Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-11-14

cOnNltlOhS, even OF drawing tears
Q Why on earth did Eva select tina
> particular song for that particuls
t occasion Did she plunge into
, unconsciouslyi Did she mean it t,
! bear the Interpretation which al
the listeners put on iti Assuredl!
every one in the room took 1t % th,
outpouring of the girls grief snt
love-grief and love that might no
T be repressed, and which were callet
into cruel activity by the approach
ing departure Of Captain Rupert
Dartwell. To make the matter
worse, poor Eva's voice began to
give way toward the close of the
ballard, and some of the listeners
feared that she was about to burst
into tears, and that there womu w
. scene; and some eyes were turned
inquiringly upon Will Hepworth
and some upon the Honorable Cap.
tain Dartwell, who bent his tall
form over the shoulders Of the sing
or. Dt
Hepworth's heart was nearly torn
assunder as he stood and listened to
the first verse of this ill.omened bal.
lad. But he had a manly heart,
and it grew stronger and callner AZ
the singer went on. The thing was
done and hopeless, he thought to
himself. ''She loves him, and she
does not love me. know the worst,
and oil is over. Nothing can add to
my defeat and my sufferings; moth
ling can mitigate or diminish them.
Re does not love her, does not ap-
preciate her; but that is no comfort
to me. She can never be the same
to me again." Every stout heart
braces itself up, and grows calmer
when the worst is known; and Will
Hepworth presently crossed the
floor of the room with a firm step
and o composed countenance. He
made his way, not without some lit
tie difficulty and delay, up to Eva's
side. . 4uw
''Eva," whispered Will, in low,
calm tone, ~ want to say word to
you--just q word or two."
She looked up with a distrait and
absent sort Of expression !; but as
he repeated what he had said she
took his arm. and they crossed the
room, and came into large ante
chamber, or hall, opening upon q
garden in which two or three coup.
les were already pacing, and which
was used as sort of refrigerating
place by heated dancers during the
night. Here Will had chance of
saying, upheard by all save Eva,
what he wished to say.
"Eva, you don't care about me-
you don't love me any more. I do
not think now that you ever did.
see it all tonight, and don't want
to thrust myself on you. don't
believe any fellow has right to in.
sist on a girrs loving him just be-
cause he loves her, and don't
blame you. Eva-you are roman
tic and all that-I don't suppose you
can help yourself; and 90 good by,
and God bless YOU"
Eva looked up quite startled
Surely this was what she had a
right to expect, and yet it seemed
to come on her with shock Of sur
prise.
"Will, / don't understand y ou.-
What have I dOnef'
"Done Z Nothing, Eve, except
that you love him, and you don't
love me-"
"Him! Whom I" She assumed at
once y look of wonder and anger
and innocence.
'.Don't, Eva-don't try on kind
of deceit which is new to you, and
doesn't become you."
a"You are polite and kind indeed,
Will-Mr. Hepworth, / mean-very
polite, in accusing me Of deceit."-
She grew red, and was evidently
doing her best to be angry. A
quarrel just then would have been
very timely, and would have reliev'
ed her conscience q good deal. She
longed to be able to persuade her
self that Will had offended her and
treated her badly.
He saw her object, aud he only |
shook his head sadly.
mo, Eva" he said, 1--WE shall not
quarrel. l don't mean to say any
thing rude or harsh /; indeed. it
would not be worth our while hav-
ing any hard words now. Quarrels
are for lovers, Eva, not for you and
me, l haven't any thing more to