Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-11-07

suffer; something with sad, wea
ry eyes, and an air Of hopeless pa
tience. But your Hope, your bright
Joyous, loving child, your sunbeam
your song g-bird, will be dead-dea'
as her brothers and sisters In tn
graveyard yonder y
He shivered from head to foo
that soft, balmy summer night, ant
his mouth worked in q sudden spasn
Of pain. But went on pitiIessly
"It is killing her mother too car
you not see iti Can you not set
how her eyes follow Hope, how sht
grieves over her. how her own cheek
pa'ea whenever Hopes grows white
how"
"Stopw he cried. "Do you think
I am blind, Winifred, or fool
Do you think am in this position
from mere willfulness I But women
never can look at things from 9
mans standpoint. How can ] hell
myself I don't want to mar Hopes
life, l don't want to make he,
wretched; yet what can be done
I can't undo the work of the last
seven years, and ! can't let Hope
marry the son of the only man on
earth, 1 verify believe, who hates
me-and whom l hate. That's the
long and short of it, Winifred. We
are in a bad fix, but it can't be
helped" .4. aa.... ..i.....
"But you don't hate Willard r
"No-I like him. He's 2 fine,
manly young fellow; sure to make
his mark in the world, if he is q
Remington. have no fault to find
with him." r. .ei ..i .t .
'Then, oh, Cousin Hiram" l
began. But he interrupted mo by
laying heavy hand upon my arm.
"There's no use talking, Winifred.
You can tell me nothing that I do
not know already. +" I am as sorry
for all this as you can be. Is not
Hope my own child 7 But I am q
man, and I can not 60 back on my
record. 1 never shall consent to
this marriage, unless some voice
speaks to me out of q thunder
cloud and says DO it,"
A sudden thought struck me as I
glanced up at the laden boughs Of
the apple tree. ...
"Then if a miracle were wrought
n their favor, your pride might be
persuaded to yield I" I said, doubt.
ess with . little tinge Of bitterness,
he answered, angrily; .o.
"When a sign is sent to me di.
'ect from Heaven. I'll give Hope to
Willard Remington; but not be-
ORE" ...tl ...... read
I sat up late that night; but
,arly the next morning, when the
gray dawn was just Frightening in
he east, l stole softly past Hopes
loor, down the stairs, that creaked
'erversly despite all my caution,
opened the hall door Is silently as
dream, and flew down the garden
,ath and over the wall into the
richard. M ..F
For some days things went on
rom bad to worse. One evening
Hope threw a light cloud over her
lead, and wandered off toward a
title clump Of hemlocks down by
he falls. I knew we'll enough what
he was going for. Probably her
ather know also. But If so, he did
lot interfere. He could trust her.
] Was in the hall when she came
n. Her face was white as marble,
md just as set and cold. Her eyes
we're fearless, but heavy and blood
hot. She went up stairs to her
oom, and l went to mine. She had |
'ever spoken to me of Willard Rem |
ugton since that Sunday at church,
nd / respected her silence. fo m |
The next day ! heard he had gone
ack to his Western life. o. ..A
This was Tuesday. The next
we were all out on the
orch when a neighbor, who was
Ding by, stopped for chat, lean.
1g with both arms upon the gate.
"By.the.by be said, shave you
card of the accident on the New
'ork Centraii Cars ran of q bridge
ito fifteen feet Of water. and q
bird Of the passengers were killed.
Willard Remington was on board,
nd they say he is among the miss.
,g'"'d s.s lar ILL.,. ...,.. ....
Hope raised one hand to her head
II th a faint scream. and fall IN tha /