National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-08-01

possible for my brother TO resist sucl
perfection Still, might be mistaken
and | determined to watch them close
ly. For days | saw nothing to indicat,
that my surmises were correct. and
began to think that it was but n lover,
fears, and my heart grew light and
happy again and | went to find her
intending to tell her of my idle, ground
less suspicious.
AS / went through the garden. or
my way to greenhouse where the
servants told me should find her.
came suddenly on n sight which checked
my further PROCESS. Standing under
the shelter of tree were two people. n
man and woman-he, with his arm
round her, tenderly supporting her.
while she / ked up in his face trusting.
ly and low gly.
1t was ny brother and my promised
wife. As l stood still, rooted. as it
were, to the spot, spellbound, their
lips met in long, clinging kiss.
With groan, turned and fed from
the accnrsed spot, and reaching my
room, threw myself on the bed. wild
with grief and despair, and unable to
collect my scattered thoughts. Moth
ing but the one terrible truth was ever
before me | had lost her And he.
my brother, whom ! had loved as my.
self, had robbed me of her. Still.
strange to say, no feeling of anger or
resentment stirred my heart. Could |
blame linn for loving her, or her for
loving him He, who was handsomer
far than |, clever, and learned in the
ways of the world, was more fitting
mate for her than was-poor, simple,
weak minded, blinded fool. I Law for
hours, crushed and stunned, in a kind
Of stupor, and at length fell asleep,
worn out by mental agitation.
Next morning l awoke calmer, and
able to think over the discovery |
had made. With decision and strength
of mind very unusual to me, | de-
termined to seek out my brother, and
tell him l knew all. Then / would see
her, and release her from her promise
to me. Better for her to be happy
with another than to be my miserable,
unloving wife As for me, I would |
leave England, and travel; better so
than see her the happy, devoted wife of
another man. l found my brother, and |
told hin what l had seen. / can not |
tell how it came about my memory
fails me about all that took place at that
time. He must, | think, have mis-
understood me for we quarreled, and |
he struck me to the earth. He left my |
house at once, and l have seen him
only once from that day to this, and |
then but for a moment, and unseen by
him.
Bruised by my brothers hand, was
az loy fn he,
grieved than angered by my brothers
telling her all, and offering to release
her. Her reply came only too soon. 1t
was kind but ready acceptance of my
offer. She could not, she said in it,
deny her love for my brother. She still
loved me with all the strength of sis
ter's love-alas, how cold to the love 1
felt for her but her heart was given
TO my brother, and with him alone I
could she be happy. At the same time,
She added, that if on further consider {
ltion insisted ON making her my wife,
she would, although reluctantly, per- I
'orm her promise, and would try to {
make good, faithful wife, but never
lappy one. |
What could I do but give her up? !
Was I, to satisfy mean, selfish love,
o drag the woman ! professed to love |
beyond the whole world into. wretched 7
full of lifelong regrets '
nd blighted hopes l
When we met again it was as brother Y
nd sister. But the shock and struggle y
we're more than | could bear, and / sank a
nto i'll health, becoming nervous, and s
t times fanciful My doctors advised t
hange of air and scene, and according
Y prepared to start for a tour on the E
Continent. But before | could get away J.,
diabolical plot was prepared and put :
n practice by my brother, which was to a.,
ob me of money, home, and even reason =
self.
About week before proposed start /
lg | was rather surprised at receiving v
call from two gentlemen, both stran- +
ers to me, who introduced themselves d
S consulting physicians, and said they O
ad been requested to call and see me O
y my brother. Although astonished
such a display of interest on my ac- f
cunt being shown by him, l never for h
n instant suspected any sinister design a
q his part, and answered most of the n
uestions put to me without hesitation. ii
u 81, III luCt, uldt buo tWO uOC- q
us rose, and, wishing me good morn a
lg, said they were very glad to be able 8
report SO favorably on me. AS they q
ere leaving the room they stopped for f
moment, and said few words togeth- p
: in an under-tone. L only caught t,
er name, and felt myself redden at the h
,und. u
"Yes, said one, "you are right we n
lght to try that subject" o
Then, turning back, they began ask j,
lg me what 1 took to be impertinent #
uestions. l ordered them to leave, ff
ut they only questioned me further u
ntil, wild with passion, | lost all self tc
'ntrol over myself, and tried to push at
lem out. Little suspected then that oI
icy were paid by my brother to exam W
e me, and find an excuse for pro- fl
1uncing me mad. Once in an asylum, In
could easily be kept there, and my m
uel brother would be able to enjoy my hi
undisturbed.
A few days after what l have Just bl
Id you took place l received letter Ii,
ON my brother apologizing to me for &C
s behavior, and asking me to forgive dc
m. and to meet him at certain town, of
'out twenty miles from my place. 1t dc
rs cruel, hypocritical, deceitful ia
tier, but / joyfully believed it, and te
adly promised to meet him, eager to
once more reconciled to him. ba
When / got to the inn at the town bu
here l was to meet him, was told do
at he had not yet come, but that he sa
d engaged a room and was shown III
to it. I waited long time patiently, clc