Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-09-16

That, unhesitatingly refused to do; at the
same time assuring her Of my full forgive
ness, and in return asking one favor--that
she would not tell Horace OF my altered for
tunes Not that feared he would turn for
tune-hunter, but that pride might now keep
him from me, as | heard that his uncle had
left the estate heavily mortgagcd.
Now have brought you up TO my second
New Years Day; Horace within twenty
miles Of me. We met at the house OF mu-
tual friend lie did not know ! was to be
there; so | had the advantage over him.
You will easily imagine mine was no care
less toilette that evening. Something of
that first early bloom of beauty was gone.
Twenty-nine has not all the charms of nine
teen. But my friends told me | altered
wonderfully little; my hair shade less
golden, and my figure not so slim and girl
ish, you can just understand the difference.
The fashions of forty years ago would not
convey pleasing impression to you now;
but may tell you that my dress was of rich
blue silk, pale sky-blue, trimmed with white
lace; and | wore the handsome pearl orna-
ments of my aunt Goldneys.
1t was New Years Day. had not for
gotten that now; and | received the good
wishes of the season with very pleasant con-
viction that much that was sweet awaited
me in the future. ! was the first TO arrive;
and when Horace came into the room, | was
sitting where | could see him without his
seeing me- Could it he ten years since we
had metz The same honest, manly face, so
little changed, scarcely aged a day. fancy
people who are in health do not alter much
from thirty to forty. In few minutes he
was at my side, and we were being intro
duced as strangers. "Alr. Felton, very old
friend of mine Just come from Australia,
knows some friends of yours, he tells me,
Miss Peel" said my host
Our eyes met. / do not know how or
why it was, but in that one glance we
seemed mutually to understand each other.
He took the seat next me, and led me in
to dinner. We were not very laxative
for while. At last he said 81 heard
from Emily that you were with your uncle,
and thought that my best chance Of meet
ing you was to come up and stay with
the people who were to have brought
me here tonight. They are kept at
home with colds, and urged me to bring
their excuses. | only landed three days ago,
and had not hoped to have met you so soon.
So strange that our first meeting should
have been on New Years Day, and our re.
union on the very same day. May say re
unon?"
do not think | made any reply; but my
silence seemed to satisfy him. So we met
after all these weary years. There was very
little to explain when he came to me at my
uncles. Emily had been beforehand. Sh'
had kept her promise with regard to no
mentioning my aunt Goldneys will. ! wa
able to do that myself when he was lament
ing that he feared, from what his solicitor
told him, we should be obliged to live care
fully for few years if we wished to pay OF
the mortgages on the estate. Then | toll
him of my money; and the principal, whicl
was entirely in my own control, proved to b
amply sufficient to get rid Of all obligations
We were married after avery short engage
ment. My first present was tiny locke
It contained piece Of faded hchen.
Many New Years Days have come an
gone since those two eventful ones of whic
have written; but they have left their in
press on all others. am old now, and bl
few more years at most can be mine; bl
the experience of a long life has taught II
that we must expect lights and shadows
fall across our path. Does to-day bode ev
tomorrow may bring the good. To fey
very few indeed, is it given to walk alt
gether in the shade.