The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-01-26

the common meauuesses ard Dsincerities
of humanity. Alice had been a widow
of that type which Philosopher Somebody
advises man to marry, According to
Philosopher s., be should have been
hanged but in either case The object is
attained namely to render it difficult to
approach No 9 with the contrasted ex.
cellcncies of No. y.
About six weeks after she came, our
boy brought out the mail, and handed
Billy letter. Without glancing at the
subscription, he opened ii and read near
ly page, when he took up the envelope
and looked at it.
Alice he said, this is your letter
opened it by mistake, hut it is so queer
should like to read it, il you don't object
Here you read It first and see what you
can make of IT.
Il don. understand it at all, she said
after glaDcing hastily through it. 1t
reads like a love letter, and the signature
is new to me. George Thorndike. |
really don't know any one Of that name.
Then she went to the stove and raised the
gridiron on which the meat was hroilng,
In doing so she held the open letter in
such position that the flames caught 1t
aud sprung up round her hand, so that she
was forced to drop it into the fire. Was
it an accident? She said it was, aud ut.
tered many regretful EXPLANATIONS.
But three weeks after there was anoth
er letter in the samo hand. 1t was given
to Billy as before but after looking at
the address. be brought it to her.
You'll let NE road that ono. won't
you, Alice ? be said. If any one chooses
to persecute you with unwelcome letters, [
ought TO know it..
She opened the letter and read hioa1
the 6rst few lines, and then closing t,she
told Billy that supper was just ready to
put on the table, and that he should see
tho note before bedtime.
All right he said; but don't let it
get burned this time, will you?
She promised him, and he went TO the
table with the other men. As soon az
he sat down she lit clndle and went to
her room. She was only gone short
time, but when she returned she burnt
the letter uuobscrved by her husband.
After supper when the men had all
gone, he asked her to read the letter to
him,
Why, Billy she said iuncceptly, 1
burnt it up but saved the signature. as
you told me. and here it is
Billy burst cut into a tempest of su,.
picious anger and disappointment. Why
didn't you read that letter TO me Alice 9?
be said. Your conduct convic,4 you Of
completely with this fellow, know now
that you answered his last letter that you
know perfectly we'll about the man whc
wrote it.
Why, Billy she said, i read tbe let
ter to you, and you told me to save the
signature, which have done
Alice he cried, turning as white Us
sheet and trembling all over my God
how you have deceived me You arc
telling me lie, ana you know it,
Alice, to think how | trusted yJu; ant
row -
lie sat down from very iaintness, unc
wiped his cold face and shaded his eye
With hand that looked pal5ied aud dead
| went to him and touched his curl,
hai' carressingly. She can explain it
Billy, no doubt, suggested
Explain it, he groaned bitterly Sh,
; can explain hell away, and darkness. an,
all the sin AID hypocrisy of this misera
ole world. o, you don't know how Til
little thing throws light upon 20 many
other things that were mystery TO IN,
b,iore. But trusted her SO took al
for granted would have been asha.oe,
to insult her By suspicious question
> Pretty soon my husband came 10 au,
tried to comfort him. HIS couideace i.
Alice was uubounded, though must con
iess that had become dstiustiul Of he
honesty. That she was cognizant of m,
distrust she betrayed in many ways, bu
chiefly in the desire she manifested {,
: dodge my eyes when they were fixed upot
her had told Brown how .et to
ward her, and he blamed me severely 70
=, it, You women are always so unjust t,
each other he said. Like mos, goo,
men, be yielded in great degree to tha
superficial charm OF manner that wonlel
d. ofextraordinary fact acquire by associa
tion with many men, and without knew
ing il he was evidently just a lit,le hi
:, infatuated
Il know there is Ii plandible ex2lsua
: tion Of this he said to Billy 4 am sur
you have not been deceived in Alice.
she isn't good. true.hcarted woman.
don't know of any He should hay
said, IF she isn't good-looking woman
!, = etc; hu, she had spun web about hir
: : out OF her graces and beauties. and he say
through it but dimly.
A II this time Alice had not offered |
y explain, but stood like statue by til
. dish.pan. and waiteI, as supposed, 70
chance TO throw some winning card int
= her hands, being perfectly well aware [
> the fact that her nim5c tongue would nc
= serve her now.
MIR. Brown walked toward her wit
e tho intention Of urgisg her to say som,
thing IN her own justification, when SUD
! denly with a most tragic scream. ah
rushed past US and went out of the housl
- Pretty well done | said jealously to ny
self; ~ all probability acting is your ns
= :, ural vocation, madam 1t was a colo
= = night-about US cold as ever comes 10 ou
= genial climate-there would be frost b,
I. g fore morning.
y %, Liazie = SAID AR. Browu 20 ait,
8 her aai beg her to come back she ma
Z injdre herself 10 some way
- Not the slightest danger observed III
~ g nieal Individual thus addressed
,e lie gave me a reproacbiul look, an
!. started after her himself lie was gou
/. Eve minutes, and came back without he
e Billy aud | were sitting by The fire il ~
a emu silence, aud he sat down between II
)f i could not mud her, he said 'fo
r, 60 aud bun. her, Billy. She will coun
10 when YOU call her. am afraid she vi