Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-02-22

Gordon as our future brother, and next
Christmas, Tom came down, elate and
eager, all his bright, brave young man.
hood irradiated with this new sweet
hope. Work Wouldn't he work +?
Anything to win Pansy. He was in the
law, creeping up slowly into lucrative
practice but, oh, he would be patient,
so patient, if Pansy would wait for him.
And Pansy smiled and looked distract
ingly lovely, and we all agreed that
Tom would have been incredibly stupid
not to have fallen in love with her.
But we asked this question at first
only with doubtful, soTowful eyes, and
afterward with hesitating lips - did
Pansy love Tom? Did she love him as
the woman should love the man whom
she chooses out of all the world, as our
good Tom Gordon deserved to be
loved?
Tom, dear fellow, had, I think, some
struggling doubts. L have seen him
look at Pansy with such longing, hungry
eyes, that my heart ached for him.
But, whatever his doubts, he said moth
ing, and we all kept the same painful
| silence.
The golden Autumn passed, and the
white, silent Winter came on.
Rexford began it's usual career of
mild dissipation. A fewlittle initiatory
parties, and then Ms. Moneybags fairly
inaugurated the campaign with a grand
ball.
The Moneybags lived in a magnif-
cent honse in the most aristocratic
quarter of the town. They had no
family, but large account at the bank
er's, and an immense admiration for
blue blood. Now, poor papa had ever
so much blue blood in his veins, but
no account at all at the bankers SC
Mrs. Moneybags, besides sending cards,
came over herself to invite us, and be-
cause of the blue blood she was obsequi-
Gus, and because of the bankers she
was patronizing.
81 want all your girls to come, dear
Mrs. Tremaine-aU!"-a she looked
around upon the alarmingly large fami-
ly-group with a pitying smile, adding
"Poor things, it will be such chance
for them"
Mamma returned the smile very faint
ly, and we bowed our visitor out, with
hearts very full of Indignation.
"I shan't go, for one p cried Sue,
angrily, and then by chance glanced al
Pansy. The girls face was abs olutely
radiant.
"It will be so splendid, she murmur.
ed, under her breath.
The end was, that all went, Sue includ.
ed; and it was splendid. Mrs. Money.
bags had had sense enough to put the
arrangements into the hands of decora
tive artists from town, and the effec
was superb. The good woman's face
shone with complacency. But her great
attraction, which quite overrun her sim
pie heart with pride, were half a dozer
New York guests-a faded belle, gay
widow, and two or three gentlemen
Respect for Mr.. Moneybags had, per
haps, brought them all the way up tC
Rexford. They were the observed O.
all observers. Miss Administer mus
have felt her early triumphs renewed
until Pansy appeared
She had come late, with papa, ant
the picture she was when she entered
the room, in her shimmering white gar.
ments, [ shall never forget.
A low exclamation of delight and sur
prise broke from some one near me.
GOOD heavens what a vision o.
loveliness r'
[ half turned it was one of the stran
gers who spoke, o distingue, stylish
looking young man, who had set all the
young ladies hearts in a futter when
twenty minutes before he had made hi
entree. Handsome he certainly was
Why did [ shrink and shiver a littl'
when presently [ saw him lead Pans,
out upon the floor, and watched his fine
dark eyes fairly scintillate with admira
ton
Why need I linger over the tale? I
was the old, old story.
Mr.. Kennan called, was gentlemanl,
and delightful won mamma by hi
graceful Difference, and papa by tn,
display of keen business-like qualities
Pansy sat almost silent, the sweet colo
Pickering in and out of her cheeks
But when he was gone, and they al
broke out into praises of him, stead,
crimson settled there, and burned ik
a rose.
Mr.. Kennan came again. He linger
ed two weeks in Rexford. By the enC
of that time the denOuen1eH came.
He proposed for Pansy, declared hi
passionate love for her, and when pap
demurred demanded that she be sen
for. The child came, weeping like
culprit, accusing herself of treacher,
toward Tom. But not all her tears, al
her remorse, could hide the fact tina
this man had won her heart.
81 thought I loved Tom-poor Tom.
she faltered. "But l did not knoy
what love was"
An utter dismay fell upon us all whel
this tragid denouenaent of Tom Gordon
pretty romance became known to us
Many long, fearful consultation W,
had, but the hard, painful facts coulc
not be changed.
Pansy herself was firm as martyr
"Pl marry Tom if you say so, sh
said with a great sob, "But I low
Max"
OF course, then, it was all over
Papa had theory-a curiously senti
mental theory for grave lawyer of fift,
that girls should marry for love, AM
mamma had never thought Toms i'm
pecuniosity was quite what her darlin,
observed Mr.. Kennan saw his advan
tage, and pursued his suit. It was de
cided that Tom should be written to
But who would break this bitter news
Pansy came winding her soft arm
around my neck.
" He loves you better than any o
them" she said softly.
broke away from her angrily.
And you would make him hate me-!
I cried.
But who can resist fate IF n batefu