Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-10-18
Faint HearT.

Faint HearT.
John Everett had known EIinor ever
since he could remember; they had gone
to school together; he had spelled above
her and refused to take MS place; he had
euvied the more daring boys who had
walked home with her through the green
lanes, beneath embowering eIms, as if it
were the most commonplace thing to do in
the world, while he, with his heart IN his
mouth, tried to fad courage for the effort.
and found himself left behind for his pains,
Later. when ii ey FIRST bee TO 20 out into
the world together. what tortures he en-
dured waen she danced with some hand
some STRANGER; if she rode with his
brayer companions if Carl Hughes took
ner Of IN hls wherry down the SILVER
length of the river, and lost his way
among the creeks Of he silent marshes,
only returning home when the evening was
far spent and the stars trembef in the
+ heavens, and unwlttlugIy brushed past
poor John, waiting on the wharf in the
shadow of some warehouse 10 see them
landed and sIil, l. fe began cry 10
seem Ike pleasant th,uIty to him. IL.
was always wondering what she was doing /;
how She passed the days while he was
busy ln the counung-room what was her
everyday thoughts, her dreams, aud did
he hold 4uy share therein. Sunday, too
soon became tbc first holidays, for then
! he was sure to see her Her fathers
square. old-ta~hioned pew almost faced
the congregation, and not breath or ii
+ blush. tue du,ter OF an eyehd or the gho~r
OF Gtmp,c, was lost upon him. Ia the
mean time +, Is probable that Eliuor was
not hHui Chances are easily Interpreted !;
actions sometimes speak louder than words
There Is i--te Doubt when Carl Hughes
or ans of the others STE ped out of q con
cert or lecture room aul offered an arm 70
her door. but She understood that j ohm
mad been waiting and waverng and long
lu1 for tse .ayarao IA ment m which TO
anticipate t.I- attention, which moment
would nave arrived, sooner or later, but
that Clr.. intent on his purpose, and an
. nes.ta,.n- Iu it~ performance, had pushed
his desperate way through the crowd 10
her side. au3 had gained the day before
John had Thought OF losing II.
bur bv iu-ou-tDfc degrees one out-r0w~
+ tins sort of taut hcartednesS, and pushes
out before Car. Hughes and the indulgent
crowd, and wins the prze for the notice,
but delays 20 take the next decided step
10 the rlrut path. Aud 50 it was with
John. One I4q he heard that E.uor had
given away her ueart to Mr.. Denormandy
now ON his t.lgeis However much pam
this announcement glte John, his FAINT
heart rtaduc,S-Vh,ch, perhaps was only an
exaggerated appreclat on OF the object o.
his Leslre-b,c4me a something superttu-
Gus. since. + he had already lost her, why
saouId he fear? 1t Is At this stage that
one ceases 10 doubt and begins 10 suffer
E. So. now that he had nothing to lose, he
went in aul out OF her presence, with q
/ fatal Ease nation, as bold a. 4 lion. lie
asked aer hand in the dance without a
Juam he TOOK her out TO supper or down
/ tOdmuer. rs the case might be he strol ed
with her on the moon-Ighted terrace he
/ played melodies OF his own composition
upon the flute: he even vcntured to take
her ia his own wherry down the dazzling
reach Of the river; aud though he failed
to eutauLle himself among the ribbons Of
the marshes Vet the whcrry sprung lea ,
and whllc &c pulled home against the tide
LAS 1T seemed 10 him he had always been
dolnr-E NOR baIed the boat with her
slipper. witch he begged when they were
safe ashore, and the slipper OF no further
use to the owner.
! should ike to keep 1t myself, She
said as a memeuto OF the day IN which
we made shipwreck together; but you may
have It,
One day he happened to say something
about the tilpe when Mr.. Denormandy
should return from abroad and carry her
beyond his reach.
Mr.. Denormandyn said she, knitting
her brows; what should possess him to
carry ne any where p
The rigbt Of possession.
don't understand you. Mr.. Denor-
mandy has no right Of any sort in me-
Excuse me; but L thought had
heard"
That | was going TO marry him? Don't
believe what you hear again. The truth
is, he never asked me, though my friends
declare that be wished it, and [ myself
had some reason to expect it; but faint
heart, you know
Never won fair lady And you?
was relieved waen he left for Eu-
rope 1t Is so hard to say No that one
IS IN danger of saying Yes from CON-
passion. Love is so sweet that it Is diff
cult to refuse IT, and then one has haunt
ing fear of some time needing It,
Aud a woeful waste makes a woetul
want. What pity that Mr.. Denormandy
had not known your compassionate tenn
permanent, and been enabled to take ad-
vantage Of it"
DO you think so ? she asked.
No; | shouldn't wish a goddess TO
marry me from compasslon-a thousand
times no =
But this did not mend the matter. Now
that there was eoery thing TO gam or lose
now that the affair was assuming criti-
cal aspect, since the responsibility Of the
crisis and the event were his-the native
, timidlty Of his character stepped IN to
{ hinder him. Not that he abandonei his
position at once; it had become too much
matter of habit for him to meet her al
home and abroad on terms OF intimacy
aud the habit was too precious TO be easily
J broken. Only inch by inch, and almost
, without his own consent, he retreated from
t the ground which he had honestly won
He lnvited her icr no more lonely pleas