Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-03-10
For the Monitor.
MY SECRET.
BY w. II. w.


er days were spent My parents we're poor
and, realizing the fact, I grew up with
a sort of feeling of inferiority to those
around me. | never mingled in the gay
gatherings of my schoolmates and neigh
bors, from an indefinite idea that I, with |
my coarse clothes and awkward manners,
would be looked upon as a sort of intru-
der, as we'll as from fear that / might
be made the butt for their jokes, from
which, with my sensitiveness, | shrank
with an instructive feeling Of dread.
When eighteen years of age, went
to a neighboring village to ''learn
trade" / engaged to serve three years
but at the end of two years my health
failed, and | was compelled to return to
the farm. About this time made the
acquaintance of young lady who, in
every respect, accorded with my idea of
perfection in woman, and as every one
must, sooner or later, | Immediately pro-
ceeded to fall in love. Mine was no
idle passion, fading at the first pretty
face beheld, but that fond, abiding
love which springs from feeling of true
respect and admiration for one who pos
sessed sterling qualities of mental and
moral nature. Nettie was intelligent,
we'll educated kind-hearted and good in
every sense of the word, and of her low
ing, self-sacrifcing nature the sequel af-
fords ample proof.
The feeling of affection was recipro-
Gated, and ere long she was my promised
bride But here comes in what has ever
appeared to me a mystery which has but
one solution-that it was so ordered by
an over-ruling Providence. shrank in
stinctively from letting my parents know
anything of my engagement, and thus a
year passed by and | became twenty-one
years of age. | now felt that | was free
| to act as | chose, but still an intuitive
impulse forbade me to disclose the facts
to my parents who remained ignorant
that | ever had any such acquaintance
as Miss P. Although | made my faith
er's house my home, indeed, | hired
and managed his farm,-yet came and
went when | pleased and no questions
wore donoo.
We were quietly and privately marri-
ed, and | provided home for my wife
in the village of M. | have often won.
dered why the facts of the case were not
discovered, but now, as look back
can see the ruling hand of Providence in
it all.
Nettie's parents were dead, but she
had brother who was in business at the
village, and who persuaded me to inves
with him small sum which had beer
left me by relative, and of which l OBJ
tanned control on attaining my majority
adding to the firm name that convenien
sufix, .sSG Co." His advertisement an
nounced that "having associated witt
him Mr. - of Boston, thereby com
bining an increase of skill and busines
tact with an increase of capital, he wa
prepared to supply his customers at tn
lowest possible rates." &c., and that wa
all the introduction [ had to the peopl
in the vicinity, for, by the same interpC
sition of Providence which l have befor
referred to, made scarcely any acquaint
ances there had unlimited confdenc
in Georges ability and integrity, an
contented myself with managing my farl
t at home, making occasional visits to M
: and, with a vague, underlined dread, d.
, laying the disclosure of my real positio
: to my parents and friends at home.
: so happens that there is little travel Q
s business or otherwise between NJ. and B
I where my parents were, yet this alol
v would not account for the success of N
t instinct-directe secrecy.
g In May following my marriage in Sc
tamber, received letter from Geors
one day, saying that he was in troubl
= and entreated me to lose no time in COZ
= ing to him. The first person saw W;
;, Nettie, and | instantly realized from h
- face that some terrible thing had occu
= red. In answer to my hasty inquiry f
- George, she burst into tears and point
!" to his room. | found him sitting wi
~ his face buried in his hands. He d
= not move or stir until spoke, when
. sprang to his feet exclaiming, "We q
y beggars, and | am ruined,-hopeless
= ruined and then he sank, groaning
ie to his chair By little and little | Dir
from him the facts. While a clerk il
y store, he had formed habit of gamir
VI which had threatened his ruin. He s.
- his danger, and upon venturing into b
on mess for himself he reformed. A
~ weeks ago, when IN Montreal making
- lections of spring stock of goods,
y had been entrapped by sharpers. "
~ had succeeded in stripping him of
ne last dollar Goaded on by remorse a
u despair, he had forged a note which
az had found no difficulty in getting {
counted at the bank, as he was "
ird known in the city. Lured on by wi
er- vain hope that he might win back W.
dy he had lost, he again sought the ga
Ded hlers. and was again mercilessly feec