Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1872-11-01

nave sunered Tor years from the rava-
ges Of an internal cancer. What have suf-
ferOd no human being besides myself has ever
known; but my agony is nearly over. The
foundations Of the house Of life have been
slowly gnawcd away, and in few moro
hours the Odiace will crumble into ruins and
l should hail death as q blessed release If il
were not for Charlotte. How can l leave
her alone in this pitiless worldf"
" Not alone--leave her with me. Give
me but the right to win and WOO her, DR..
SOverne, and promise" ~
He interrupted mo with groan Of agony
and Impotence.
Tempter-temptor y he moaned, shift
ing himself uneasily on its cushions, you
know not what you do--you know not what
you ask"
II ask for the happiness of my future
life. Let me but win Charlotte"
He interrupted me with qdick, impa-
tent exclamation.
Go! Win her if you will-win her if
you can. l can struggle against fate no lon
ger. But listen to me. If she refuses to
hearken to your suit, come to me yourself to
announce your failure If, on the contrary,
she loves you, send her to me at once. In
that case would speak with her alone"
spare you, dear sister, the details Of the
brief agitated interview between Charlotte
and myself that ensued. You know already
how sped with my suit. Suffice it to say
that Charlotte, looking lovlier than ever by
reason Of her bushes, her smiles, her naive
embarrassment, confessed that was not in
different to her, and that she thought she
could be very happy as my wife.
Then followed a long, and, l think, a dis
tressiug conference with her dying father
They were alone together for more than an
hour. not even old Martha being admitted
and when Charlotte came out OF the room
she had evidently been weeping. DR.. Sew
erne then sent for me. found him looking
snmewhat better, and the strange pungent
odor of drugs which filed the room betrayed
the fact that he had rsorted to some power
full medicine for the purpose of regaininE
! sufficient strength to enable him to bear thu
emotions and anxieties which weighed 81
heavily upon his soul.
, 80 Charlotte loves you," was his greeting
as entered. "Well, consent to your mar
riage on two conditions. Oneis, that you
union shall take place Immediately. l hav
but few days to live, aud would like t
$ witness the ceremony which cOusigns my Oh
5 ly child to the care Of one who will guild
and guard her even as would have done
: For this you will do, will you not, Stanley 2
r THAT will promise, and gladly acced
n to your proposition of an immediate mar
n riage."
Z Secondly, you must retain Martha Kag
a in your service as personal and confdentia
n attendant on Charlotte, and you must neve
separate her from your wife, even for
:, day.
q | hesitated at this. What should
Il premise to bring woman of such dishones
= habits into my future home, and that, too, o
y the inseparable companion Of my wifcH NJ
n soul revolted at the idea.
q "Dr. Seyerne," said after short, on
!. barrassed pause, "do you know--are 20
e aware that Mrs, Rage is not strictly hol
r. est"
r. Choose cannot, ,cai not conset to yoU
.e marriage on any other terms"
"But hear me-"
" "No, no on this point am firm. Tai
10 Charlotte for your wife with Martha Kal
il as her attendant, or leave me at once aI
in prepare to depart from my house. l am t.
or vi for argument or expOstulatiOn. l hav
1t spoken. Now do as you will"
e, And l consented to everything. VIII
te man in love would not have done the same
DO And after all, am acquainted with Ma
to tha's failing and can be on my guard,
IN Here l must close. My next letter vi
Is tell you Of our marriage. Dear sister, vii
lis me WE'LL My heart fails me, know n
% why. A presentiment of evil weighs upC
40 my spirits. Love aud Death, the bridal al
ut the funeral, have linked hands so strange
ne at this moment that the gloom of the OIL
a. overshadows the glOries of the other. :
Oh smell the mould above the rose" CharlOtt,
lie bridal wreath will be laid from her brow
nd wither on the coffin Of her father, and s.
will lay aside her bridal attire only TO .
~ sumo the black garments Of a mourner.
q. And 80 for the present farewell. | "
write again as soon as possible after a
Is married, and believe me, whether married
to single, ever your devoted brother,
elf MILES STANLEY.