Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-07-22
COngenial Hearts"


nr cELusrE ". A. wissLow.
"Only a slight headache; we had lob.
ster salad at dinner to-day, and confess to
foudness for lobster salads" and with
this explanation the young lady again in
clined her pretty head over the daintily cut
cologne
"ls it possible2 Why, that is favorite
dish with me" tenderly calculated her
companion.
An electric fash seemed to pass between
those two pairs Of meeting eyes and to sink
deep into those throbbing hearts. The
young lady blushod wildly and drooped
her conscious lids, the gentleman still
gazed, aud sighed profoundly.
it was with apparent effort that ordinary
conversation was resumed, but the lady
succeeded 10 dashiug into sparkling vein,
and eliciting happy responses from Mr..
Milton podls Yet the crisis was merely
delayed.
"You were at tho Walters party last
eyening?'
ayes, dsmally drawled the gentleman,
"but it was sdreadfully dull had to escort
that Miss Croxton, you know, as she is
visiting at my auut's, and she is Jas Jleu
anyhow, aud o positive fright, aud uses
musk besides; never could endure musk !"
"Oh, | perfectly detest it," cried the
young lady; | never could imagine how
the Empress Josephine could entertain such
a passion for the particular perfume"
This proved the proverbial last straw.
Miranda, dearest !" solemnly said Mr.
Dodds, ave we're made for each other Do
not attempt to deny it the perfect SINH
arity Of all our tastes establishes the fact
beyond a doubt We should no longer be
separated; We. who are congenial hearts ~
Miss Marinda essayed little depreca-
tory glance, certainly, but if she enter
tanned any very decided objection to this
summary statement of facts, it was at least
unpercievable.
Very soon after, Mr.. Dodds felt himself
encouraged to such degree that in the
true, accepted lover style, he exclaimed
ecstatically, My own, forever - etc
The next morning, the young lady par
ticipant in the above transaction, lost no
time in communicating her happy news to
distant bosom friend. "Only think, my
dear, we have only been acquainted six
weeks, but in that time we have discovered
that our tastes are so precisely similar that
we cannot fail Of being happy together.
You know a watering-place affords so many
opportunities for the study Of character,
and then Milton followed me here to this
delightful village all the friends on both
sides are perfectly satisfied and we are to
be married soon after our return to the city
OF course you will be first bridesmaid"
The wedding was a grand affair indeed
The ceremony, in a fashionable, uptown
church, as imposing as elegant dress and a
crowd could make it; the paternal mansion
was blaze Of accumulated spendors; the
bridal presents glittered in bewildering pro-
fusion; and through all, the bride reigned
supreme, the one object Of interest, centre
Of all admiring and envious eyes, queen Of
the evening What wonder that many q
young girl went home from it all, dazed
with the visions of floating lace and flowers
and trailing silk, thrilled with the sight Of
the bridegrooms devotion and the suprem.
acy of the bride, aud concluded she would
4" take Noodles after all" And she took
Noodles but to discover, with immense sur,
prise, that brilliant wedding failed to be
the grand finale Of common existence, be-
yond which loomed a vague mistness oil
ETHEREAL delight, but was in reality only the
continuation Of life, and very prosaic one
at that.
But with Mr.. aud Mrs. Milton Dodds
Of course, the case was different. Two
people who had studied each others char,
acters for six weeks ought to know some
thing of each other. The honeymoon
passed in undeniablc harmony. As Mrs
Dodds expressed it, in pretty note to hel
first bridesmaid, Two hearts, at least, il
this cold world, beat in unison"
When the wedding tour was over ant
they had settled down in fashionable board
ing.house quarters, it was still charming
TO be sure, Mr.. Dodds manifested an unex
pected prediction for housekeeping at thu
last moment, while Mrs. Dodds had never
harbored the idea for an instant but tn,
trivial question was soon disposed Of by the
lady's assertion that she desired no cares tC
prevent the devotion of her whole time tC
her husband. Such self-abnegation as thi,
certainly could not disturb the charming
state Of affairs
The first week after their return havin,
nearly passed by. beautiful Sabbath morn
ing dawned, and Mrs. Dodds expended nC
little care in arraying her graceful form il
an elaborate suit which the French mantus
maker had pronounced faultless in desgr
and perfect in detail conscious of its entir,
becomingness, Mrs. Dodds at last stood be
fore her husband, radiant and expectant
while that gentleman sat with tilted chai
aud elevated feet, absorbed in the mornin,
newspaper.
Why, Milton, are you not ready fol
church," she exclaimed, gancing at hi
slippers in dismay.
Church, | really hadn't thought o
going to church this morning Did yol
want to go!"
Want to gol That lovely suit made OIL
purpose, and fashionable congregation al
expecting them aud ready to murmur ittl'
breaths of admiration over There is tn,
bride" OF course she wanted to 60.
Why, this is our first Sunday at home
you know, and everybody would think i
so strange in us to stay away; and Away
60. Why, don't you generally attenC
church, Milton2" Mrs. Dodds suddenly
queried, with a slight sinking of the heart
well, no, Miranda I've been with yol
several times, but you see | don't care mucl
for that sort of thing. have IN Opinion
that ministers are no better than other folks
and | don't choose to be bored 10 dealt
listening to them
"Oh, Milton but you can't pretend h
say that-that you do not believe in churche
at all, or--or anything good2" and tn
bride bundered in the mere mention o
anything in the theological line.
"Well, that depends upon what yol
mean by good" returned her husbau
with smile. But if you feel so abou
it, my dear, of course you can always 60,
he added, seeing the tremble Of her prett
lips.