Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-04-14

deal with Dora alone, tonight, | will
only describe her.
She was small, with delicate COM
plexion, much like your own; soft blue
eyes, so intensely blue, heaven seemed
painting its own beauties in their lus-
trous depths a sweetly firm mouth
high, white forehead a small but shape
ly head with its crown of curling gold
en- hair, never saw lovelier face at
casual glance than fair Dora Kent's
yet some of the true elements of beauty
| know now were lacking there.
Twelve years ago learned to love
Dora-ah the world has many changes, "
he added with a sigh.
81 was just back from two years
residence abroad, whence [ had hastily
been called by the death of my father.
[ assumed the care of his estate. and my
mother; my brother Jack was in India.
Not many months after my return, when
I first began to mingle in society again,
| met Dora Kent at the house of an old
friend of mine in London, Mrs. Kensett.
1t was Dora first season in London, and
she was quite the belle in the circle in
which she moved. | was not long in
adding myself to her list Of admirers.
There was dainty grace in every move
ment, a brilliancy and piquancy about
all she said, that rendered her wonder
fully fascinating. ! met her often, at
the Kensett's and elsewhere; and soon
Dora's image. waking or sleeping was
with me.
Time passed on. Winter was over,
and spring, with its manifold charms,
had once more visited my English home.
With the exhilarating sense of Nature
newborn loveliness, came the joy of the
new life before me. | had asked, and
received permission, of the proud old
Mr.. Kent. to pay my addresses to his
daughter She had listened to the old
old story, and with the most approved
bushes, had whispered the 'yes, in re
ply, which is as pleasing to the heart o.
the lover in our day, as it was to Adam
in the garden of Eden. Our marriage
had been fixed early in the coming au
tumn ; and the future, with halo owe
that untrodden path which soon shoul(
enter with Dora at my side, spread ou
before me.
Forever p had whispered to Dor
at our last meeting. "Forever mine
Death, alone can part us, my darling !
[ had no presentiment of evil as | bad
her good night am not naturally su
perstitious and with me no .'comin
events cast their shadows before" Ha
[ been thus constituted, the occasion Q
which l speak would scarcely hav
prompted unhappy imaginings, Dora
musical voice. still ringing in my eal
and the kiss of my betrothed lingerin
on my lips.
Late in the winter | had received
letter from comrade of my brothe
Jack, saying that he (Jack) had bee
wounded and would come home as 500
as his health would permit. But he ha
taken fever and his recovery progress
ed slowly, and my mother fretted col
tinually about him, and on the May ev'
ming in question, when [ had bidde
Dora lovers adieu and walked hon
on air, | was a good deal pleased an
good deal annoyed, as I entered Il
drawing room to see my brother rise
meet me.-A good deal pleased becau
my Mothers anxiety would be suspen'
ed now Jack had come; good de
annoyed, because Jack always annoye
me. His tastes and mine were so
variance. He was so hasty, so rash,
imperlous And |, we'll
81 suspect you bothered him, too,
broke in, ''you were wise, and good, al
disposed to be very fatherly to yo
younger brother, and willing to give hi
all manner of good advice, wereyou not
Perhaps that was it. y he said laug
ing. "Be that as it may, | was, as
said. very much annoyed when SO
Jacks handsome, bronzed face; howevt
I greeted him cordially and listened
his recital of adventures, hair-bread
escapes etc., until a late hour
i Jack had really improved in manner
| admitted. He didn't jostle agair
ones opinions as frequently as he us
to do. He was less egotistical than
was two years ago. At times he d
have the grace to remember that I "
in the world. Two or three days aft
e when he loftily remarked, he should
charmed if | would show him my lad
. faire, | assented to this cool way of
u knowledging my engagement, and inv
It ed him to accompany me that same e.
Il ming to the dwelling of MIR. Kent
It Dora received us with all her accl
g toned grace, and | thought I had ne
n seen her manners so perfectly winnil
her face 50 charnringly beautiful
: proudly saw Jacks surprise and pie
Is ure as he watched her lovely, anima1
II countenance, and listened to her delig
" full conversation but momentary pa
re of jealousy shot through my heart as
ie saw how pleased she evidently was "