Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-01-08
The Lovers Quarrel.

OF all people on earth, Milly loved one
the best. Itwas the man she was engaged
TO.
He had come into her lonely life like
some wondrous prince in the fairy tale.
In the quiet village in which they met,
certain rules regulated social affairs.
Courting people were, SO to speak, set apart.
Parlors were given up to them whole
evenings together, ordinary folks sitting in
kitchens or OF back porches, or anywhere
out of the way. Two engaged people be-
longed to each other. 1t was treason for
one girl to endeavor to monopolize what
was generally termed the "steady COM
pany" of any other young lady. And
Arthur Heathwood was given over to
Milly Hunt, as her particular and especial
property, from the first day on which he
was known to "be particular"
All this suited Milly very well. 1t
suited Arthur also Everything went on
famously. The wedding day was set. The
two lovers existed in a bissful state Of ro-
nance and Milly, at least, believed that
all this was to last forever. She, in her
simplicity, expected to live altogether alone
in the world with her Arthur, and expected
that he would be delighted with such a
state of things. They were to bill and coo
until they we're very old indeed, and then
die together and be buried in enc grave,
and 90 to heaven together hand in hand
When the experience of womanhood has
enlightened us, even if we love, we must
say to ourselves, d" 1t is even possible that
| may, and surely one Of us must, die and
leave the other" But to trust him we
love, and Fate and Time and ourselves,
with marvellous and romantic faith, is one
of the sweetest parts Of first love. 1t is
what makes it so beautiful to look back up
on, so different from anything else, so mar
velous. To feel it, one must love FIRST in
those years where womanhood and child
hood meet.
"Who is that bowing to you, Arthur 2"
Is some one bowing to me ?" said Ar
thur; Where2'
He looked in the direction that Mlly in
dicated
"Yes, Miss Lint, | declare. What can
bring you here? Excuse me, Milly."
SO he left Milly on the little bank under
the big elm where they had been sitting,
and crossed the road and spoke for FIVE min
utes or so with the two ladies who certain.
ly, to Judge from their costume, were very
fashionable ladies indeed. City ladies',
too" said Milly to herself wonder
whether | shall get that air after live
there 2"
Arthur came back after his talk, and the
ladies walked on.
Mrs. and Miss Lint, Milly," said Ar
thur :" | used to spend half my evenings
at their house. She's splendid girl, musi.
cal, and quite BELLE"
"Ah," said MiIly codly "You never
mentioned that before"
Well, | don't often think of her Out
of sight out of mind, you know"
And Milly suddenly felt very happy
again. But the next evening Arthur did
not stay with her as usual.
You see" be said, must call on the
Limits. They are at the hotel, and expect
| it,"
Do they know you are engaged ~
"No not as yet said Arthur. 81
shall let them guess it. | want to make
you acquainted Wen have some pleasant
times together"
Then off went Arthur. He was only
performing his social duties but Milly,
country bred, had her fixed opinions about
the conduct of an engaged man. "He
should not call on other ladies, she declar-
ed to herself. But after sulky hour OF
two she comforted herself by saying that
''as the Limits did not know about her, they
might he excused ~ and that they would dc
what was right when they understood how
matters were"
A few days after this, Arthur took Milly
to call on the Lints, and the mother and
daughter were charmingly polite aud
thenceforth were always getting up pleas
ant parties, and sending for Miss Mlly
Hunt and Mr. Arthur Heathwood to join
them.
At first Milly liked this well enough
but soon the fact that Arthur did not com.
port himself on these occasions as lover
should, dawned upon her mind. In her ru-
raj circle, the engaged gentlemen sat with
their arms about their ladies' waists on all
public occasions. They seldom spoke to
any one else, and proved their devotion by
being rather uncivil TO other ladies.
OF course Arthur Heathwood was not
likely to do these things, man used to so
ciety, and anxious to keep his footing there
He was constantly thinking how much
sweeter and prettier Milly was than Miss
Lint ever could have been, and he was
proud of her too, for she was girl whose
manners were soft and gentle, and who was
graceful, aud dressed in pure and simple
taste. But he thought she understood
what was proper in this new circle, as well
as he did, and never guessed that she was
hurt and angry and offended, because he
handed her out of the hoat as he did Miss
Lint, and because he called her Miss Hunt,
and said, "Allow me-" when he put her
shawl on for her.
Men are very stupid in such matters. A
word or two would have made all right,
but he never uttered them. And Milly at
last made up her mind to show him how
she felt, to put stop to all this, or end
everything between them.
There was certain little blue boat on
hire at the riverside; apretty thing, bright
with paint, and with lady's face smirking
upon the back board over the name "Flora," "
This Arthur had engaged for the season,
and nearly every morning he rowed the
ladies out. Often Mrs Lint would not 90,
and then the two girls sat side by side in
the boat, Milly's golden hair and soft
blonde complexion contrasting well with
Miss Limits brunette beauty. Milly's face
was too round and soft to show her feel
| ings much, and Miss Lint chatted 50 yolu.