National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-04-26

Dc Iuu. 'hlntllh IS Epou ulNuItu us hn
can be, and you know very well ] am al
adept at hair-drcssing, lace mcnding an,
frill- huting, thanks 10 the best OF nam
mas who knows every thing aud ha
taught her daughters the samo,n
But what would your papa say 2
gasped mamma, Lardly as yet realizing ia,
conditions. felt myself grow pale.
Papa! But he must never know
We will keep our own counsel, mamma
you and | and Jeanette. All that neet
be told is that | am going TO New Yorl
with Cornelia Bydexter, and that is tiut
enough
And mamma took mo lovingly into hel
arms.
"Octavia, ought we to ask this ,acri,
fee from YOU
Nobody asks it, mamma it is my owr
free will Offering. And oh, mamma.
could not look DR.. Mortimorc in the face
when remember that his bill has lain us-
paid for six montAs!"
And mamma, also remembering this
sterncSt and most incontroyertible OF facts,
had no more to say.
1t seems so strange" said Mss By
dexter. "Thc idea Of your being my
maid, You aristocratc looking little thing
And you used TO write all my compost
tons for me at school, too Dear, dear
only TO think OF itl Take care, Octava,
that bunch o, curs comes in first under
the braid, yol know. And how came you
ever 10 think OF it 2"
Nonsense!n cried, brskly. "The
long and short OF It is that | want money
and you do not-so don't let's say any
more about It,"
Papa talked vancloriously Of "my
daughter in New York Poor papa lie
had 90 little left 10 be vainclorious about
Mamma remained wisely silent. AID Jean
cite, who was addicted 10 hero worship,
firmly believed that her elder sister was
the noblest girl IN the world. While Dir.
Mortimore- at least SO | atterward heard
-contracted his brows, and thought that
people who could afford to send their
daughters to pass winter at the Grand
Hotel might at leaStp pay his very moderate
bil
The month Of March vas wearing itself
away, and April sarshle was pensiling the
sky with golden threads, idterwoven with
crystal lines Of rain, when one day | as
tonshcd Dr.. Mortimorc by walking into
his office. He looked up from hi. books in
some surprise.
"jiiss llaileish supposed YOU were
in New York"
~ have returned with Miss Bydexter.
Next week we 90 o. 20 Washington.n
Ir. Mortimore m No spoken answer, !
but there was peculiar, inscrutable eX-
ptession in his eyes Was he thinking Of
mamma and Jeanette on the treadmil OF
patient poverty at home Was be fancy |
ing il modern edition OF Cinderella and |
the proud sisters inyoluntarily spoke. /
with rising ccor and tremuCus voice
You are entirely mistaken, Dr.. Morti
more; but 1t is not my province to ex-
oiaian
- ! said nothing"
" But you looked great deal.
8 Please to interpret my looks" he
aid, with AZ amused face.
My checks burned, and | bit my lip to
epress undignihed anger. | laid down
,ile Of crisp, ru>tling bauh-notes on the
'esk beside him.
Be SO kind as to receipt your bill, Sir"
lie obeyed in silence, and walked
way. as be aiterward tod NE, with the
ir of an cIghteeA-year old Semiramis."
md
f1l rest Of the MS j. in bold, mas
ulme handwriting. as different from Octa-
IA Iiadlcigh's delicate UP and down strokes ,
5 it is possible to imaeinc. t
And Octavia to tle contrary notwith- !
tanding, shall take the liberty OF finish {
foe.-..,, Of "a biar,
| called that evening on Miss BydeXter. {
he fair Coneiia was iabilsnt. c
" never had Q p!eGSanter season." she c
eclarel. "l haven't been slapee once. @
ctayia Is such charming company" t
" She is with You at present 2" a
"Oh, yea. She is my maid, you know" q
"Octayia Hadleigh your maid 2" h
| must have boxed NV astonishment, c
n saw its reflex in Miss Bydexter's p
oc. b
why, to be sure. Didn't you know C
~ And Miss Bydoxter, who is no ad- c
arent Of the theory that "silcnce is p
,lden," poured out tue whole story. n
"Of course wouldn't tell every one"
e said, rather guitily, q, If remembering Il
me hitherto forgotten charge OF secrecy. fl
But knew you would appreciate it e
ID she is SO sweet, ami they are 50 poor" p
as sAe at home ?" asked. Il
" No she has gone around to her faith a,
8. But expect her back every min il
e." st
~ will 60 and meet her," said |. And p,
went accordingly, thinking, with a strange p,
rill at my heart, of that pompous, ego cl
tic old father who sacrificed them all so ol
gardlessly on the shrine of his selfish OF
Sc; and the pale patient mother, and OF
,tavia herself, the lajrest and most duti- of
OF daughters. And / had believed her Ell
this time to be a butterfly of fashion, OF
getting utterly the pitcous exigencies Of VI
r home ir
When first heard of her going to New or
)rk with Cornela Bydexter I fully de- Ri
fmned to put her away from my heart. of
Nv | knew how impossible il would have or
en-. knew that had loved her all the en-
lie that was " forgetting her so svs- ce
! met her in the rosy dusk, &c
stately as & princess, as beautiful as co
wer. n,
= Octavia," said, 81 have misjudgcd re-
u. Will you give me an opportunity to in
plain - ra
. Certainly, DR.. Nortmore." ro
" But there is a question | should like ne
u to answer first. ce
What is it T." ON
i Will you be my wife, Octavia 2" TN
rhe question was asked III lowered ii,
ce Of intense suspense, was answered ta,
nkly, after a moments hesitation. m,
] WILL" h.
suppose | "eyp aimed satisfactorily ar,
erward Tor Oc'a-ia understands all
,ut it, but reilly don't remember how
when it was tone But she is content, In