Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-05-16


"Good heavcnsy ~ was Mrs. Johns start
led ejaculation.
"Don't be alarmed, Molly, have no idea
of attempting this, but seriously, l do
think might earn good living by dress
making and millinery. / do n good deal
of the last gratis, you know, and my hats
arc the prettiest in church. I look round
Sundays, wicked as it is, and 1 see how
stylish mine are. 1 fairly long to get hold
of the ugly mes and remodel them. Why
shouldn't open a shop and trim hats and
bonnets for money!"
"Eleauor Collins, you are joking! The
idea of Judge Collins daughter and Johns
sister, turning milliner! You could really
never do such thingP
"No. 1 suppose shouldn't have moral
| courage TO do it," said Eleanor, warily.
There is only one thing for me to do, and
that is-to marry. Perhaps l ought to.
You are very kind, but, of course, ] can't
be a burden upon you forever;' here her
voice trembled, in spite of efforts to steady
it.
"That is really unkind, Eleanor" said
Molly. "Whcn did John or 1 ever give
you the least hint of your being burden
to us? No, indeed, you're help. should
not know how TO do without you, and you
are like second mother 10 the children
1t is only for your own sake I urge you to
marry Judge Carter"
"But have refused him. can't go now
and request him TO marry me and he won't
ask me again."
"But, If he did?"
"But he won't"
Mrs. Collins said no more, yet few
weeks later, Judge Carter did renew his
proposal for Eleanor's hand, urged thel cto
| by his own real affection for her, and en-
boldened to make this second essay by a
| few hints from Mrs. Collins. In the mean
time Eleanor's sensitiveness as to her de-
pendent position and her sster-in-l laws
| constant iteration that the true basis for
| happiness in marriage was respect and
friendship, had their influence on the girl.
| She was too honorable a woman, however,
to pretend an emotion which she did not
feel.
81 do not love you as / have always
thought woman should love the man she
makes her husband" she said TO her suit
or; "but do respect and like you. Your
society is pleasant to me and if you are
| content with such affection as l can give
| you, that which sister gives to her broth
er, I will marry you"
"Do you love any one else? or have you
ever felt The sort of love you allude to for
any other MANI"
"Never," replied Eleanor.
"Then 1 am satisfied. l will teach you
TO love mo, dear Eleanor said her wooer.
| Great was the rejoicing in the Collins
family when it was announced that Eloin-
or was to marry Judge Carter. TO her sis
ters congratulations she only replied, 81
hope / have done right"
Fright, of course you have" returned
Molly; but alas, Eleanor was not sure of
this.
| AS the days passed on, her feelings I'M
derwent a curious change. Before her en-
gagement, she enjoyed Judge Carriers soci-
| ETY. now she dreaded his coming and she
| shrank from the thought of her approach
ing marriage almost with horror She put
aside all her plans for speedy wedding
| by one objection after another. But the
Judge, aided by Mrs. Collins, overruled
| them all.
Eleanor grew pale; she lost her appetite;
she could not sleep. She hinted to her sis
ter her desire TO break the engagement but
| she was met with such scornful rebukes
for having allowed the betrothal 10 be made
public, and such invectiyes against a sell
| tishness that would subject Judge Carter
| to the modification of having been Tilted
by her, that she dared say no more, and
| Mrs. Collins pressed forward all the prep
arat ions for the marriage more rapidly than
ever. The wedding day was fixed, and as
the time sped by the girl grew half frantic.
AT last she could bear it no longer.
"JudGe Carter she said, on one OF his
visits to her, 81 think have done a great
wrong. I ought never to have promised
to marry you, and I will not do you the
greater wrong of keeping that promise;
for do not love you, and alas, love you
less and less, instead of more and more.
My very friendship for you seems chang
ing into aversion. You are too good man
to be treated in so dishonorable way as to
have n woman marry you who does net
love you. I, at least, will not be that base
| y
tiEcation of this rupture at the eleventh
hour7 Do not despise me for my conduct
toward you. Indeed, l have meant to do
right"
~ believe you Eleanor, and so far from
despising, honor you for your frankness,
it, indeed, it is impossible for you to love
me-"
at is,' she murmured.
| "Then there is no more to be said. We
withdraw from our engagement by mutual
consent, aud we will be once more, as we
used to be, the best of friends"
"You are noble man why cannot
love you - cried Eleanor. "You deserve
a woman's whole heart and you'll have it
yet, am sure"
And 80 Collinsvile lost the excitement OF
the senator-elect's great wedding but
gained in its stead the excitement of the
broken engagement, and of speculations
as to its cause. Great was the surprise of
all at tho warm friendship which contin-
ued between the severed lovers and when
year or two ailer, Judge Carter did mar
ry, and Eleanor was actually a bridesmaid
at the wedding, where she had once been
expected to take the role of bride, Collins
vile was fairly struck dumb at the specta-
Gle.
"Eleanor is 50 queerp' was Mrs. John
Collins oft repeated comment, but even
she now gave up all hopes of matrimony
for her sister-in-law.
"You must be patient with me. Molly"
said Eleanor; I'll do what can not to be
a burden upon you. Ask me anything but
to commit sin, like marrying without