National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-11-25

stoned accents and then he would take
her gently by the arm, and place her
full face, profile, gazing upwards like a
devotee, or bending lowly as a Mag
dalene. She was a mine of wealth for
years to come, he said and then he |
would stoop and look into her eyes to |
see the rush of happiness that welled up
into them at his words "There's /
nothing half so sweet in life as loves |
young dream" Mr. West, wrapped up
in his books never dreamed of breaking
the spell that was cast over his mother |
less child, and so the two, undisturbed, |
driftcd unconsciously into an intimacy, |
and became " Ernest and Ethie" to |
each other. After an hours sketching he
would rest, although it was a labor of
love after all, and not very arduous in
its nature but he preferred to sit idle
there, with his fingers toying with her
ha'r as she llnelt on the grass beside him
He spoke and she listened, and more
than this Ethie never wanted. There
would come long pauses, more expressive
than speech, during which it pleased
him to watch the changing color of her
soft cheek, and to try to catch the shy,
furtive glance that she dared not indulge
in too long.
Tell me about London" she said
one day
Seymour smiled gravely.
About London, child ? Be content
with your Arcadia here. and do not
strive to look beyond. 1t will be cruel
hand that draws the veil aside which
hides the world from you. The world is
Il dreadful place, Ethie ~ and he shook
his head, and then laughed outright
when he saw her look of amazement and
horror.
"The world couldn't be dreadful
with vop there" she replied, innocently
showing how he had become the Alpha
and Omega of everything. And yet be
sat on, letting her dream and showing
no mercy.
"Tell me all about your life"
Seymour stared his life, full Of folly
and dissipation, on which he could not
look back himself unabashed To re-
veal to this fresh young girl the un-
worthy pleasures his soul had been steep
ed III, the senseless pursuits in which so
many an hour had been passed-the
very notion was a desecration so he
averted the query.
London is exactly like Mayfeld, ex-
cept that there are more people and fewer
trees, and far less happiness
. should like to Judge for myself "
said Ethie but papa would he miserable
away from his beloved books and I
have not the heart to ask him to go. /
wish I had a brother, Ernest y and she
looked very pretty and pathetic as she
wished
"Should l do? But no, I should not
at all care to have you as a sister y and
he regarded her tixedly as he emphasized
the last word.
Ethie felt the hot blood mount to her
blue-veined temples, but she managed to
stammer out
why not ?"
" Because" and then he paused. rose
abruptly, and clasped her hand, said. Il
must go" and nothing more.
The girl watched his receding form
with straining eyes and beating heart,
: until the turn in the road hid him quite
from view and then with elasticity OF
= youth and hope, she bounded Gaily into
the house, humming a (avorite air OF
r Sevmour's, and saying to herself. "To-
morrow he will be here again, wish to-
r morrow was come y
PART III.
, Seymour's stay for fortnight had
now heightened into several weeks
When the village clock struck eleven A.
= NJ, Ethic knew he would come and
: one morning, having placed the easel an6
r arranged the brushes for him, rs was hel
Il lx ha hat nj NJ
r three-quarters of an hour to the appoint
$ ed time, hut she did not mind waiting. fol
e she had plenty to think about There
were no thoughts now to spare to the
e bluer e,s of the skies, the hummine
of the bees, or the curling of tn,
t smoke Winter and summer were al
= alike, so long rs the bills of the present
= remained. Ernest was the sole axis OF
which her mind rev)lved. She pictured
,, to herself the unutterable happiness o
. being his wife but would such happi
g ness be hers ? She would never know
o joy again if auPht parted them from on
another now, and just when she ha,
" come to this mournful conclusion sh
saw him approaching. She knew tha
n he could not see her where she stood, 81
d she could gaze with her whole soul in he
eyes on that most beloved fare then
II fearful with true loves tlmidity that h
should find her watching him. she wen
" into the house Five minutes later sh
il walked slowly forward to meet him wit
d newborn dignity and reserve tha
Nature gave her as n disguise for tn
feelings within. With all the uncor
% seriousness that she could at, she hel
v out her hand 10y way Of greeting. II
ID took it and quickly released it,
le Ethie, sit for me just once again,
n pleaded softly.
70 Eyes, hut ! thought you wished
d. do the house ! am sure there can l
" no new position left for me to sit in"
" Never mind do what / ask" i
W urged.
s. "To-morrow, than p
n "Ethie. there will he no to-morro
r. for me here | leave this afternoon" /
IN blurted out boldly and suddenly, bl
g. with stab to his heart as he marked Il
IN blanching cheek but, in spite Of h
rcmorse, he experienced an anxiety
or see the effect of his words. And VIII
Nc did he scc-tcars, emotion Z?
I'd No. she only stopped quietly, ar
o. gathered flower. and murmured
ne DO yop ?" in her ordinary tone. "
I'd am quite ready to sit for you, she add,
III u minute or two afterwards "and yt
er must leave one Of your best sketches {,
papa."
Ir- She stood calm nnd motionlcss as
n. statue before him, although her hcn
" was nigh to breaking and none but
I.I. ..l Al