Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-10-29

When ii came TO George Archibald, she re-
! specled him, certainly but she respected
| twenty other men as much. He wasa man
Of no mean attainments, and ho was rich.
lie was ten years older than herself, and
rather fiuc-looking than otherwise, but not
girls hero by any means. She had been
in his home often when his mother-who
had now been dead year-had shared it
with him. She knew how comfortable and
well appointed it was. What should him
| der her from being its mistress? What in
| deed, but the single fact that she did not
love George Archibald, and that, without
| the home, she would never think of being
his wife? The whole thing puzzled her.
She thought aud thought until the long
June afternoon wore away. Tea was over
| al last, and it was almost time for Mr.. Arch
ihald 10 come. Bertha went up stairs aud
put some last touches TO her toilet. She
| had plenty of that dainty but innocent van
ity without which woman forgets how to
charm. She was no beauty, but she had a
| good figure, a clear, fine skin, rather pale
than otherwise, and dark, blue-gray eyes,
shaded by a,hes a shade darker Than her
brown hair. She was dressed in white, as
suited the June day. She fastened a Grim
son rose in her hair, and a Enot of them
upon her breast. The bell rang, and she
went down TRANQUILITY.
Mr.. Archibald persuaded her out into
the old garden, aud there he asked her
over again his question Of the night be-
fore.
81 have thought all day" she said, land
at the end l am no nearer knowing what
ought to do. Now you must decide for me.
If | loved you, that would make it very
simple"
Sue was too much absorbed in what she
was sayinG-in her honest desire to set the
truth and the whole truth faithfully before
him-,o notice his sudden gesture and the
look Of pain that came over his face as she
said those words. lie dad not speak till his
voice was thoroughly under his control,
and thea he said with just an accent of in
quiry:
$50 you do not love me at allP"
~ do not think l do. If loved you, it
would mean, wouldn't it, that preferred
poverty with you to prosperity with any
one else-that would like TO share your
lo;, whatever it might be? I've asked my
self if felt like that, and 1 don't. If
married you, l know part of the reason
would bo that might have a home of my
own, that might he mistress instead Of
ster-in-law-borne with very kindly, but
borne with all the same and love must
surely be quite different matter from this
mood Of calm reason"
Love must be madness, you think. At
least, tell me, do you love any one else bet
ter than me?"
The clear, honest eyes met his fearessly.
NO." she said, ~ love no one else at all,
and never have. 1t is queer, isn't it? for
l have wanted TO love al my life, and am
twenty eight, you know.
Archibald MAS silent. 1t seemed that she
was putting her fate into bis hands. Should
he take her or leave her? How could he
intrude his ardors upon this woman, meet
ing him, as she said herself, in a mood Of
calm reason, and lifting 10 his face her hon
est eyes full of anxiety to do the thing that
would be best for herself and for him?
His first thought was that he would not
take a stone for bread he would leave her,
then, and there, forever. But as said. he
loved her, and this great love constrained
him. Surely, she too would feel it at last,
and her coo dness would melt in its warmth.
But he must not shock her with these wild
hopes and longings OF his now. He an
swered her as quietly as she herself had
spoken; he almost jested with her.
$50, il you took me, 1t world be a choice
80 C,- .,,F AZ
His tone set her at her ease, and she
laughed merriiy.
"Not quite so bad as that do like you,
and we must both have outgrown the days
Of romance. Don't YOU think SOP
lie did not answer, and she went on:
"It's all for you to say. I am not afraid,
really, but I should be happy enough, and
if you want me, knowing just how feel,
| could be a good wife 10 you, think but
if you want something that | can't give,
why, I shall not blame you for saying so,
and going away"
"Yes, | want something that you cannot
give" he said hOarsely "but the trouble
is that no one else can give it, either. l
have no choice, Bertha. If you are willing
to he my wife, you shall be-"
She wondered that he did not kiss her;
and she wondered. too, that he went away
so soon. But she settled Il in her own
mind that his feeling was as cold as was
hers, and that lie had only thought of her
as a suitable aud sensible person to be the
mistress of his home, now that his mother
had gone out of It. Well please heaven,
she would make him good wife, and make
that home happy. And she was Old enough
10 he happy herself, and at rest, in the lifo
that awaited her. This should not be one
of Aunt Sarah's dangerous experiments.
That night she told her brother of her
engagement. Perhaps there had been
something wanting in his life, despite all
Marla's qualities of good housekeeper and
careful manager. He loved Bertha dearly;
and there came some wayward tears into
her eyes, as he TOOK her hands in his and
said:
Archibald is a good fellow, sis but be
sure you love him before you marry him;
you have no need to marry for a home, for
all have is as much yours as mine"
And Bertha kissed him-her handsome
Harry, whom she had been so proud of all
her life-and wondered secretly what he
had found in Maria Sage to make him sure
that he loved her and wanted 10 pass all
the days of his lie with her. But the next
morning Maria showed her most genial
side. OF course she had heard the news
from her husband overnight, and she could
well afford to be her best and most gener-
Gus SELF to the sister-in-law who was so
soon 10 be her rich neighbor, and independ-
ent of her good offices.
Mr.. Archibald came over and talked with
Mr.. McAlister. The wedding day was
fixed for the first of Seltember, But there