Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-09-26

She had appointed this interview
, but shrank from it nevertheless
Might he not think her plan imprac
ticable and unwomanlyi But this
: was not the time for hesitation; hi
had come, and she must see him
So, SUNNI oning up all her firmness
she went down to the parlOr. A
dark, grave.looking young man Of
twenty.threr, or thereabOuts, rose
ut her entrance.
"Well. Olive" said he, kindly,
"what is it nOwi Your note was
my steriously worded, and excited
my curiosity"
| She turned trifle pale, hesitated
a minute, then told him all. He
listened with an amused smile.
"And did you, alone and unaided,
originate so Quixotic a scheme ~
he asked. "Or was it the sugges.
ton of some strong minded sister ~
Olive was hurt, but answered,
patiently, "Please don't jest, Vivi
an. Pm in earnest"
"No doubt of that; but your log.
ic is defective. There's a certain de.
fined boundary that separates wo-
mans work from mans; and when
she enters the field of politics, or
any business that belongs to him
exclusively, she invariably loses all
that renders her attractive"
A wave of scarlet dyed Olives
face, but she answered, softly,
"Dear Vivian, please look at this
matter in its true light. Here's
business I feel myself capable of
carrying on successfully. There's
nothing in it that's likely to injure
me physically. intellectually, or
morally. Mamma and the children
need its profits. Why should [ re-
sign it to other hands 7 Our mar
riage, as you know, is necessarily
postponed for years, and in the
meantime l can do this work."
There was no answer, and for the
first time Olive began to see how
different the true Vivian Ross was
from the ideal she had set up in her
imagination, and clothed with his
face and figure.
"You will not give me word of
encouragement, then 7" she said, at
last. "Yet it's not simply a ques-
ton of inclination, but Of duty"
"Nonsensew he muttered, augri-
ly. "It's mere whim, and one
that I'll not permit my betrothed
wife to gratify."
"Then, Nlvian"-and though her
voice trembled, her eyes met his
resolutely-''giye me back my free
dom. l cannot have my free will
thus constrained"
He started to his feet. "What
Will you sacrifice me sooner than
this foolish scheme You cannot
mean itw
81 do," and her voice grew firm.
"There's an individuality of soul
that ought to be respected-a limit
to the submission women owe, ei.
ther lovers or husbands"
"Women's rights jargon ~ and he
laughed bitterly. "But take your
own way. Dismiss me, and 60 into
the book-selling trade as soon as you
like. Pve been a little mistaken,
that's all. thought you a true wo.
man, tender.hearted and unselfish E;
but find you instead scheming and
ambitious"
Olive WINGED visibly, but with
out word took from her finger a
plain gold ring, and handed it to
him. He tossed it into the CRATE,
where few Goals smouldered, gave
her a look at once tender and re-
proachful, and left the room.
Olive leaned against the mantle.
piece, white and trembling. "This
is the man." thought she, ''from
whom expected sympathy and ell
couragement, and he has turned my
plan into ridicule, as if blind to the
difficulties surrounding me. Papa,
Vivian, both gone. What is life to
me now ? But why repine 7 Though
love forsakcs, duty still beckons me
onward"
In spite of his faults, there was
much to admire in the character Of
Vivian Ross. He was a poor me-
chanic's son, who had worked his
way through college with the inten-
ton of practising medicine. His
energy and self-reliance, united with
a nature both strong and tender,
had won for him first Olives esteem,
afterward her affections. But there