Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-03-08

marriage; and she has told me she will
willingly share my poverty"
"Yes, she will willingly share your pow
erty, Charles. for she is noble-hearted
girl; but to share your wealth and
prosperity is totally different thing.
If had dreamed you would have be-
come fascinated with her. / would have
warned you of this and am afraid it
has now gone SO far she will never for
give you.'
I'm the name of reason, why, Frank %
Because she is SO peculiar. You will
recollect | told you something about it
when she FIRST came. | told you she
was terribly proud spirited. You would
scarcely believe it, Charles, but it is So.
She has an absolute horror of being de-
pendent on any one, She has repeated
ly told me she would sooner think of
committing suicide. than of marrying a
wealthy man, while she is poor. She
has seen so much real misery resulting
from lnjudicious marriages, that she will
never risk her happiness by marrying
above her condition. She is so proud
spirited she will stick to this resolution" !"
"lt is strange. incredible, Frank, that
she is so proud spirited as you say"
''But it is true, Charley. Just look
at it rationally.a a moment. If she had
not been SO very proud spirited. do you
think she would have kept up under
this calamity, as she has done? 1t was
this proud spirit that sent her into the
country to earn her living in the kitch-
en-. 1t was this proud spirit that has
helped her to cover up her real feelings,
and seem so cheerful and happy, as she
has done since she came here. | tell
you, Charley, she is a real heroine.
There is not one girl in ten thousand
but would have sank under such mis-
fortune, instead of rising above it, as her
proud spirit has enabled her to do
IL see it all now, Frank. But the
fact that she is so brave, and keeps up
such eheerfulness and good courage un-
der misfortune, proves her to be no or
dinary woman. Iprize her all the more
for it, Frank
True; it is just as you say. Charles /;
and if this popularity of hers can be
overcome, l shall offer you my warmest
congratulations on your excellent choice. |"
"But can she not be persuaded out of
this strange idea 2"
"It is possible, Charley; but there
is only one way it can be done"
"How is that, Frank q
81 will go and talk it-oyer with her,
so as not to take her too much by sur
prise. Then, if she consents to see you,
l will come back and tell you. Shall /
go?"
Yes, Frank. If you will help me out
of this scrape, | shall think you are the
best friend have on earth.
When / entered the parlor again, Bell
grasped both my hands, and exclaimed
"What did he say ?"
''He was greatly excited, Bell. But
he said if You had concealed anything
from him, he would hear your explana-
tion in my presence. My advice is,
Bell, that you send for him and tell him
all about it. He is one of the noblest
men | ever saw, except in this one pecu-
liarity. If We can convince him of the
falsity of this insane idea, shall think
you have made wise choice, and shall
congratulate you on your matrimonial
prospects. 1t may be that between US
We can reason him out of his strange
notion.
80 Frank, | will give away every
dollar possess. before it.shall separate
US"
perhaps that will not be necessary,
Bell. 1t may be that he will listen to
reason. Shall i 60 and bring him in q
',Ycs, Frank; | eannet endure the
suspense any longer. a m
left the parlor in, quest of Mr..
Charles Sidney. Aud just at this stage
of the drama. sfancied an audience
would be interesting; SO. as the parlor
was divided by sliding doors. ! was not
long arranging half dozen persons be-
hind them. with injuBetioDs to keep
..still as death" The sefa where Bell
sat vas directly in front Of and facing
the sliding doors. behind which the au-
dience was concealed. IL occupied but
few moments to make these prelimina-
ry arrangements, and then / weet for
Mr.. Sidney When entered the room
be exclaimed
Nv hat is the result. Frank p
"She is greatly excited. CHARLES
even more than feared. But she says
if you have deceived her in anything. you
can come in my presence and make your
confession. and then she can judge
whether it is possible to forgive you
My advice is. Charles. that you come
with me and make a clean breast Of il.
| believe that both Of Us can bring her
to reason. viii you do it ?"
"Yes.
When We entered the parlOr was in
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