Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-02-10

were IN love with him, and even |, had |
been like other girls-I might have loved
him too-who knows
My uncle, however, did not share this
universal feeling in his favor. lie pro
nounced Walter a "dissipated do-nothing,
who would one day follow in his fathers
footsteps and die a drunkard" When at
last not only discovered the love that was
fast growing in my cousins heart, my uncle
sent Milliccnt away from home on visit for
half year, aud forbade her during that time
10 hold any communication whatever with
:" that young Marsden." She obeyed him TO
the letter; but absence is no conqneror OF
true affection The love grew on, and when
she returned-ah then the love waxed
strong and blossomed out into passionate
words aud finally, after some stormy scenes
in our once peaceful home, Walter Marsden
was the accepted lover of Millicent Ray.
There was little heartiness in the congratu-
lations of her fathers friends when they heard
henews; and after, when Il was too late, many
told him how they might, perhaps, but for a
false feeling Of delicacy, have prevented the
marriage by timely word Of warning. But
the weddingday followed soon after, and il
dawned bright and beautiful in spite Of the
gloom which hung over il, Millicent was
radiant in her Youthful bloom and beauty.
and the sanctity of her expression when
with her whole soul in her eyes she looked
up trustingly unto him whom she had chosen
"above all others" and responded, will, -
IN the solemn marriage service, formed pic
tlre never to be forgotten. She bade adieu
to her beautiful home, to father and mother
and me, 10 all those dear ones who had loved
her so truly all her life. and followed where
he led-leaving all things for the stranger"
She seemed very happy, in spite OF our
fears, when we visited her in her little home.
Walter was doing so well, she said in her
proud, happy voice" and so good ,.the best
husband in all the world" But these vain
boastings We're soon stlled. AZ first, vague
rumors Of disgraceful debts came floating
to our ears--old debts which it was reported
he had said he married expecting his rich
father-in-law would pay" Then it was
whispered that Young Marsden was at
cards and liquor again, and neglected his
wife, and the confirmation Of these stories
was but too plainly shadowed forth in Mlli-
cents altered looks. Yet not word escaped
her lips-so loving, so loyal so proud. Fl
nally, third aud dishonorable bill pre-
sented to my uncle for payment brought
matters to a crisis, and then stormy out
break shattered the thin wall of hope which
we htd built around our darlings troubles.
My UNCLE refused to meet his daughters
husband, and bade her come to her fathers
house. This she refused TO do, and it was
only who dared to 60 to and fro between
the two unhappy homes just then little
nest was being built in one and when the
May buds bloomed a tiny bird peeped out
its soft, bright eyes. and sang a song Of
peace. For when Milicent's boy was born,
her father brought her his loving kiss, and
over her baby's bed shook hands with its
father
am sure Walter tried to do better after
that. ! know he loved Millicent, but his
weak nature was so prone to fall that even
her strong, courageous love failed TO hold
him up. How she hoped at the faintest
shadow of trial Over her baby's cradle
she said solemnly to me, one day, "Oh,
Grace, my boy is a God-given gift On little
Brides wings my hopes have risen high,
my thoughts all soar to realms of bright an
ticipation. The child is father to the man
may not this little one, then, teach Walter
what he never learned before {? "
Vain hope The little life was to him no
more than pretty toy. 1t did not teach,
but for the while amused. At last, to Milli-
cent her child became her all. For some
grave charge Walter was obliged to leave the
state in order to escape its rigid laws. He
left his wife without word, and went-she
knew not whittier Then Millcent obeyed
her father and came home, and such coming
home is not the glad, happy thing the bare
words sound Then there came the acme
of her trials, aud on little BRIDES wings her
thoughts scared higher than she had dreamed.
Ay, even up to heaven for there came dark
day when, with empty arms and bleeding
heart, she stood beside a little grave-alone
now, childless, and worse than widowed
Grace" she cried bitterly, when we laid
her In her bed that night, "what have | left
to live for now? If | could only have crept
into the little grave to-day and lain beside
my boy God is cruel to me. What have
leftY 4"
could not answer her. What words are
there with which TO answer passionate grief
| The windows were open; the stars shone
down upon us soft and bright. looked up
into their peaceful eyes TO read some sign.
Her gaze followed mine. She read the sign.
Opening her arms she seemed to cling as to
something she saw there, then she murmured
lowly, "Other refuge have none," and sank
to sleep.
A severe illness followed, from which she
came out as does gold from furnace, puri.
fled in spirit The rebelious, wicked feeling
which had at first threatened 10 mar the
beauty of her character was bumt out now
as it We're, and there remained only the ex-
quisite loveliness of beautiful submission
to her trials. OF Walter we rarely heard
a word, perhaps, sometimes; some people
had met him in their travels; he was look
ing well, or oftener, doing i'll then she would
pray that he might grow penitent and return
reformed, lie wrote few times, but his
letters were withheld from her. Once | Sc
cured one and gave it TO her unknown TO
any one. How she devoured i'll See,
Grace" she cried, pressing it to her beating
heart, ." See, he does love me Oh, | am
sure my prayers will be answered at last.
lie will do better. lie will keep these sol
emn vows we shall be happy together
again"
took the letter, and even believed the
passionate protestations with which 1t was
filled, He was young he loved her. What
could not youth and love accomplish But
the days came aud went, and the promises
We're broken, and it was only evil-tidings
that followed his footsteps, and so the months
Of her young life went on-hoping, fearing,
and waiting always, with a faith almost
divine After proper time had elapsed her
father proposed TO her the proprety of tax
ing measures for a divorce, there being lust
cause, and he told her that with his consent
she should never again be wife to the man
who had proved himself so unworthy of his
child, She listened quietly 10 all her father S
arguments, then, with pale, firm lips an
swered his entreates, Never win submit
to such thing Death alone can sever the
marriage tie"
"What do Iwant with divorce papers 2"
. she cried TO me one day-pacing the room
. as she spoke, after having come up from the
: library where she had had a stormy inter
view with her parents Oh the subject.
Grace, oh, make them all understand that
! love Walter yet. | know he is at fault,
but did not say at the altar for better or
for worse-to have and to hold 2 and my
heart holds him yet Let them give divorces
to women who want a second husband while
their first still lives, but not to mel"
,, | tried to calm her passionate indignation
and promised her would use all my infu-
ence against the matter, for |, too, thought 1t
, wrong.
! About this time Frank Hamilton, a sort
of cousin of ours, and lover Of Millicent's
I from boyhood, returned from his studies
abroad My uncle enlisted him in his favor
/ and begged he would add his entreates and
persuade Mllicent to listen TO her fathers
desire, that she should be legally freed from
, Walter. We had both Of us always looked
:. upon Frank as brother, and consequently
! Alllicent gave him the liberty she allowed