National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-08-30

Oh, my good gracious! how dare YOU 2
Fanny laid the pink bundle down in
rocking chair full OF pillows. The bundl,
protested with vigorous movement, anC
in another moment the rocking chair anC
baby came down together. Now, yol
swiul man, the child i, killed. erie,
Fanny. with a scared face. as she lifted tn,
tiny morsel from the floor; but the pillow
had protected it. and the startled baby
after one effort at curling her lips, broke
into a charming smile.
"No harm done; and | trust Pm for
given" said Mathew Donn
"No. you are not forgiven. shall nect'
forgive you Mr.. Mathew Donp so please
leave baby and me. have nothing more
to say.
"Well. I'm going,
"You can go, Sir"
The young man went softly, slowly out;
but he looked neither grieved nor angry on
the other side Of the door he smiled.
The crcumst tances were these:
Fanny had been amusing her sisters
child. and the little cherub seemed never
TO tire of musical sounds; So Fanny, who
had Mother Goose by heart, liked moth
M better than to sit in the cosy sitting
room, which was really the nursery, and
sing those old, old melodies.
Mathew Dom was the hired man, and on
this particular morning had stolen in qmet-
ly behind Miss Fanny, and, tempted OF -
what ? surely not the Evil One-had bent
over and kissed her on the forehead.
And this h had dared to do, knowing
that Fanny was a city young lady, living
in a fashionable quarter, and used 70 the
best of society.
Fannys sister had married rich farmer
not quite tive years before. People talked
about the Brvsons bulying themselves
alive; but both Olive and Fanny loved the
country better than the town. Every
summer Fanny was glad to leave the
"stuffv old house" as she called it, ana
almost by one leap on the exl ress train
find herself in paradise, breathing air re-
dolent of white clover and sweet
During the winter the sisters corresponded
regularly; and Olive had sung the praises
OF Mathew Dom, their hired man, so often
that Fanny found herself thinking OF his
acquaintance as one OF the pleasant proba-
bilties of her next visit
wrote Olive, holding her baby on one
knee and steadying the paper with bronze
weight; 4" for he is not IN the least like the
men who hire out in these parts | should
be ashamed net to ask him to come TO the
table; and Just for the novelty OF 1t, |
want YOU to take a peep IN his room.
Harry calls hlm his rnra ariS and tie
two really enjoy themselves together
almost like brothers. Besides he's nearly
as handsome as my Harry he, you know,
is the handsomest mar in the world :"
And the pleasant pen ran on and told
about planting, and prospective sweet corn,
and pea blossoms, and how the grape vines
were full of the tiniest lunches, and the
young peach trees were going to do splen-
didly and Adela had two of the "cun-
ningest, milk white teeth" and know
not how much more loving nonsense.
Now Fanny had a rich lover and, like
most rich lovers, he was not prepossesslng
in his personal appearance. In her own
written language to Olive, he pestered
her to death" To be sure, it was pleasant
to see his splendid equpage in front OF
their door, with the two superb erays, TOR
on rare occasions Fanny yielded to his
solicitations to take ride and he always
contrived to drive her by his castle OF
brown stone front, perhaps to tempt her !;
for Fanny was as fond of beautiful things
as women ought to be, and was well
aware of the advantages which money can
give.
Both her father and mother were anxiou'
that size should marry the Hon. Ebenezer
Wolcott, but Fanny was high-splrited,
and thev seldom advised her. The g'rl
knew that they were living beyond their
means for her sake and this knowledge had
been bitterly earned. She and Ollye had
many conferences over it.
think if you were married." said
Olive, papa would come here and take
snail house ; then business need not press
hlm so in his old age"
Ehenezer bad done the proper thing
had offered FANNY his heart, his house, his
carriage, and his borses and although he
was known for pugnacious old gentleman,
terribly set in his way, he was honorable,
and he loved beautiful Fanny Bryson with
all his heart. And Fanny had told him
ehe could not decide - that she was going
Tor the summer months to sister Olives,
and at the close OF her visit she would give
him his answer.
And may come out there somctimes7'
asked Eben.
Fanny gave a reluctant consent, ard
wished with all heart that she had refused
MN so, with the understanding that he
was TO call as friend, the two parted.
At the tcnot FANNY found her sister,s