Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-01-16

never forget my old friends. How
nice it is to meet you here, Of all
places But, dear me! don't act
! so dazed. l think it is l WHO ought
to be introduced. Bless me, Mrs.
WalwOrth, you must have made a
mistake! 1t can't be me Mr.. Mars.
ton meant. He certainly doesn't be.
have as if he knew me"
Would any mortal have dreamed
that her first impulse had been to
run away and hide her eyes from
the phantom of her old love, with
its dismal waking its horrible pain I
The widow began to laugh and jest
too. Albert Marston tried to sub.
due his unaccustomed awkwardness
and constraint, and say the words
suitable to tho occasion. but it was
very difficult. This Milly, radiant
in costly silks and laces, with pearls
cleaning on her neck and arms,
and with her ease of manner, her
wOman-0fthe-world air, was SO un-
like the shy girl who had looked up
to him in loving humility. and yet
so much the same, with her fleeting
smiles, her changeful face, that he
was completely taken aback, and
wondered at his own folly and pre-.
sumption in scarcely having consid-
cred her his equal in the old days.
1t was night of odd bewilder-
ment and confusion to him. He
kept near Milly as much as was pos
sible but though she treated him
with the utmost cordiality, she was
surrounded by such crowd Of adj
mirers that he was poorly satisfied
with his share of her attention and
gracious words.
Late in the evening he did find
her free for one waltz. In the midst
Of it, while he was whispering his
delight at this meeting in that mu.
steal voice whose slightest utterance
had once possessed such fascination
for her, she looked up and saw Mr..
Laurence Southbrooke watching
them. He had promised to come
and see her home, and it was part
of his creed never to forfeit his
word, even where the slightest mat.
ter Was concerned. Milly gave him
a emile and q quick amical sign as |
she foated past, He smiled in re-
turn. but there was troubled look
in his eyes which carried her back
to that summer day when she had
so carelessly refused the offer Of his
love, 1t was not like Milly to be
Intentionally cruel, but tonight she
really seemed so. Her spirits rose
to an unusual height, and for the
next hour she did nothing but tease
Laurence every time she got within
his reach ; and Albert Marston told
himself that, il this newly revived
passion for Milly grew, he need not
fear a rival in the staid old bachelor
and was patronizlngly cordial to
him in consequence.
The first news Miss Josephine
had of the meeting with Marston
her from the lips of Mrs.
WaIworth, who came the next
morning to see how Milly was after
the fatignes of the ball.
"To think of your knowing my
cousin !" began the widow at once
"and he is crazy about you. He's
such nice fellow, too, and so hand
some-isn't he Milly? Miss South
brooke, did this wicked girl tell you
of the new victim she made last
night ~
"No," replied the spinster rather
curtly. emily knows Pm old fash
ioned in my ideas, and don't believe
in girls making victims"
"Oh, but there will be cakes and
ale still, though you may be virtu-
ous," cried the widow, unblushing-
ly twisting Shakespeare to suit her
purpose. "And l assure you any
girl might be a little proud of vic
Albert Marston."
"Who 2" demanded Miss jose
phine, in an awful voice, forgetful
of etiquette and proper breeding.
"My cousin, young Marston. Did
you not meet him when Milly did in
America 2"
IL know his name," replied the
srinster, stif1ly.
Milly was conscious that the an
Gent vestaPs eyes were fixed full
upon her in wonder and wrath but
she said, with charming innocence,
which seemed a horrible insolence
to her guardian, "You will know
him, | hone. | asked him to come