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

Ows showed where o wsll.worn foot
path had once run ft,an door. VA,
, to doorway. y t' .
Il I think that my cching to Higl,
, land was q pleasure To Hope. Pei
haps it brought some element int
her quiet life that was needed there
But after the excitement of my ar
rival had died away, and I had in
> sensibly glided from the position o
, guest into that of member of tn,
family, I began to perosive that al
was not we'll with her. There wal
at times a look Of pain and longing
in her eyes. There were drOOninf
curves about her sweet lips ever
when she smiled. There was q nerv
ous unrest about her. and she flew
from employment to employment al
if to escape thought. Noticed that
when these moods were upon hel
her mother watched her furtively,
and her fathers brow darkened
strangly. Yet his manner toward
her was inexpressibly tender. She
was, indeed, the very apple of his
eye-this "Hope" that had been
born to him after all his other chill
dren had been laid under the sod.
~ shall not 90 to church to day."
said Cousin Rhoda, one Sunday
morning. "Melissa's mother is not
well, and 1 have told her she may
60 home."
"Neither shall I Co." said Cousin
Hiram. Il sprained my wrist yes
terday, and it is growing very pain.
| full"
"Let US walk, then, Cousin Wini-
fred," said Hope, her eyes brighten
ing. eve can 60 across LOTS and
it shortens the distance by half"
Nothing could have suited me bet
ter, and we were soon on our way.
No flower that bloomed in the lnea.
dow or down by the winding river
banks was fairer or sweeter than
Hope Gardner that day. All the
freshness, the purity, the sweetness,
the repose of that still Sabbath
morning seemed embodied in her.
The minister was reading the first
hymn, when a firm, quick tread
sounded up the aisle. Even before
| had time to think ! felt sudden
shiver In the arm that lay against
mine, and saw the hand that held
one half of the hymn book treinble.
A remarkably fine-looking young
man passed by and took a seat in
the pew just in front of us, on the
other side of the aisle. 1t was Mr..
Remington's pew.
Impelled by I know not what sub
tie instinct of womanly sympathy, I
glanced at Hope from behind my
veil, expecting to see precisely what
l did see-evidences of sudden and
profound emotion. A quick pallor
drove all the color from her face for
an instant; then the rich blood
swept back again, and ber checks
grew crimson.
She scarcely glanced at t he new
conner, but kept her eyes fixed upon
old DR.. Merrill, apparently absorb
ed in his thirdlys and fourthlys.
AS soon as the benediction was pro-
nounced, however, she took my arm
hastily and pres sed forward toward
the door.
If she was anxious to escape from |
any one, to elude any one, her de-
sign was defeated. There was a
crowd near the door, aud our pro-
gress was obstructed. As we wait
ed in the porch felt apresence be-
hind US, and low voice that could
scarcely have reached less sensitive
ears whispered, ....| J
"Look at me, Hope! Speak to
me! Give me one word, for Gods
sake " Fl
She clung to my arm with close
clasp, trembling like a leaf. For
one instant her face grew radiant
as she lifted her eyes to meet the
passionate glances that sought her
own SO eagerly. But she spoke no
word. He leaned forward, with an
other whisper upon his lips. Sud.
denly she turned with an air of de.
cision. H2. H'.
''Cousin Winifred-Miss Ethrid ge
this is Mr.. Willard Remington"
l bowed; the gentleman bowed.
Then the crowd broke and parted
at the steps, and we all went our
several ways.
Hone wept silently half the way