National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-09-22
VOLUME vi.

y
alt depends on who shall live here then,
dear lelow,n | answered. 1" No house
where you and Lettice live could be dreary
in any way" b.sen4tLt
could sec the scarlet rush into his face
even before he lighted the gas. Then he
turned to me with joyous eyes; and lean
ing on the chimney piece, asked me laugh
ingly when would come back and prove
that for myself.
81 will Gomez said, quite, checrfully,
"in---let me see-in twenty years, per-
haps."
quick earnestncss unconsclously laying one
hand upon my arm "you will come Tor
my wedding"
:" For your. wedding ?" i eShoed, as if
the words spoken so simply had bewildered
me. Prank, does she really love you ~
"Why, Max, old fellow, meyer saw you
so nervous before Are You afraid that
am deceiving myself-or that she is deceiv-
ing m" "
she loves you, Frank q
YES, Max, know it,"
"Then | will come--unless you marry
within ten years. time"
Franks whistle of astonishment broke
into hearty laugh. "A nice little wait
ing time You allow us, Max. We shall
certainly have had leisure to think it well
over
"If Won don't marry until then," went
on. laughing too, Il will come If you do,
YOU must have your big brother represent
ed; and will come to you for holiday
in ten years time
"Ten years = unused Frank; "what a
weary time to look on to, unless one is
anticipating a happy future"
Day after day, until the last hour came,
had sbrunk from bidding farewell to Let
tice. Then ! just went to her, as | had
gone many and many a time before, stand
ing and chatting idly in the pretty room
where we had often been so gay together
"U Frank is to drive here for you in
time to catch the express, you allow us
very short time indeed" said Mr.. Old
field.
And yet it is long good bye" added
Lettice, .iestingly; "you are not coming
home for long long time, are you, MAXI
Frank and | have made an important
arrangement about that" answered, try
inc TO lest too. because | fancied she would
understand what he had asked me to do
9" am going To stay ten years unless he
wants me-"
"If he does not want you, you prefer
staying out there y
Yes. What prospect is there OF any
one else wanting me 2"
Il suppose none," she answered quietly,
" as you say so; but we shall be glad to
see Won when YOU return. Not that you
will care for that either, for you care for
nothing, you know, except tortunz'ng your
life"
Her words, in their quiet, simple scorn,
stabbed me to the heart.
That is a wide word, Lettice," | SAID,
I" and word which even yet | have not
fathomed."
But you expect to do so in MelbourneF'
al hope so"
With an odd little laugh she changed
the subject; and very soon Frank drove up
to the gate. Mr. OldfieId and Amy went
out and stood beside the dogcart, talking
to him. while followed more slowly.
Lettice came with me- and stood minute
under the bare old lime tree, with the
winter sunshine on her bright young face
And looking down upon her knew
that this picture would dwell in my heart
through all my lonely life.
Her testing scorn was all gone now ;
only her eyes were little puzzled, and
little sad.
" You will be quite happy, Max" she
said, with that happiness which makes
Others happy too"
"Tell me how, Lettice," I cried, the
strong and passionate love of my heart
trembling in my voice. "Tell me how to
win this happiness"
AZ can not" she answered, softly. 81
can not teach you what you know so
we'll"
Lettice," said, "my one dearest
friend. this Is the last moment. Give me
some few words of help to take with me
as a sister would have given them to me- -
Very softly, while her clear, sweet eyes
looked bravely into mine, she whispered
the little verse which has been ever with
me since. and has helped me often, as her
voice coul | help me in those far-off days
There is a cross In every lot,
E And an earnest need OF prayer;
But lowly heart that leans on God,
Is happy everywhere.
From the gate looked back wistfully to
where she still stood under the winter
branches. and she smiled one bright, quick
SMILE and ran III.
Then sat down beside Frank, and Amy
sprang up, and gave me, with tear-filled
eyes, the only kiss among all my sad good
byes.
Later on, in the frosty winter morning
we two brothers, who had been together
all our lives, parted on the deck of the great
waiting vessel. with only few broken
wor, :. and one long, close, lingering hand
grasp.
"The ten years arc passing, and you
must keep vour promise, Max, and come. ]"
/ read the words over and over again.
1t was not vet ten. but over seven years
since had set foot in Melbourne. and in
every letter Frank had sent me through
/ those long wears had expected him to tell
me what he had told me at last. Yet, now
that it was told, the lines seemed to swim
before my eyes, and my fingers would not
write the glad and congratulatory words
wished TO send HIM.
Now that my reward is come" he
wrote. a claim your promise. We only
DELAY our marriage for your arrival. Max,
old fellow. YOU would have felt happy for
me indeed. il Won had seen how willingly
1 Mr.. Oldfeld gave nv darling to me.
had been son to him for years, he SAID !;
| could hardly be nearer when | was his
daughters husband. And now my cup OF
banpiness will be full when you come,
How soon can you be home q
So, upon a bright String morning, FRANK
and | met once more in England and tired