"
"Well, what answer did thee give him p,
"Thc sainc I give thee that hc should
never come to my house again, or attempt
TO speak to thee or see thee"
"Why? Does thee know anything of
| him? l. he not an upright honest man
Il not his social position, his family as good
rs the best in the country9 What Is there
| against hlm?"
Then before lie could answer her torrent
OF questions, sho burst oIt lnYciuoualy:
"rncrc is nothing,-nothing but this
| poor, piti.ul, scct-prdc, that will sacrifice
| the hoi.c,t ailectioHs rather than break tLo
outward bonds"
Taotc was too much truth in this; tho
scct-prGc took iitc, ard lcr lathcr echoed
| tac last wurds
"Odlwlrd bonds! Thcn our Society Is
naught to thcel Tina: my dtu shier ,arc-
lu.ly nurturcd in my faith ana tnat Of my
latI.rs, shou!l speal. thus of our religion I!
] had rather bury thee with my own hands
lln nto SEQ tLoe married TO one not mtni
bcr Of our Soc.ciy 10. his position be what
It may"
There was no ro.eutins or changing N
John lleathson; lac considered that weak
ness. Marcia understood il. Her eyes
met his one instant, and he saw in them
that his mastery over her was ut nm end
An outward semb.an,e of obedience she
might give him, m,-nOthing more and he
had an uncomfortable sense of the limits
of that. lie expected high words,-cx-
| poctod her anger TO flame up, and then be
quenched by his hands, leaving him vic
tor lie was not prepared for her look or
manner. She merely said, SIS that all ?"
and left the room quietly, without any
show of anger or sullcnness. She came
back to us, taking no notice of our ques-
tioning faces, picked up the book, and went
on with her reading, her voice as clear and
sweet as before.
From that night she went about the
house the same, yet not the same. The old
wllfulness and petulancc were hushed be-
meath a mighty purpose. Her mother and
would rather have had back the old teas
ing fitfulness than this unnatural quiet.
What her father thought no one knew
used 10 sec him watching her under his
heavy eye brows sometimes, but he never
relaxed his rigidity of demeanor toward
! her.
Elmer Carson, so long repulscd, again
ventured TO the house; and this time took
heart. He did not care for rcbuns it was
tho broad acres he wanted. If he corld
have wooed and won the farm without in
Guiding Marcia ii would have been more TO
his liking.
This went on for several months. One
day her father said:
Marcia, Elmer Carson has asked nv
permission to marry thee, and 1 have given
it. wish it to be so.'
CLEAN. like an echo of his own strong
will, shot frcm Marcia's eyes, as she raised
her face from her sewing, but she made no
reply.
Tho next day, when Elmer Carson asked
her TO be his vic, she answered:
"'My father has settled it; have nothing
to do with your arranl cments. But warn
you both that l have said I would marry
Edgar Jeweti, and 1 shall kee. my troth."
Edgar Jewctt has just bocn arrested for
forgery; I don't think thee Will care to
marry Linn now!'
There was Il snccr in the smile with whicl
be said this.
She started, oxclaiming:
II is ialscl 1 know ii is false! Where
is hep"
"In Jail in s."
~ must 20 TO him! know it is fn'sc!
Repeating this over and over again, sht
ncd TO me in an agony OF mind l cannot
describe.
Tie te,timony against EGgarJ Jcwetl came
in thick and fast. Those who were his best
friends with sad faces, confirmed it TO the
distracted girl. She was kept from seeing
him. 1t would do no gcod, they said, and
only make it harder for her afterwards.
His trial would come on soon, and most
likely he would escape the punishment
somehow, for his family had great wealth;
but Of his guilt there was no question. 1t
was proven to have been he who presented
the forged check at tie bank in Wheeling.
He was absent from home that day and the
night succeeding, and could not, or would
not prove where he was at that time, though
he denied the charge, and denied being in
Wheeling that day. The evidence was all
against him. His friends succeeded in get
ting him released on bail, and he disap-
peared-no one knew where
Marcia, a 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 OBJ
served. She accepted everything like an
automaton, but did nothing of herself.
could not endure to see her thus, and hegp-
ed her to refuse to marry him now, before
it was too late. She only said:
at does not matter now what becomes of
me-"
Farther than that, she never spoke of her
great trouble, never alluded to Edgar jew
cit in the most distant manner There was
to be large wedding, as has always been
the custom among us. In the kitcl en-, Aunt
Judy, an old black woman. who had lived
with the family ever since 1t was a family,
was in her element. Miss Marcia WIS her
hearts delight, and nothing could be spared
in making her wedding cake. went into
the Kitchen on tho morning of the dreaded
day; hearing Aunt Judy, to my surprise,
singing one of her most joyful Methodist
hymns.
"Why, Aurt Judyw exclaimed, "sing-
ing that way when Marcia is in such trou-
be! What can we do, anyhow? It is wick
ed for her to marry that man. There is no
love in II. He wants her money, and she
obeys her father because her heart is brok-
en-"
"Nev you min, honey, nev' min! Iso
os as sho'a as | can be dat it'll all com out
right. had a vs'n last night. l use to
allus som'thin' COM of 'em. know dis is
all comm out right, honey"
~ don't see how it can, Arnt Judy;
am going up now to get her ready.
feel rs If 1 wero dressing her for the
stake"
81 tell ye, honey, les be quiet. Dc Lord
is gwino to liver Miss Marshec out oh ali
dis yere trubblc, right at the 'lovent hour
So don't fret any NOR, but go long O Miss
Marshee AN keep her spirits up"