Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-07-25


hurt me cruelty. could not bear
to stay there any longer, so l came
away"
"And did you ever suspect any
one of trying TO injure your
"Oh no." said she, wonderingly
looking up through her tears.
"Wh0 would harm a lonely girl like
met 1t seemed as though l could
explain it all if l could only remem.
Der what had happened some time
somewhere. ! had confused recol.
lections Of dream that came to
me night after night, and my little
brother was always with Inc. My
heart was unspeakably heavy. l
often woke up crying, but it was all
like a mist; I could not grasp it,
though l tried, Do you suppose
people ever live two lives, one which
they remember, while the other is
all a blank ~
~ don't know what you mean,"
said Edwin, as he took seat beside
her on the bench.
"And | don't know myself. Oh,
how l wish I did! l am pursued
by cruel fate which I can not un-
derstand. l must 90 away from
here, for in time you will all turn
against me.-and l have been so
happy! L would rather die than
have you think any harm" She
could not finish the sentence.
"Don't cry so," said Edwin, slip
ping his arm round her waist in an
almost unconscious attempt to COM
fort. "You ought to know, Rachel,
l could never think evil Of you.
This bu siness will be cleared up one
day, and you will come out bright
as the sun. But whatever happens
l shall always believe i'll you and
trust you like my own heart and
if know myself, Rachel, it is all
yours, the same through evil and
through good report" This was
not said very glibly, but stammered
over in a way that attested its sin
cerity. .t..
Rachel trembled. The little hand
that lay upon her lap was by some
means clasped in Edwin's large
brown one. Her throat was still
convulsad with sobs, a damp hand.
kerchief was pressed to her eyes !;
but there was a little tract of cheek
down which strayed a
small silky curl.
The supreme moment had come.
Edwin's lips we're approaching this
enchanting spot, but had not won
the perfect ecstasy Of a first kiss,
when a pair of feet came skipping
down the path. Rachel pulled the
broad d-brimmed hat over her face,
and darted like frightened bird in
the opposite direction among some
trees. In an instant Janet, the ir-
repressible, who always appeared
where she was not wanted, had just
turned the corner. She wore a
starchless sun-b6nnet over
ler fuzzy hair, that had habit of
itself every which way,
md was carrying a basin of chick
IN feed down to the barn-yard. Ed
win stalked off to the mill, intense
y disguised at the ending Of his
adventure.
Things had come to a crisis that
morning most Unexpectedly. For
some weeks the tall young miller
lad looked forward to the time when
le might find himself making love
o Rachel by slow and gradual ap-
,roaches, rehearsed in fancy as he
at in his den at the mill, with his
lair tumbled about his forehead, ,and
) book before him-prObably upside
lOwn. 1t had turned out exactly
ontrary to his anticipatiOns. He
lad forgotten her hard-hearted pru-
ence and discretion, and rushed
pom his fate. There were ecstatic
hrills mixed up with conflicting
motions. At moments he was fat
ously spooney, and most u1reasOn- ,
bly, happy in the assurance that {
,achel loved him, an awkard, red s
aced, blunt fellow; there were 9th a
r moments when, spite of all he
Duld do, mist of doubt stole over l
is heart. Edwin had not super I
titious hair in his head, but he L
Duld not help asking himself what e
was that had stolen with such
lighting influence over the life of
lis young girl, who, come what f
light, was to be his wife. /
The men at the mill remarked il
lat ''young boss" was not himself T