The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-06-22

"Dolly, what does this mean !" the
low, rich voice sweeter for tho agitation
dolly, what does it mean Do you NEAR
me to stay, or 60 ? do you hate me ? Oh
are you only prctending2 If so, it is Q
cruel pretension, If am to go, tell me
60 let me stay-O Dolly, you have
always been my kood angel my ideal o
womanhood. Do not send me to wander
alone. | have always had it in my heart
to take you to Europe with me- must
go soon-but you have changed SO lately
| hardly knew you, and my rose -colored
dreams are fast breaking. Why are you
cold, Dolly? Am grown so distastoful
to you2 | was once rash enough to
dream it might bo possible"
put up my hand with a gesture Of
pain, then turned to ston,, think. "IIar.
ry you had better have let me gone up
stairs iairer and better woman will
listen to this and answer as you wish ;
let me speak to her."
He looked at me-a look ] cannot even
now comprehend but like a mixture of
curiosity, wonder, hurt PRIDE love and
reproach. All | shall see that face to
my dying day,
He turned, and was going light
step on the stairs, and Bertha hoated
down into the hail. Her queenly head
turned and saw him. She wore white
muslin, bunch of crimson roses in her
hair and bosom nothing more of orna.
ment.
dolly has given me the 'mittcn;" he
said with laugh "sho won't ride in my
carriage pray, Bertha, don't you turn
the cold shoulder to me, too. It's 70.
mantle night for a ride, sec how the moon
Shines"
passed quickly to my room. Bertha
came after shawl and hat, and | heard
them drive off, locked the door, turned
down the light, and waited alone to sub.
due myself. could not count the hours,
only they were long, long, weary, drag
ging hours know, when | heard wheels
and Bertha came in fresh and merry.
"Positively, your coz is the most bril-.
liant, witty, enchanting young fellow,
ever knew He was full of the quaintest
conceits, and talked and laughed incess.
antly The brightest, widest witticisms
flew from the end Of his tongue. If [
hadn't known him, | should have thought
he had tatnn 'a dror tnn m""h '' Ia
clare, if he goes on like this, he'll spoil
Wallie's chance"
"Wallie?" l said vaguely, "who is he ?"
40, an Acquaintance | met in New York
last winter at my uncle's to. morrow I'll
tell you about him, I'm tired tonight"
The next day | got long. ,.affectionate
letter from Harry saying he would pass
by all | said last night as if it had never
been, for he did not believe | could mean
it. But where think | am right, and
feel sure of it, rock cannot be lirmer and
if | made the sacrifice it must be fully,
and honestly done.
| wrote letter cool enough, | knew,
to make him with his flashy temper and
vanity leave me undisturbed, the lease
Of my natural life.
Two years passed. when Bertha said
one night: 80. dear, did you do any.
thing to Harry Gerard the fall we were
in S town academy?"
We were in New York visiting at her
unolo'o.
"Do you know, one tirIv, thought l,o
would make you fall in love with him 10
spite of yourself; and l was almost sorry
when he went off to Europe that you
didn't encourage him more, for | had a
real friendship for Harry"
"Why didn't you encourage him your
self?"
80, Dolly, how could you think it ?
Well, to tell you the truth, if hadn't
seen Wallio before, | might have been in
danger, for Harry Gcrard,n next to Wallie
1arland,is the most fascinating gentleman
| ever knew. Wallie and | will be mar
riod in October, and only wish Harry
would como back and we would be mar
ried together. We were eighteen, and
Harry was twenty-one. How well re.
member him 10, do you know, I've
kept his secret as well as yours DOM
look SO surprised, I'm not a bat. liz
told me that night how you said no tc
bim-'as inexorable as sphinx, he said
He told me he should never come back
till he was quite sure you would be glad
to see him. Shall | tell him so when
write ?"
"Write 7 Have you written to him al
these long years p
"Long years pshaw it's only tw,
very short ones. Poor Jo!" She pu
her arms about me and kissed me, "ha
it been such long time ? Shall sa,
you relent 2"
Its long time since he has seen m
he has doubtless found some one h
cares for more than he ever fancicd nc
but tell him Of course, shall always b
glad to see him."
A year passed again, | had just re
turned from Bertha's and Wallie's wed
ding, and was walking down the old vii
lagc street, but alone, thinking miserabl
Of the years ago Bertha and | had walk
cd there together.
| lifted my cyes-grcat heavens ther
on the post office steps, in the old care
less attitude, was--yes, Harry! an
dear old fellow" | wanted to say, bu
only offered my hand and said the prope
social thing, but felt that | blushed no
! ly as he gazed long and eagerly into m
face. Then he said. in his old merr
way
dolly, I'm going to walk home Wit
you"
| put my hand within his arm, an
; said, "Yes, Harry, | wish you would"
Bertha never knew my strange mi
take. did tell Harry, and he just opel
ed his great eyes at me in astonishmen
! He was handsomer than ever
. THIS Is ALL.
I They tell tough story about ne
/, happapa man on ono nf our local trains