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

$50 | look utterly content, do 7 yet
have had trouble too. You ought to sa,
you see the traces, Max"
"What trouble has it been, asked"
"a trouble Of Ave years ago, Max" h,
answered quietly ga trouble | never felt
that could tell you in Il letter. When
first asked Lettice to be my wife she-re
fused me, Max"
81 feared so, Frank said, so low that
he stopped forward to catch the words. I" !
feared so from your silence at that time
But never mind, dear fellow, as it ba:
ended 50 brightly" 49,
"No, don't mind now one atom. II
haf ended so brightly, as you say"
1t seemed like dream to be walking
once more at Franks side, along the shad.
owy streets; and still more like dream
to be entering unannounced the pretty
familiar room, where Lettice sat alone al
the window, sewing in the twilight.
"Lettice," cried Frank, in gay eager
ness, "here's Max"
| was standing opposite her, looking
down upon her with STILL calm eyes the
grave elder brother of her afiianced hus-
band She dropped her work, and put
her two hands into mine in quick, glad
greeting; and spoke to her just as knew
Frank would wish me to speak to her
watching all the while his face AS well as
hers. She was changed more than he was
The face that had been almost childlike in
its sunny beauty was woman's face now
deeper and graver, but infinitely more
beautiful, | thought, as ! saw its old
bright. sunny smile'still there. She look
ed up at Frank, a wonderful light shining
in her eyes.
Now you have all yea wish, Frank u
she said. And felt that she was as happy
in his love as he was in hers. stood be-
side them, talking in laughing, genial
tones; hoping that she could never guess
how hardly had schooled myself to this.
Presently Frank passed out through the
open window, and Lettce, looking after
him, raised her eyes questioningly to me,
You think us all changed, suppose,
Max. Even Frank ~
Yes" | answered, absently.
g But you have not seen sister Amy
yet,' she went on, smiling. She of course
is most changed of all. Frank is gone to
fetch her, fancy. He says she is like
what | was at her age, but that is only his
pleasant flattery, for she is very, very
pretty"
followed her words dreamily, wonder
ing whether it could really be seven years
since Lettice and stood talking to each
other last; while felt how impossible it
was that the little one whom we had all
combined to pet and spoil could be at
all what Lettice was in those old sweet
days.
''Frank seemed to know exactly where
she would be, Lettice went on, little
nervously, fancied, in my silence. I" You
the low old seat under the lilacs,
Max ? Amy is as fond of sitting there as
used TO be when | was her age. You
used to say, too, that you loved to rest
there on summer evening; but you have
been away so long. doing so much, that
those old memories will be all buried
now !' "
"Yes They are all buried, | answer
ed feeling the scarlet mount into my face
to contradict the GOODNESS of my words.
She smiled, little wstful smile, which
had strange, brave tenderness in it.
81 too have lived seven years since
them she said l." but the old memories
are dear to me, Max, and | would not bury
them for all the world"
Because it is so different with you and
me-" faltered. "I-I think | have no
left. How long Frank stays"
81 see them in the lower garden now" ,"
she answered gently, looking away from
me as struggled with my pain.
How quickly Amy would have run in
to greet me in the old times, | said. speak
inc once more as | had schooled myself to
do; only that little bitterness would
creep into the tone.
"Yes," laughed Lettice softly, " but she
will not come this evening without Frank.
She has been quite timid about your re
turn She asked me to-day if you would
think Frank had chosen unwisely because
she is so much younger than he is so ig-
norant and untried, she said
In the bewildered, breathless silence
which followed Lettice's words, she looked
up at me deep shadows gathering in her
ewes. as if she, too felt the agony Of the
doubt and hope which stirred me.
" DO you think Frank has chosen wisely,
Max, in taking my little sister p she asked,
speaking plainly the truth, which she
knew now that had never heard.
Lettlce-Lettice, is it 2" | STAN
mered, my fingers tight upon the chair be-
low me, and my heart beating wildly.
Yes. Max she answered, at is SO" ."
And knew that she could read the who lie
story of my deep and lasting love written
in my quivering face"
And you, Lettice {"
"I," she answered, in bright, low tone
-"l have waited"
Then | covered M face hurriedly; for
boyish tears had ovtrtlowed my eyes in
the untold joy of this surprise.
Max" she whispered, her gentle touch
upon my arm, Z" thought you knew this,
and had come home for their sakes."
"No; not for their sakes, Lettice; for
Franks and yours"
"Why for my sake?n she asked, tears
shining in her own eyes as she looked
into mine.
Then, low and brokenly, | told her of
my love; the long, hopeless love which
would not die. And at last she answered,
with her little gentle hands on mine, and
a deep, true gladness shining behind the
tears:
MAX, dear Max, | am very glad
waited"
MAX" said Frank, that night after we
got home, may | have the old plate put
back upon the door ;"
We both laughed at the idea, for Frank
was DR.. Hamilton now, and | had half a
dozen letters after my name but we took
a candle and went off at once to find it.
down and taking it upon
his knee-brushed the thick dust from it
quite tenderly; while |, leaning over his
shoulder, read the letters as he cleared
them.
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