Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1872-02-28
Miscellany
A Doubt.
By THE AUTHOR or "MORroN HoUsE,
VALERIE AYLMER," ETC.
[cONCLuDED.l

CONCLupED.
"What! not dressed yet ?" said Mrs.
Blount, sweeping into her daughters room,
respleDdent in pearl-colored silk, early
the next morning, aud finding Emily still
in her dressing-gown, standing before a
window. 81 thought particularly re-
quested you to be punetual, my dear,
she added, with petulant roproaeh.
81 shall be ready in time" answered
Emily, without turning round and some-
thing in the tone of her voice grated very
harshly on her mothers ear.
She had managed aud manGuvcred, with
all the skill of a cunning and perfectly
INSCRIPTIONS nature, to force her dlugh-
ter into a marriage to which, she was well
aware, the girls inclinations were violent
ly opposed; and she felicitated herself on
the success Of her management. But still
there was a little of the mother yet alive
at the bottom of her heart, despite the
mountain of Selishness oyerlying it ; and
lattery this feeling had given her some
very uncomfortable qualms whenever she
was in Emily's presence. The language
Of suffering was written so plainly on the
pale and altered face, but a little time be-
fore so bright, that not all the specious
arguments with which cgotism is ever
ready to justify itself to its worshippcr
could quite stine the whisperings Of re-
morse. Il have acted entirely for her
own good, and she will thank me for it
hereafter" was the stereotyped phrase
which she was in the habit Of repeating
to herself when her conscience was lit
tie more importunatc than usual in con-
demning her arbitrary conduct in the mat
ter of this marriage. She repeated it
now, as she advanced to where Emily re-
maned standing, and exclaimed, with os-
tentatious cheerfulness
"Let me see il you are looking your
best my love, US iu duty bound this morn
ieg!"
Her daughter did not reply, did not
! even seem to hear the remark. She was
gazing vacantly far away into the blue
sky at some heccy white clouds that float
ed slowly along, and wishing, in an apa
/ thetic sort OF way, that she was one O
them.
at is time that you were dressing,
said Mrs. Blount, in somewhat less honey
ed accents, for she began to feel both if
ritated and uneasy at this strange man
ner.
! Very WE'LL will dress" answered
, the girl, listlessly; but she made 10 move
3 ment toward doing so.
q "Neyer mind, Mrs. Blount | will taxi
. her in hand, and trust me, she shall b.
0 forthcoming at eleven o'clock" cried I
\ gay voice in Mrs. Blount's rear; and
: young lady in bridesmaids costume cam,
3 forward from the other side of the apart
8 mcnt, where she had been busy at a toll
8 et-table, putting the finishing touches t.
8 her own dress.
5 THANK you, Miss Laura will leav
5 you to your task, then, said Mrs. Blount
o graciousy. 81 am particularly anxiou
o to be punctual to the appointed hour |
y is always so tiresome and awkward whe
y there is delay on an occasion of this kind.
% % She smiled, and the pearl-colored sill
o rustled majestically out Of the room.
. "Come darling" said the young lady
3 who had so opportunely for Mrs. Bloun
% entered an appearance on the scene
o Emily's favorte friend and first brides
maid--Laura Ashby--"come, you mus
e dress"
u "Very WE'LL" was the reply again; an
this time she did move.
;, She walked across the room to the toll
i et-table, and resigned herself passive
into the hands of Miss Ashby and her ow
maid, who went to work con amore, an
s at least half an hour before the stipulate
Y time, presented her to her own inspectio
b in the mirror, in all the bridal gores c
: white silk, orange-bossoms, and vel
complete.
"You look lovely, perfectly lovely !
/. cried Laura, enthusiastically. "A littl
y too pale, but then it is the regulation thin
: for bride to be pale-but beautiful a
dream = Don't she, Lucinda y
i 'Deed does she, Miss Laura, answer
G ed the maid, in glow of pride and &C
!, miration. "Thc prettiest bride ever
y saw ,a, 5Id
run, now, and see whether all tn
k bridal-party have arrived. | don't sur
pose they have it is early yet. Yo
wait downstairs until it is time for us [
q 20 down, and come and tell me then
t You know she continued turning