Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-05-13

thought woman should love The man
she makes her husband" she said TO her
suitor; "but do respect you and like
YOU Your society is pleasant 10 me, and
if YOU are content with such affection rs
can give yon. that which sister gives
to her brother, l will marry you."
"Do you love any ono elscP or have
you ever felt the sort OF love you allude
to Tor any other MANI"
Never" replied Eleanor.
Then ! am satisfied. | will teach
you to love me, dear Eleanor" said her
wooer.
Great were The rejoicings in the Collins
family when it was announced that
Eleanor was to marry Judge Carter. To
her sisters congratulations She only re.
piled, Il hope have done right"
"Rrghl-oi course you have" returned
Molly; but. alas, Eleanor was not so sure
Of this.
As the days passed on, her feelings un.
derwcnt curious change. Before her
engagement she enjoyed Judge Cartor's
society; now she dreaded his coming.
and she shrank from the thought Of her
approaching marriage almost with horror.
She put aside all her lovers plans for .
speedy wedding day by one objection
after another. But the judge, aided by
Mrs Collins. overrued them all.
Eleanor grew pale; she lost her appe.
tito; she could not sleep, She hinled 10
heI 6Isler her desire to break her engage.
ment. but she was mel with such scorn
lul rebukes for having allowed the be.
trolhal 10 be made public, and such in
vecliyes against n seiishness that would
subject Judge Carter to the modification
of having been Tilted by her. that she
dared say no more, aud Mrs. Collins
pressed forward al The preparations for
the marriage more rapidly than ever
The wedding day was fixed, and us the
time sped by. the girl grew half frantic.
At last she could bear it no longer.
Judge Carter she said. on enc of his
visits to her, III think have done great
wrong ought never to have promised
TO marry YOU, but will not do YOU the
greater wrong OF keeping that promise (;
/ for do not love YOU, and alas. lOyo
| lees and less. instead OF more and more
Ny very friendship Tor you seems TO be
changing into aversion. You are too
good man to be treated in so dishonOr-
/ able way A. 10 have - woman marry
| YOU who does not love you. |, nj least,
will not be that base woman. Can YOU
I forgive me the modification OF this
rupture at the eleventh hour? Do not
despise me Tor my conduct toward you.
Indeed, have meant to do right
Il believe you, FL oanor. and so far
from despising you. ! honor you for your
lrankness. ii. indeed, it is impossible lor
you to love me-
/ 1T is, >" GhG IN urmured.
Then there is no more to be said.
We withdraw from our engagement by
mutual consent and we will be once
more, ~ we used to &c, the best Of
/ friends"
You nrc n noble mani Why cannot
love you?n cried Eleanor "You dc.
serve womans whole heart. and you
will have it yet, | am sure"
Aud so Collinsville lost the excitement
Of the Senator. elects great wedding, but
gained in its stead the excitement of the
broken engagement. and Of speculating
rs TO its cause. Great was the surprise
OF all at Tho warm friendship which con-
tiaued between the severed lovers; and
when year or two after. Judge Carter
did marry. and Eleanor was bridesmaid
at the wedding where sho had once been
expected 10 take the role ol bride, Col.
linsville was iaiily strucl; dumb at the
spectacle.
Eleanor is so queer" was Mrs. John
Collins's of repeated comment. but even
she now gave up all hopes OF matrimony
for her ssler.in. law.
You must be patient with me, Molly,
said Eleanor; "rll do what can not to
bc burden upon you. Ask me anything
but to commit sin like marrying without
love-"
"po you mean TO say that | sinned be-
cause | married John without any of your
romantic high flown story book notions p
"No. Molly; only speak for myself.
Peoples natures are different, and what
is right for me to do. is perhaps wrong
for another. Don't be angry with me-
Indeed, mean no reflection upon YOU oil
upon any other person."
And SO the years went on. Eleanor
Collins lived her busy, commonplace life
in her brothers house--a life full OF petty
cares, and full OF the bitterness of depen'
dence. She was by turns the nurse, the
housekecper, the tactotum, the drudge oi
the family. She did more than a servants
work she never had q servants wages
Had she been servant indeed, Mrs. John
would have regarded her as most invalu'
able, and would have spared neither effort
nor money to retain her services. But
since she was "only Eleanor" her sister
in-law really thought herself very gener'
Gus in giving her q home, and providing