Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-01-21
How It Happened.

How it Happened.
don't just know how it happened
called at Browns that day. didn't think
about going in, but was going right by
the door, and remembering how pleasantly
the old gentleman and his daughter had
spoken to me at a party few nights be-
fore, and asked me why did not come in
as ! used to- and invited me to call often
in future Besides knew that pretty
Fanny Stuart, Browns ward, aud the
daughter Of his step-son, had graduated at
school, and would be coming home to stay
in a week or two, and it would be well
enough to 90 in once before pshaw
What am | talking about2 went to
Browns that day because it was my fate.
No man can resist fate
| sent up my name aud Henrietta came
into the parlor looking exceedingly pleas.
ant and very sociable. had never noticed
much about her when used to call there,
but had a general idea that he was a
nice kind Of an old girl on the whole,
though rather dressy and fussy, and young
ish acting for her age, (Tbompson, who
knows eyerybody's age, had said she was
past forty, and thought it was well
enough to have her like me pretty we'll in
case | needed friend in future cmerren.
cies.
Well, | acted glad to see her, quite glad.
And she seemed pleased with it. | knew
she was rather hard Of hearing, but
spoke up loud and plain, and she seemed to
understand what | said about the weather,
and the new park, and how full it was at
Long Branch last summer, and so on.
Pretty soon she said something about how
long it was since | was there last.
| said, Yes, it was good while, though
not so loug as it seemed, either. But
hoped she did not think | bad forgotten my
friends, if | did stay away
Tried to forget Aud why, Mr..
Parker2 1t certainly does seem long
time, she murmured, looking down.
81 haven't much time to call my own"
| said, trying again, and overlooking her
mistake. 81 have TO make the best of it,
and cannot 60 as often as | would like, to
see people"
She looked doEn again, and hesitated
and fdgetted, and | thought she blushed
Pretty soon she said, rather archly, " Are
you sure it was making the best of it to
stay away and try to forget me? How
was | to know you wanted TO call me your
own ?"
tried again, beginning to feel sorry for
her. "None Of my friends like it, | said
" that l am so devoted and attentive to
business, and see them so little at their Own
houses. / am sorry to offend them, but
feel it necessary to see to my affairs pretty /
closely just now"
Henrietta simpered and hung her head |
and looked so very conscious and gratifed
that knew she had misunderstood me
again, before she opened her lips,
She looked as if she expected something |
more, some way, but after a moment she
said in her sweetest tones, We'll, dear
Charles, if your devotion is so great,
don't think friends ought to be too much
considered. As you say, it is really none
of their business, aud you are capable of
attending to your own affairs, anl if they
don't invite us to their houses why, hope
we shall have pleasant house of our own,
my dearest"
How should make her understand that
| was only talking Of commonplace things,
and not making love to her?
| began again, desperately. Il did not
expect to see your father the other evening |
/ was pleased to find him so well aud cheer
full. When do you expect your niece, Miss
Stuart 2"
d" Yes, think father will be pleased. |
have no doubt you can see him this even
ing. AS for Fanny, she is only little girl,
you know, but think she will like it. She
always seemed to think great deal of you,
and wouldn't believe a word Of your atten-
tions to Belle Smiley. even when feared
it was true" | became determined to end
the Misunderstanding, and yet wanted to
do it gently, for thought it would be a
dreadful modification to the poor thing
when she came to see her mistake.
| thought | would speak Of things as far
as possible from the subject Of her thoughts
These are serious times abroad" |
said. " France and Germany are not likely
to have their troubles settled very soon
The sufierings of our own country in the
late war makes US feel for these poor peo-
pie. They haven't had much to say about
the political affairs which led TO the dis
turbances, and | suppose the common SOL
diers are not actuated by the interest and
patriotism that our armies felt" thought
would keep on long enough for her to get
the drift of what was saying. She lis
tened intently. did not know then that
that she never read the papers.
at was very good of you to think Of
spending some time abroad, she replied.
" But am told it isn't safe 90 to France
this year on account of the war, aud as you
say, we shall be the sooner settled. quite
think under the circumstances should pre-
fer the trip in our own country, and as you
suggest, it shows patriotism"
The cold sweat stood on my forehead,
and groaned. To be sure | was nearing
my thirty-second year, but did not want
to get married yet, and if did did not
want to marry her, | thought if went
away, she would think it all over, and know
by my manner that she was mistaken. So
rose and said must be going.
" Give my respects to your father on bis
return | added. | bid you goodbye
for short time cnly, for | shall call next
week to see him aud pay my respects to
Miss Fanny"
:" If you could stay little longer"
Henrietta said, rising, too, and coming up
close to me, he will be home to dinner,
and you need not return to sec him. But
what n hurrv vo,, ara m " Ia oy;nn hcr hand