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

Only short time was sho allowed her
liberty before coming in contact with her
fathers will. Ono day we were busy with
our herbariums out ON the porch. The
blue hills before us were wrapped in such
peaceful brightness as TO bring up q
thought Of the De.ectabe Mountains. Mar
ca broke our silence.
"lTow hap! y I am, Lu VI It seems so
near, as IL 1t were 80 easy TO get there; l
should fly, and not so through the valley
that lies bc.wecn aud over tic pitfalls.
dent think every one has TO take the same
road Christian did; does thee Lucy?"
"Whot Is thee tn king abou', Marc,a?'
said, not comproacudiug lcr haii-cxprcsg-
I'd thought.
,.Os the Dcloctablc Mountains 10 Dc sure.
~ bgyrare right Le.orc US
n royiiad time 10 answer, VIC heard
Flather's step coming toward us from
tie sitting-room, whc he had been taxi
ing his aacr-dinner nap. He spoke, rs he
came up TO us;
"AIarcia, Elmer Carson is coming over
here this evening. 1t is my pleasure that
lie be treated we'll"
"I shall treat all persons civilIy in my
fathers house, was tho cold reply.
~ think thee understands what | mean
Please attend to my Wishes"
There was suspicious flash in Marcia s
eyes that he did not see as he walked away
from us.
In all the round of our young associates
it would have been hard 10 find one more
universally ridiculod and dislilied than
Elmer Carson. lie was stupid. lacking in
tellect, and mean in character; but wealthy
and knowing how to take care of his wealth.
IT was nil inherited. and he could not toll,
without alludinr to his ostatcs and com
trastinu himself with others not so fortu-
nate. Marcia owned n valuable farm. left
her by the mai. en- aunt whose name sho
bore. and IL ioincd his nropcrtv. II was
,,o form, Lo yop,od-rd, NIorcio co. ~
bis boort u,fn,, ho y,,s orroil Of hor
"I will front hin, ciyiIl,,u - sho soid nc
hor f,,I,or s,,o,1o ,.i,,,,1 ,,.iit ,,ot.o
tir, ,o,,ro, ,I,o do,. ho oor,o 10 soo mn ~,
.,o,, =, o,.,o,,d ;,
Idorot ho1d to,. so, 10 tho ne ,,,,,1o,
Iuo,, ,,or,t .bo ,,.os ms, dooros, rriord
Sho ,,os v.iic,I ,o,u1orf i'll and noedod
= asunn,. o,,,,osrI,aro =, riror IN win hor
-, .J ~ .I,o ,,.ns oi,,o,.s oor,Io
,horcb crIi of sr;rit Loving and gonorous
win hor r,thor All, brotbors sbc was "a
rrio;ous sorcos,ic and .o1c-wil,od Tbo,,
brounbt ont every bit of ccmLatiyoness.
A short time before this mandate was
laid unon her. Marcia had mot vounp
nm for her n now possibilitv in life. He
was n lawyer. spoken of as being of great
promise; had graduated in an Eastern coll
lcge, taken the Europcan tour-which was
not so common as now-and was n lion in
Marcia's ewes. He was n very surerior
young man, with a fine, open. Genial face.
clear strong eyes, a dcrendab!o face. Mar
cia said. Marcia evidently attracted him
from the first. lie had seldom seon fair
er woman in all his travels; and Marcia
only needed the opportunities OF culture to
make her the Iocr Of intellectual women.
All this Edgar Jowett took in and under
stood as no enc lad ever understood hcr.
Her faults were only tho friction OF Il sens
itive nature against urcone cnal lh.ngy.
alton, as our Quaker boys did, but mani
Tested it in locks and chivelrous attention
that made il like living stoIy-bock to n
simp girl, untuiorod in such ways. Sic
came h, me tome after lie first meeting, Ler
checks aflamc, her eyes glowing with Il
new light, and rs we sat covering over the
wood fire on tie hearth in the little cham
bcT we shared together until late that night,
| listened and she rel Gated, over and over
again, every word that was spoken.
Their acquaintance progressed rapidly
alte that. The stranger was very popular
in the neighborhood, and Marcia met him
everywhere. He went back TO the city,
but il was not so far but he made frequent
visits coming TO see Marcia mostly in
company with his cousina, the Harpers; so
that it was not until the attachment had
reached climax, right before John Heat
sons ewes. that he woke TO its reality. l
think he ALWAYS believed she would not
dare TO run contrary to his command, and
so gave himself no thought about her.
One morning, as he was starting out to
oversee some workmen. Edgar Jewett rode
up to the gate and salu ed him pleasantly.
"Good morning. friend Heathson. Can
I have n word with YOU in private?"
"Yes, If thee has anything to say"
The repellant, curt incivility of the reply
would have daunted less determined
man: but Young Jewett was not TO be put
down. Frank, straightforward and courte-
Gus. he went right to the poirt.
"I came TO ask the hand of YOUR daurh-
fer Marcia in marriage"
Friend Heathson was prepared for some
untownr d current. but not this. He faced
the presumptuous Young man, with look
dark with pent-up anger and said.
"Noyetl 1 do not wish to talk with thee.
| do not want thee to SEQ nv daughter
a gain, or have any communications with
her."
"Givo your reasons, sirr'
~ keep my reasons to myself. 1t is
enough for thee TO know that I will never
consent to your marriage"
Turning abruptly, he left the young man
standing full of indignant amazcment.