National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-07-05

other made it excusable. Then, taking
possession ofthe kicking baby, and bidding
her brother give his assistance to Middle
ton, she led the way across the fields the
whole company taking up their line of
march behind her.
Arrived, after considerable difficulty. at
the farmhouse, they had the satisfaction
Of learning that they must wait at least
two hours for the repair of the broken
wheel, and that they were still five miles
of the halfway house where they had cx-
pected to take dinner. OF course they
were all nearly iamished after riding SO
long in the cold. The good. woman of the
house seemed well disposed to supply
their wants.
The rest Of their journey was accom-.
plished without accident, though not with
ont delays, and it was quite dark before,
weary and mud despatched, they reached
the town where they We're to part and 60
their separate WAYS. They had left the
stage, and Miss Tucker stood in the piazza
of the public house giving some directions
about her luggage, when Middleton ap-
preached and, taking off his hat, addressed
her.
Pardon me-" he said, "if use too
great freedom. You do not know me,
but have seen too many proofs of your
goodness to-day not to feel that | know
you. / see that you have kindly taken
under your protection the poor woman
and her child who rode with us, and
am anxious to share with you the pleasure
OF assisting her Here is small sum OF
money, which You will oblige me by
spending for her use and a card with
my address. II at any time | can be OF
further service to her, you will do me Il
favor by letting me know"
The young woman took the card and
the crisp bank-note that accompanied it,
and expressed her thanks with dash Of
and timidity which she had
not before shown, but which Harvey
thought became her wonderfully.
"Thcre is one more iavor,n he added,
with little hesitation, (which | would
like to ask of YOU, Would you object to
give me q,,r addressN
"Not at all, " she answered frankly. and
gave it accordingly. He thanked her
,ravely, bowed again a he might have
lone to a duchess, and walked away. The
next day he was at his office in Boston.
and she at her busy, responsible post in a
,reat Lowell mill.
For Just one week Middleton turned
things over in his mind. The result was a
resolution and letter. The last was ad-
dressed to Miss Olympia Tucker, and con
tanned distinct and straightforward pro-
pcsal Of marriage. He recalled himself
to the Iady's recollection, refer
ng to the journey they had taken toeeth
er, and declared that the impression which
she had that day made upon him vas such
that he ardently wished to Journey through
lie IN her company. lie told her who and
what he was, his family, business, and for
tune; inclos d the addresses of several per-
'ons, through whom she might, if she |
wished, satisfy horSolf in regard to hi, |
character and standing; and concluded |
with an earnest request that she would |
permit him to visit her. The letter. not
its abrupt and rather busi-
ness like character, was gentleIuanly and |
'especttul, and one which almost any lady |
might feel tlattercd to receive.
When it was sent he waited in verita-
Die fever Of impatence for the reply. 4
week, almost another elapsed before 1t
anne, lie tore it open: his suit was re-
ected
The keenness Of his disappointment al
most surprised himself He had hardly
)een aware how deeply bis feelings and his
ancy were interested in this woman, whom
le had known but for one day, and who
lad begun by offending his social prcju-
Ices and his tast'diousne almost t. the
'oint o. disgust. He took up her letter
nd read it again. 1t was written some
What stiffly, as if it had cost its author a
.ood deal of trouble, and now and then a
word might not be spelled quite correctly
'ut 1t was modest womanly letter. digni-
led from its very simplicity. She thanked
i'm sincerely for the compliment OF his
reference, though she felt compelled t o
eclinc his proposal. She had not done so
astily; she had considered his offer well
The did not even affect to conceal from
i'm that it had strong temptations for her
"A poor hard working girl, struggling
ingle- handed with the world But she
id not think it would be right for her to
urchase ease and enjoyment for herself in
hot way. She was not educated for the
irclc to which he belonged, and if she
5erc to take him at his perhaps hasty
-ord, he might regret it some day. Then
DO, he bad right to the love as well as
D the respect Of the woman whom he
lould make his wife; and she could not
retend to give that to man whom a
10 D.. g. | j
lch relation. She should always feel
rateful to him for the honor he had IN
ended her, and she wished him ali manner
prosperity and happiness with some wo-
ian who would be better suited to him '
lan she. !
Harvey read this letter over great !
lany times. He thought he saw that it 8
as not SO much any positive objection to {
lmselt which had decided her rejection to {
i, suit as the womanly shrinking from so {
lsty an arrangement with one whom she {
NJ so little. The naive confession that !
IS offer had been a temptation touched. t
i'm. Her life 1raS laborious and full Of t
ire; there could b. little brightness in 1t. t
ct when he thoue 1t of all she had done /
id been to others, and recalled the gay /
,uragc with which she faced her lot, the a
lcertul helpfulness, the gentle kindness t
lat never failed, his heart swslled with a
nder admiration. "She is the only wo- II
an on earth for me-" he exclaimed " and Il
Y heaven, will win her yeti"
And he set himself to do so as earnestly
Tough not quite so precipitately as before
e went to Lowell every week till mid
lmmer, and then he astonishcd his numer- !,
is friends, including his sisters-ln-law, \
, the announcement of his marriage. ?
uriosity ran high in regard TO his choice r
1t it was baffled for time, for he took q