Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-06-11
The Old Mans Darling.
Margery Hilton's fortune was made.

Margery Hilton's fortune was made.
So she congratulated herself as she gazed
exultingly upon the diamond solitaire which
but an hour before Col. Leslie had placed
upon her finger. His words Of love still vi
brated in her ear; but strange TO say there
was no responsive melody in her heart, al
though her lips had promised that she would
become his wife. She was n young girl. not
yet out of her teens, poor, beautiful, and am
bilious. Col. Leslie was fifty. hale, gentle
manly, and rich. lie had gone to the little
manufacturing village of s. upon bust
ness, had accidentally met Margery. and hav-
ing been e%nraptured with her beauty, address
ed her after a short acquaintance. And so,
while he was being rapidly borne to his city
home, thinking of the loveliness of the young
bride he had won, and his abundant means
of making her happy, Margery sat in her lit
tie chamber, dreaming bright dreams to be
realized in the future. Her fortune was
made! What did it matter now if there
had been poverty and privation in the past
was not the future bright with wealth and
splendorP
81 shall have diamonds and laces and So
cisty to my hearts content" she unused,
gazing from her window into the cloudless
east, where the round, rising moon looked
softly into her glittering eyes. 81 shall pur-
chase them dearly, perhaps, but l shall be
AN old mans darling Col. Leslie said so
tonight, rs he placed the seal of our betroth-
nj upon my finger. 1t is true that there is n
great disparity of years between MS, but l
am satisfied with the contract I have made.
l shall be clothed in purple and fine linen
every day, and if an not happy, there is
no one to blame but myself. ! shall no lon
ger be dependent upon those who grudge me
even the little morscl 1 eat"
The wedding was n quiet one. The viii
lage had never seen a lovelier bride nor n
happier groom, and when after u months
travel the couple took possession of their
luxuriant home, Margery again congratulate
ed herself on the brilliancy of'her fortune.
Her brightest dreams were meeting with full
fillment. She entered into her new life with
all the zest of her fresh young spirit, glory
ing in the beauty that had purchased her
pleasures, and leaving nothing undone that
could enhance her loneliness.
Col. Leslie accompanied her everywhere
she wished to go.
'She is too young, too inexperienced for
me TO allow her freedom" he said earnestly.
'She will doubtless tire of this ~frivolity
after n while, and then we will settle down
in that happy home l ave so often pictured
to myself"
But time wore on, and not even q shadow
of such WEAKNESS appeared to cloud the
young wife's spirits. No gaiety was produce
ed which did not tempt her participation, and
no temptation met with resistance.
After n year of patient waiting, the frivoli-
ties in which she had INDUCED so freely be-
came so utterly distasteful to him that he
could no longer restrain his Impatience.
But friends interposed, declaring that the
lovely Mrs. Leslie should not make n re-
cluse of herself, and offering to accompany
her wherever she wished to go. He trans
ferred her, rs it We're, to their protection,
and day after day and night after night he
was left alone as mercilessly rs though he
had been but a hired attendant of the house
hold.
Devoted as he had once been to his wife,
the strength of his ardor began to abate,
and beginning to believe she had married
him for his wealth he determined to restrict
her gaieties in a measure. lie would make
overtures to her reason and judgment, and
If they failed, he would assert the authority
which conferred in himself. and which
she had so seemingly ignored.
lie was in the library awaiting Margery's
return, as usual, upon the evening of tho
most brilliant entertainment OF the season.
An hour after midnight she entered, radiant
in velvet and diamonds. lie arose and Of
fered to remove her wrappings.
"Ihank YOU" she returned icily, still
standing, "but l shall retire Immediately,
and there is no need OF unwrapping here"
Just as you please, "hs nswered haughtily,
resuming his seat and gazing for a m
into the beautiful face before him "but /