Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-09-12
"ADOPTED."


gather the wreath Of scarlet autumn
leaves with which she was decorat
ing her broad. brimmed straw hat.
She made a beautiful picture, sit
ting there all alone in the mellow
glow and color of the October woods
the crimson shawl dropping from he
shoulders, and the sunshine light
ing up her bright auburn curls will
glittering threads OF gold. while up
on the fallen tree-trunk that formed
her impromptu seat, lay tiny
bunch of grasses and autumnal flow
ers. She was transparently fair
with purple tangles of veins in eacl
waxen temple, and faint pink
on her cheeks, while her eyes, large
and brown, seemed to look at yOr
with the grave, tender expression O
All infant.
"Yes, it is very strange" went on
Miss Penroy, musing within herself
II know so little about him-I have
only known him ten days-yet when
he spoke about leaving Elm Point
last night, it seemed as if all the
sunshine were going out of the
world for me. o. Blanche ! naugh.
ty, naughty little Blan chew she
added, leaning forward, and apos.
trophizing the fair face mirrored in
the glen stream at her feet, "Is it
possible that you've allowed your.
self to fall in love with that tall,
black-eyed young Southernor Ten
days ago l had never seen him
and nowp'
The roses mounted up into her
cheek as she wondered within her.
self whether Mr.. Evering cared for
her,
81 wish l knew!' she uttered
aloud.
"Knew what?" demanded a calm
voice, and MIR. Gilbert Evering took
up the bunch of grasses on tho log,
and cody seated himself beside
her,-a straight, handsome man,
with brilliant dark glowing through
bis olive skin.
Blanche demurely looked up at
him-she was not to be taken by
storm thus easily.
"Whether it would rain to-mor-
raw, for our picnic l want to wear
my white Indian muslin "
"O,-the picnic; l had forgot
Ten that, when spoke Of leaving
20 morrow. OF course, though, my
presence or absence will make no
great difference"
Blanche was silent. Somehow
hat scarlet and brown-spotted ma
Die leaf required a great deal of ad-
ustment in the ribbon of her hat.
"Blanche-shall I go or stay ?"
"Just as you please, Mr.. Evering,
If COURSE"
"No; just as somebody else
'leases. Yes or No! And I fore
warm you, the yes means great
leal,"
"How much does it mean ?" ques-
ioned Blanche, half archly, half
imorously.
"Everythingw
''Then you may stayw
"My Blanche-my little daisy "
le whispered bending his stately
lead over the slender hand that lay
n the autumn leaves. And Blanche
cit that in the golden stiffness of
hat October dell she had turned a
ew page in the book of her life!
She was very, very happy, and all
hat day she seemed to be walking
trough the bright mysteries of a
ream. But with the morning came
ther feelings, alas that shadow
hOuld always follow sunshine in
his world of ours.
"Pm not disposed to be unreason.
BILE, Blanche" said Gilbert, in a
'hisper, as he arranged her white
ice shawl for her, amid the merry
lmult of the picnic grounds, "but
do think you've waltzed quite of.
IN enough with that confounded
uppy, Birmingham" !"
"Jealous already, Gilbert 7" taunt-
1 the girl, flushed and rosy with
le triumphs of her beauty, and the
resistible instincts of cOuuetry.
he cOlOred crimson.
"Of course. you'll do as you please,
lanche; only warn you, it's
loice between Walter Birmingham
nd me. You dance with him again
your own risk p
AT the same instant young Birm.
lgham came up.
"May have the pleasure OF this
Okla with Won. Miss PenrOy 2"