Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1872-08-28

Pepita, after a long illness, woke again
to life.
Several tiaes a day Jose went TO in
quire after her and see that she needed
nothing; for the duke, in return for Jose's
devotion to the sick, allowed him to take
what he wanted from the hospital stores.
As p epita verged toward convalcscence,
Jose sent her every day some little offer
ing to cheer her sick room--cither rose,
bunch of sweet grasses, a cluster off
fine grapes, or arigc, juicy peach. lie
felt greatly encouraged when the nurse
told him that Pepita, though too weak to
talk, always welcomed these gifts with a
smile. and unconsciousiy to himself a
strong hope was sprlngng up in his heart;
but thin hope was destined to be rudoly
dispelled.
Que day Pepita was so much better
she asked to be placed near the open
wsndow, where she could feel the soft
breezcs, aud hear the hum in the street
belew, for almos: all who had fled had
returned to the city and their usual
avocations As, assisted by the nurse,
she passed the looking-glass, Pepita care
fully averted he eyes from 1t, and taking
up the fresh, dowy bouquet that stood in
a vase on the window ledge, she. for the
first time, spoke aloud some Of the thoughts
that filed her heart
" am most fortunate girl in having
such sweetheart. am | not?" she asked,
holding up the flowers with smile to the
nurse.
There's not many one like Master
Jose, that | will say" returned the other
wiping away tear with corner of her
apron. ...
"Josc ?" said Pcpita, little sharply
81 am speaking of Antonio, who has
sent me so many love.okOns during my
sickness .....
3" Every one of the peaches end low'
ers and things Master Jose sent, bless his
kind heart! which is just breaking fol
love of you," cried the nurse vehemently
, defending her favorite.
81 don't understand you," said Pepi
ia, haughtily, faint, sick feeling steal
ing over her. "You say these are from
jose" .
eyes, replied the other timidly; foI
Pepita's eyes were flashing and her bo
som heavin9 strangely.
"Then | will have none of them
and with all her remaining strength sh'
y flung the flowers out of the window, an(
sinking in a miserable heap on the floor
swooned rway.
The despised flowers fell at the feet o
Jose, who had come, as usual, to inquir
), after Pepita, and the poor fellow, as 70
the second time he stopped TO pick VI
what she had rejected, understood a
once. His face was very pale, but h
suffered no word to escape him. Yes
!. his last faint, sweet hope was gone
Henceforward he would steal his hear
against any such delusion. With dull
:. heavy, steps he sought his little attic
Once again his cracked blue mug wa
:, adorned with Perlta's scorned flowers
and for the first time in many weeks h
drew aside the baize covering from hi
secret.
: Long and earnestly he gazed at h
u treasure, while anger, despair ard lo'
= strove within him for the mastery. A
IS length he raised his hand to shiver
into pieces, but something held him back
III his hand dropped at his side, and bur,
II lug his face on the table, Jose wei
rt away the bitterness Of his heart in teal
Of of which no one need have been ashamed
ID And Pretty Pepita? Alas! she II
G. longer deserved the name. The delicat
lo complexion was all roughened and seamc
her long braids had been cut of, ht
bright eyes we're dilnmed. Indeed, h
i, best friend would hardly have known he
p AS soon as she recovered from h.
swoon she bade the nurse bring her Il
e, looking-glass, and then she sternly gazc
IN at what the plague had made her. A fe
e, short weeks ago and Pepita would ha'
sunk under the shock Of beholding her q
er tered face, but her faculties were b
ID numbed by the greater blow Of Antonio
ie desertion. What did she care for beau
ie now 2 The whole world was darkencd
ID her.
But she was so weak that she was COZ
n PEELED to let the nurse help her back
I'd bed, where she lay for hours with clos
at eyes, but not asleep, as her faithful a
Q, tendant rondly hoped No; she had t.
Id much to think about and resolve upon
g? be allie to sleep.
er Toward evening she opened her cy
and in weak but firm voice bade t
d, nurse tell her all she knew about 4
,k miller's family. and esneciaLlyA about A