Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-02-28

! uulle overcome Win eHlOtlOn.
"rhank God, you are saved ~ she cried
ooh, thank God ~ Then she drew back
little and composed herself "You neve
gave us a chance to thank You for saviny
our lives" she added and knew ther
she was the companion in the wicker W "
on.
Laura, Laura r. she cried, fastening :,
tho door. "Mr. Hodge Is better. Oh,
hope-I think he will get we'll"
Then there was a rustlng of drapery, ant
light footstep In the corridor; and Will,
my heart beat like a trip-hammer, Laurs
entered. More beautiful, ten times more
beautiful than ever. Without the inverted
straw saucer on her head, with nothing hut
little blue bow to relieve the white of her
dress, she was simply perfect. She came
up to me and took my hand in both of hers
What fool | was about that womani
trembled all over like leaf / strove to
speak, and failed; actual tears came into
my poor weak eyes, and all could do was
to devour her with my hungry gaze. She
spoke very prettily. She took my hands
In both of hers she was very kind and
sweet, aud always beautiful brit somehoys
! felt disappointed. Why had not she, in
stead of the other one, fallen on her knees
at the bedside and thanked GodY
Now, dear aunt" she said, "you must
let me watch in turn you are tired you
are worn ont you must go and rest"
But when her aunt was gone, and we
were alone together, she wouldn't let me
speak.
"Wait ill the doctor comes," she said,
running to the window. "See, here is his
gig." And she ran out 10 welcome him.
Pm so glad to see you on the mending
side" said the doctor. "You've had Sc.
rious time of il; but l think now If you
put all energies to work, you'll get along"
"Oh, well hurry him along iamously,"
said Laura. "We'll make him such nice
little dishes, and we'll take bin out in the
sunshine and, if he isn't afraid, well take
him out driving"
With Whisker?" / said laughingly.
"Well, Whisker Is just as sorry az he can
he. He was frightened you know, by that
ugly stump"
"Yes," l said. "By-the-bye, had that
stump dug out myself. 1t was in my way,
you see."
"And after ALL" said the doctor, "that
was the real cause of the accident"
I remembered this remark of the doc
tors aftcrward. I became more in love
with Laura than ever. Delirium had not
cured my passion. Convalesence increas-
ed it sevenfOld. l found it impossible 10
get strong until / knew the best or the
worst. had fair reason to hope. She
spent the best part of the mornings in nv
sick room, and seemed always anxious to
know what the doctor thought about me.
She followed hi IN down stairs to make him
repeat his directions, and staid long enough
to get them hy heart
OF course the thought of her fathers
wealth was a grievous stumbling block
but had discovered that at my age he was
almost as poor as /. Why should |, from
a false pride, render myself miserable
But having resolved upon telling her of
my love, found it no easy matter. AL
though there were many opportunities, /
never got courage to avail myself of them.
At last | resolved upon writing to her,
and intrusting the letter to her aunt. |
thought she seemed favorable to me. We
had many conversations together, and al
though had never ventured upon an a.
vowal, they were of tender and contiding
nature. | felt that in her | might have a
auxiliary.
Heaven knows how many sheets of pa
per destroyed, or how many hours were
81 ent in writing these poor little lines:
"MY DEAR Miss LAURA You must
know that love you. am not rich, but
| hope TO be; and if you were as poor as /,
as Heaven knows | wish you were, we
should not be so badly of. can't even
enjoy my love for you, I am so tortured
by suspense. Won't you put me cut of my
pain, and send me one little decisive word
only one-and let 1t be 'yes?'
Yours devotedly, ROBERT HODGE,"
1t wasn't pretty love letter. thought
of lots of things 10 say about her beauty
and her youth, her Incompatible grace,
and my unbounded love for her. But /
couldn't get these things on paper. They
seemed weak and wishy washy to me
blushed for them before they
were written down, and couldn't pirate In
that way about a matter that was invested
with rort OF sanctity In my innermost
heart. let that letter go, and I'm mighty
glad now didn't make bigger fool of
myself than ] did
| slipped the note in her aunt's hand that
night, giving II an imploring squeeze.
81 shall wait in the summer-house at the
end of the garden" l whispered 'don't
keep me long in suspense"
drew favorable conclusion from the
manner of my fair ambassador. A faint
color came into her check, and she gave
me one look az she went away that said,
plainly, "Pll do all can for you.''
didn't sleep much that night, and can't
exactly remember how l stumbled to the
in the morning. l was
scarcely strong enough TO walk without !
aid, and what with weakness, and tulnult
If emotions that assaied me, | sank upon
he seat, trembling like woman.
Yol may be sure did not stop tremb-
ing when | saw tiuttering little figure at
he the end OF the arbor. / had mt ex-
Dected her TO bring the answer herself. 1t
was TOO much happiness. staggered to
ny feet. She was there, within few feet
If me the most beautiful face in the world
vas smiling into mine. She held out TO me
wo dear little white hands.
"Pm so glad" she said, ait had made me
10 happy. OF course the answer is yes."
1t made mo strong. l gathered her to
ny heart. "My dear little girl" I said,
ifIing her completely off her feet, and kiss
ny again and again her shining hair "my
'wn little darling, my sunbeamr' Sud
!eny big shadow lOomed up beside us,
md there in the doorway stood the doctor.
1t didn't embarrass me In the least. |
trove to detan Laura and was about tell |