National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-04-14

difficult, that she lost her gay spirits, ant
became serious and depressed For Jenn,
was tender and kind d-hearted as the day i
long, aud she would not for the world
wound the heart Of any one. But she
could not marry all three Of these lovers
that was certain, and was equally certain
that two Of them, at least, had got to su'
fer. But which two 7
There was Charley Niles, as handsome
good hearted, gay a Fellow as there was
in the village. Ills father was dry .goods
merchant, and Charley was now in part
nership with him, so that he was all,
socially, that the good gossips of the
place could ask Tor, beside he was 50
good-looliug and had such II splendid
moustacie." To tell the truth. Jenny was
COOL deal captivated by that moustachc,
and when he had got il waxed up, and
curled, Ia mode, she delighted to gaze
upon IT, But then, upon the other hand,
Charley was little vain and Self-conceited
little shallow and foolish; and couldn't
sing note! Well, you may laugh, if you
will, reader. but this last was not the least
of Charley ialingS in JeDny's estimation
/ She loved music, and she til ought every
one else should. and more than that, should
be able, at least, to sing passahly well
Yet Jenny would probably have overlooked
this failing of Charley, and accepted one Of
his numerous offers of hi, hand, heart and
purse, but somehoS ~ another she could
not bring herself to the point She would
think, nj times, that she loved him and
could live happily with him, hut when one
of her other lovers came Ia her, she found
that all her liking for Charley was but
friendship, and not love.
George Watkins, her second lover was
young lawyer, poor. btieiiess proud as
Lucifer, and, If il must be confessed, a little
wild He was frank and generous, but
these qualities led him into evil company
and habits at times. He was not So rcck-
less or abandoned, however, bat that soci-
ETY. admitted him to its circles, and smiled
forgivngly upon his shortcomings. Jenny
found in him respectful, quiet, devoted
lover; one WHO was ready to do or dare
anything for her. really believe that
George loved her with the deep earnest
ness OF his nature, and had he been the
favored suit II, perchance his career would
have been different and better one.
The third person who held place in
Jennl's heart was Philip Warrington, a
young miller, poor and proud, like George
Watkins. but having none Of the latter'>
reckless nature or easy principles. He .
was quiet and industrious, and modest to
a degree too great for his own comfort or
happiness. He loved Jenny deeply and
devotedly, but when he saw the gay, dash
ing Charley, or the witty, cultivated law
yer claiming her attention, he was inclined
to underratc his own merits, and while
bcmoaning the fate that had given him no
riches. or brilliant intellect, he could not
help feeling that II was all presumption ou
his part to think of winning the fair girl.
Thus, he gradually withdrew from her
company. believing himself unpleasant to
her, and sought in solitude and the books
he loved to crush out the feelings which
gladdened his heart so many hours. But
this withdrawal from her society had not
proved pleasant to Jenny. She felt burt
and pqued, because Of it, though why she
could not tell, for she had never analyzed
her own feelings, But it dspleased her,
and she tried to make herself believe that
she was angry with Philip, and she often
spoke Of him sightingly, and even laughed
at his white floury appearance, though her
laugh had hollow sound, even to herself
But time sped on, notwithstanding Jen-
ny's troubles, which il only intensified,
and one day she found herself utterly at
bay. On the following day the young
people of the village were to go over to
Grass Lake as one of those delightful pic
ME excursions which furnish so much ex
use for sly love makings, and of course
Jenny and her lovers were to be of the
This, then, was the climax OF
ler troubles Charley had repeated his
1tfer of marriage with many prostestationa
If undying love, and all that sort of stuff
usual on such occasions, ending with the
Information that he should expect a final
answer on the morrow, which, if unfavor ;
lble, would induce him to do so something
desperate. "'Pon honor it would !" Nor
vas George much bchndhand, for the same
,vening he gave Jenny to understand that
le should seal his fate by seeking a final
acceptance or refusal from her, when the
,arty reached the lake, on the morrow'S
EXCURSION.
Somehow these bits of information did
rot elate Jenny as one might suppose they
would. She found herself wondering,
'ften, if Philip Warrington would go, too,
md she found herself wishing, too, that he
night be there Then she sat up long
lfter she blew out her candle at night, try
ng TO decide what she would do with her
overs, but it must have been a difficult
lnestion, for she sat in the moonlight a
ong time. But at last happy thought
eemcd to reward her efforts. for she
prang up gleefully, clapping her hands
md laughing, and springing into her bed,
he was soon lost in slumber.
1t was n hot, sultry day IN July, when
he yourg people of the village came to {
he rendezvous and embarked in wagons
nd single-seated bugges for Grass Lake. y
But the ride was over shady road, I
through a pleasant country, and the pic {
licers were gay, young, and careless of
lcat and dust. Such glorious opportuni- +.
les for sweet nothings in each others I
ars, were not to be lost on account OF t
uch minor affairs as heat and dust. L
Jenny rode in Cbarley's buggy, behind e
pirited horse, while George was forced to {
ontent himself with Jennys sister in his v
,ucgy. but the latter consoled himself with b
he thought that he had but to wait until t
he lake was reached, to plead his love
nd offer his hand to Jenny, and as he had h
hreatened that it should be the last time f
e would offer himself, he had no doubt h
hat she would accept him.
The party were all ready to start, and b
ne team, indeed, had got some distance on n
be road, when Jenny discovered that t
'hilip Warrington was not of the party. 2
he Immediately ordered Charley to drive 81
,ack to the mill, where Philip worked, in o
ones that he dared not disobey. though he "
,nttered something about taking too b