Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-09-22
WOODSTOCK, W.. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 80, 1875

marry with Charles Gaylord, to link
for life my fortunes with those of a
man whom | instinctlvely despise, de,
test and loathe, nav, to a being who
possesses not the first shadow of a
quality of character which | can re.
spect, but who is, all in all, so utterly
and thoroughly repugnantto to my tastes
that / can find no fitting terms in
which to express my aversion to him
No, father, forgive me for being frank
with you, but in a matter of so grea,
and vital moment to me | can do nc
less than say that mary him I never
can, aye, never arW !!
"Nellia :"
"BAyard y
"T'is indeed a pleasure as great as
it is unexpected to meet you Nellie |!
And Miss Pelton and Bayard Rood
met in each Others arms in as warm
and loving embrace as ever two pure
congenial hearts experienced. "Bu'
pray tell me, to what conccurse OIL
combination of circumstances is YOU
presence here, at this time attribu.
table 2"
''Bayard, it is sad, sad story. You
have been aware for Il long time,
or at least haze suspected ather's in
tentions with reference to my marry
ing Charles Gaylord ? But not until
yesterday 9id he press the suit. He
then detailed to me his plans and pur.
poses, in full and when I demurred
he became awful!y angry, and swore a
terrible oath. I steadily and persist
emily refused, though, a,as ! it was
extremely hard to be driven to the
necessity Of displeasing-mach more,
of disobeying, parent who has gen
orally been so indulgent to Inc. But
pray what could | do ? Marry man,
between whom and myself exists not
one common bond of sympathy, at
tachment or lOvc-a man whom | in
stinctivply despise--I could not,
and told ia her so as kindly
though frmly-a l could. He then
referred to you, and said you were the
only obstacle in the way to the peace
full accomplishment Of his purpose,
and oh, he swore such an oath, and
threatened you with such a vengeance.
that even now | tremble with very
fear when recall it. So consulted
mother after my interview with father
ended and sought her advice. She
carefully considered the matter and
thought it better that | should Leave,
unknown to father. and come to
Uncle Ilirams, here in Newton.
have acled on her advice. Have |
done wrong feel so wre;ched-so
very, rary unhappy !" and as she ceas
ell speaking the tears stood i'll her
eyes or tricklel down her rosy
cheeks.
"No, Nellie! Though | NAV seem
in certain manner to be q too much
interested party to be as just judge
and adviser in this matter, yet, | feel
in this bosom no compunctlonS, what
ever, when l say that for you or for
one like you, to refuse to obey even
the best parent on earth who SHOULD
command you to give your hand in
to such villain as | am
aware Charles Gaylord is, is simply to
do duty-not that concerns, and is
due to yoursel! alone-but it is to do
that which, did you neglect to do,
would result in a great and an irrepar-
able wrong to others. You would by
such an act of necessity entail untold
suffering on those who should per
chance result from that uni On which
were only union in name, no union
Of hearts-for there could be no love,
no sincerity, no kindred sympathes, no
ties. 1t was an imperative
luty, therefore, in every moral aspect
Of the case, for you to disobey your
father. You could have done no less
han to choose the least of the two evils.
'You do not -" Bayards words
we're cut short at this point by the
sudden appearance of a third party
lpon the scene who, laying his hand
n an authoritative manner on Nellie's
thus addressed her:
IF | mistake not this is Miss Pei
Of Mark Pelton, Esq,
,f Florence %
She replied IN the affirmative.
81 have, then" resumed the man,
the unpleasant duty to perform, of
,rrestlng you, in obedience to the or.