National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-10-17

you will allow me-"
IT can only thank you again and again
for your kindness in taking 30 much
trouble about me; you may fully be-
lieve in my gratitude. =
and Dr. Charlton took il in his as
reverentially as if it had been the hand
Of an angel. .|
He had no more patients TO see that
day, and was able to give himself up 10
happy dreams. He knew that he was
in love he had ut last met the being
whose image had been with him
through so many years Of his life; and
far from being disappointed, the reality
had surpassed his imagination. Her
sweet voice, her lovely face, her courte-
ous manners, her air OF refinement and
| 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 ut last
from this dream, and smiled to think
| how much more like 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 moro 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 well
how utterly unfit she was for such work,
la ,.acn1yn1 u, sy,Nan1y 10 har at
ask her to be his wife.
With this purpose in his mind, he
went 10 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 n
story"
Rhoda smiled and bowed, and he re-
sumed:
upon the platform of railway station
ust as n train was leaving it. As it
passed him, he saw in one of the car
riages the face of a young girl. 1t was
only face at the window but it
haunted him through his life, through
his studies, through the beginning Of
his career, through his prosperity. Al
ter many years, chance, as il is COM
monty 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
love you be mywife, make my home
heaven to me.
He seized her hand as he finished
speaking, and pressed it to his lips,
Rhoda, who had listened all through
with a 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,
signing, said sadly:
"You have told me your story; let
me tell you mine
After an instant silence she resumed,
in low voice
81 was the only child of very rich
parents. Their name was Graham.
They idolized me, and let me have my
,wn way in everything. 1 grew u
amid every possible luxury and con
fort. Everybody called me very bear
tiful f; everybody called me very clever;
everybody knew that l should be very
rich. Is it to be wondered at that my
head was turned, that l expected when
entered society to have every one at
my feet? l was not disappointed. At
seventeen | came out in London, and
was pronounced by everybody the belle
of the season. Among my admirers
there was one for whom l soon began
to entertain a stronger feeling than
friendship. He professed TO be very
much in love with me | was madly in
love with him. My father did not like
the idea of my marrying this young
man, for the Hon. Arthur Bracebridge's
name had been heard in conjunction
with some not very reputable proceed
ings."
"Arthur Bracebridge p broke in DR..
Charlton "he must have been the |
son of whom Lord Bracebridge so often
spoke during his last illness
"No doubt he had been great |
trouble to his parents. If | had asked |
my father earnestly to let me marry |
this young man, he would have con-
sented at last, for he always gave in to
me but was willful and headstrong F.;
and as he had once refused / did not
care to asked him again, but yielded to
Arthur's entreaties, and ran away with
him.
"Was it then that saw you?"
Most likely; we went by the
North western"
"That was the station. This then
for the half frightened look
your face wore that day."
Eyes; / was half frightened and
lalf ashamed of what I was doing, but
t 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; 1 acted very badly, but
was very young, and I have been
punished enough"
81 blame you, Rhoda? Mylife must
lave been much more perfect one
han it has been, to give me the right
If judging others" !
my conduct broke my fathers /,
leart," continued Rhoda, her voice :
"he never forgave me, but
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 1 repented my
oily bitterly. When my father died
nd left me nothing, Arthur was very i
ngry with me, and from that time my
ife became more and more wretched. ]
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