Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-02-27

when tho little hand ceased to trem
ble in mine, and the fair, pure fac
was hidden on my heart.
Shall I ever forget how she lait
her hand upon my arm, and, look
, ing at me with a smile, said, 50
shall not mind being poor, at all
there are so many things could dt
to help you if you would let me
Paul"
I promised she should help me
then recollecting John, took hel
back to the library, where he had
waited patiently an hour and a half
"She is willing, Johnw l cried
And l do not know which of the
three was most pleased.
"We must tell Clara" he exclaim
ed. suddenly. And then we exchang
ed look of comic dismay.
"You had better take the news
yourself, Paul." said my old friend
And agreed with him.
Lady Clara was alone in her own
boudoir. Never shall I forget her
look of rigid contempt.
"Of COURSE" she said, ''if Mr..
Fairlie has given his consent, have
nothing to do with the mattsr. Miss
Challis is not under my control. l
may. perhaps, be permitted to say,
think it singular arrangement
two persons entirely without for
tune. hope it will end WE'LL"
left the next day, and went back
to London. There l spent my time
in choosing furniture, hangiugs, pic
lures, and statues for my new home /;
sparing neither time, trouble or ex.
pense, so as to make the casket wor-
thy of the gem it was to contain.
At stated intervals | went down
to Lynedale, receiving always the
warmest of welcomes from John,
finding Kate more and more Iowa
BILE each time. Lady Clary took
very little notice of me, but was in
tensely interested over the Grange.
I heard of wonders of art that ar
rived daily. Her ladyship had even
paid visit to see the improvements,
and was fairly charmed with them.
And the time came when the
Grange was ready for it's mistress.
Then 1 went to John, and told him
l was in position to mar ry, if he
would give Inc his neice.
Lady Clara was very cold and
contemptuous, saying she should
wish the wedding to be as quiet as
possible.
l sent down a pretty, simple we'd
ding dress for my darling, and the
day came when she was to be my
own. No guests had been invited,
save the rector and the curate. Lady
Clary, Miss Ross, my darling, and
her pretty bridesmaid, Alice Howe,
Sir John, the two strangers, and
my self, we're the only cOnvives seat
ed at that wedding breakfast.
When John had made his little
speech, and l stood up in my turn,
1 told my secret, and what it had
done for me; how it had proved my
old friends truth and ciucerity, and
given me the sweetest and noblest
wife man was ever blessed with.
No words can describe Lady
Clara's face-the rage, the wonder,
and the modification. No words
can describe the baffled annoyance
Of Miss Ross. The great match of
the neighborhood actually caught
up by poor, obscure Kate Challis.
The wedding of Hylton, slurred
over as thing to be ashamed of,
when it might have covered them
with glory.
"I think, Mr.. Hylton," said Lady
Clara, with a deferential smile, cit
would have been better had you ap.
peard in your true character"
I assured her ladyship that my
little experience had done me the
world of good.
She changed so completely moth
ing was good enough for me or for
Kate. She overwh elmed and sick
ened me with apologies for Sights l
had never noticed.
1 took my fair young wife home,
and that home is heaven to US.
John comes for three and four days
at time. Her ladyship never re-
covered from the shock of having
mistaken Hylton of Hylton for a
pauper. She became more submis-
sive and meek John could quell
her haughtiest moods BY simply re-
ferring to me.
May you, dear reader, be as hap.
py as am.