Connecticut western news., 1873-10-24
VOL. III.

All AoFo Ao Aao Ut laSG met the belns
 whose image had been with hin
 through so many years of his life; anG
 far from being disappointed, the realit,
 had surpassed his imagination. He1
 sweet voice, her lovely face. her courte
 ous manners, her air of refinement anc
 high breeding, all charmed both heart
 and mind. He wondered whether the
 time would come when he could ask
 her to share his home, when he could
 raise her to the position for which she
 was so well fitted. He started at last
 from this dream, and smiled to think
 how much more like 8 romantic boy his
 thoughts had been than like the grave
 Dr. Charlton.
 As soon as he reasonably could. he paid Rhoda Dunmore another visit.
 which was followed by many others.
 He was more and more charmed with
 her every time he saw her. He had ! found out, just lately, that she got her
 living by teaching, and knowing weH how utterlysunfit shewa for such work, he resolved to speak to her at once, and
 ask her to be his wife.
 With this purpose in his mind, he
 went to her one day, about six months
 after his first visit, and after his usual
 questions about her health, for he al
 ways made that the ostensible reason of
 his visits, and few conventional re-
 marks, he said, rather suddenly:
 Miss Dunmore, wish to tell you story"
 Rhoda smiled and bowed, and he re- sumed:
 GA young man was once standing upon the platform of railway station just as train was leaving it. As it passed him, he saw in one of the car riages the face of a young girl. It was 'only a face at the window but it haunted him through his life, through his studies, through the beginning of his career, through his prosperity. Af- ter many years, chance, as it is con- monly called, threw him into the way of this young girl, then grown into a woman and he found her mind and heart as lovely to him as her face had been and still was. He took many op- portunities of seeing her, and found that the more he saw her, the more he loved her." He paused an instant. " was that young man, and yours was the face of which caught that glimpse. Rhoda, with the whole force of my soul l love you; be my wife, make my home & heaven to me-"
 He seized her hand as he finished speaking, and pressed it to his ips Rhoda, who had listened all through with face on which pain and pleasure had been contending expressions, gent ly withdrew her hand, as soon as his grasp of it was little loosened; and, said sadly:
 "You have told me your story: let 1 me tell you mine."
 After an instant's s silence she resumed, | in a low voice:
 "I was the only child of very rich parents. Their name was Graham. They idolized me, and let me have my swn way in everything. I grew up amid every possible luxury and com fort. Everybody called me very beau tiful everybody called me very clever: knew that should be very rich. Is it to be wondered at that my head was turned, that expected when entered society to have every one at my feet? l was not disappointed. At seventeen I came out in London, and was pronounced by everybody the belle of the season. Among my admirers here was one for whom I soon began o entertain 8 stronger feeling than He professed to be very much in love with me was madly in owe with him. My father did not like he idea of my marrying this young nan, for the Hon. Arthur Bracebridge's name had been heard in conjunction with some not very reputable proceed ngs."
 "Arthur Bracebridge p broke in Dr. Charlton " he must have been the on of whom Lord Bracebridge so often poke during his last illness.''
 No doubt he had been great rouble to his parents. If I had asked ny father earnestly to let me marry his young man, he would have con ented at last, for he always gave in to ne; but was willful and headstrong nd as he had once refused I did not are to asked him again, but yielded to ] Arthur's entreaties, and ran away with lim,"
 "W Was it then that saw you ?"
 Most likely; we went by the
 "That was the station. This then accounted for the half-frightened look | TOUT face wore that day.'' l
 Yes <; l was half frightened and lalf ashamed of what I was doing. but , was too late then to give up. We , vent few miles out of town, and were married next morning. Do not blame ( ne too much; acted very badly, but
 was very young, and I have been I punished enough"
 I blame you, Rhoda? Mylife must :. ave been much more perfect one han it has been, to give me the right , f judging others" I
 My conduct broke my fathers leart," continued Rhoda, her voice :, Iulvering Che never forgave me, but l l lied soon after, without seeing me, and eaving all his property away from me.
 had soon seen my mistake. My hus- and was not unkind, but he was very iddy and wild; and I repented my oily bitterly. When my father died a nd left me nothing, Arthur was very ngry with me, and from that time my s lie became more and more wretched. When we had been married few years, Iord Bracebridge died, and my hus- and succeeded him in the title. We Q ,ere rich then for a time, but very { hort one. Arthur took to racing, and s 2 very little while had gambled all IS princely estate away, and involved :, imself deeply in debt. Then came I I hat seemed to me the bitterest trial of ! " life. My husband leftme suddenly, Il nd went I knew not where. I have a ever heard of him since. Being left ntirely upon my own hands, assumed ne name of Dunmore, and under it ot employment as a governess, sufi- tent to keep me, until the illness came. 'hich prevented me from doing any B hing more. The father of some of ly pupils most kindly interested him. |, elf in getting me into the hospital, in U .hich you met me. Now you know 'hy cannot say yes to you, and enter pon what would be great happiness ,r me-" I,