Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-07-09

Haunting ribbon on your bonnet"
felt it was unjust to call my delicate
sage green Haunting" and it did not
please me just then to be considered az
example"
"The ribbon was the least costly part ol
my Dress said, "and green seems to me
a very good color that the Lord has scat.
tered around pretty plentifuly."
Edmund thought moment before he re.
piled Certainly we ought not to spend
much money upon clothing, but serviceablc
wear must be taken into account in pur.
chasing, and your judgment is good in
such matters. can only speak Of the
effect, and to my eyes, all your dress ex.
cept the gay ribbon was such as was sccmly
for q protesting Christian. The ribbon
may possibly do you no harm; but you
have great influence over the girls, and
one will say, If sister Mincey wears gay
ribbon, | may too;' and another will pin a
gay bow on her bonnet, and another may
even 60 so far as TO stick bunch Of flowers
on hers This is why the sight was grew.
Gus to me, aud thought ought 20 speak
to you about it,
Not one word in regard to its effects on
my looksl I recalled then what Richard
had said about it, and was provoked into
mentioning II;
Richard persuaded me to buy that rib.
bon, and he says have never worn any
thing so becoming-that il exactly suits my
complexion. But | suppose you never
noticed that
"No,' he said, ." | never noticed it.
only thought Of its effect on the souls of
those around US, aud your own soul too,
sister Mincey for even those who feel that
they are sanctihed must not be too sure Of
not becoming oastaways."
Edmund referred here to belief we
both held, aud had often talked over
know many good people do not subscribe
to it; but it has always seemed to me that
the good God would not leave his people to
grope along this puazing world without an
assurance Of being accepted, and through
life this has been my comfort ard my stay !;
aud believed then, and still think, that
those who never feel that they are really
Gods saints, cannot be perfectly happy in
their religion.
We fell into long silence. thought
over all that Edmund had said, and then
my mind wandered of to Richard, aud to
that conversation we had had after evening
meeting, aud then it came back TO Edmund
as remembered how he had seemed to
stand between Richard and me. had
forgotten be was there near me, and was
quite startled when he spoke
Forgive me, Mary he said, " it, in
doing what felt to be my duSy, | have
offended you would not hurt your feel.
iugs for the world, but soul is more pre-
cious than the world. And you are every
way precious to me, Mary. | have been
wanting for a long time to tell you how
precious, but have lacked the courage, for
| saw you only cared for me as a friend
a brother, it may be-and for four years
have been looking forward to the time
when you would perhaps consent to be my
wife. There is nothing earthly have
longed for as longed for this. know
that this is unexpected to you, and | will
not press you for an answer until you are
ready to give it,"
ms was not unexpected TO me II
wouio nave been so TWO weeks carrier; nut,
when iAchard spoke TO me 10 that way.
seemed to hear Edmund's voice also, and l
ielt assured then that Edmund loved me,
and that, sooner or later, he would tell me
so. With the memory Of Richards ardor
and vehemence fresh in my mind Edmund
seemed cold and constrained, but | knew he
loVed me as truly. lie spoke IN that way
because his feelings were tempered ny the
deepest Observation-Disclosures l ieit mat he
was very uear 70 me- Out was ne as GEAR as
hlchard ana Just as hdnuhd had $1,000
between hichard ana me- so now hehard
STOOD between Edmund ana me-
AS soon as | could collect my thoughts
l sara ; bdmuno' l don = oelieVe love
you IN the way you would IKE me TO- put
am not quite sure ana perhaps you WIN
desplse me wheh / tell you that iew Gays
ago hlchard asked me to be his wlie' and
gave him the same answer cant say
to either OF you yes or no.
Nhat stiffness there was IN that llt'le
room lor minute ana grew frightened
ana hdnund's voice seemed to come to me
from long distance
what dld hchard say = he asked
lie tod me 10 take time TO think about
IT,
nave Ahown VIVA, h'cnard feelings
nave been ior you MARY, though not
WORD mas passed between US on the SUBJECT
ana think ne understands me perfectly
l am anxious Tor MS happiness as l believe
MN to be Tor NINE Ana mere there viii
DC no hstrea between US, Whatever may
happen we VIII be just TO each other,
but 1t Is your happiness not ours that
you are TO consider tut out oil your mlnd
~ ."0usn'' VI "n"' 'uV oouseiuou0eS "'ay
p1 " '''n'' u -, "n1 Oo"su's Jul ""
MAR, "u' "sN 'nS Hoiu 'V' gu'u"noe '" uo'
~ 'ulS matter wna' WI, DC pes' lor YOU III
'i's ~uiru uuu 'nA' "l'on y - oome' WY
snoulu | oosp'so you lor no, Oe,ng aoie 70
9"oose ~ u1 ., onoe ,, o''wecn suSn oIu irlenus !
repeat nlvnuIu ~orus' uear NARY 'aNe
''nio 10 'n'nA noout IT, o., -,
~ was inPoss,p'o 10 io'o" Eu'hupu
au''ue' no" eou'u Pu' ou'o my 'n'nu
AZ AZ 'nougu' o' 'uu CONSEQUENCES 10 .nen'
NeA' 70 our PloioSsio" VI 'e'e'on II was
.ue n'o'' 'n'Po'''n' ueolS'on we nac ever
oeen oal'eu upon 10 make, ana l le't
Wou'u ueciue tuo 'utuIo VI ull threo ior