Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-01-08

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TO fastidiousness, he was, withal, o pc
son of most excellent character, ar
being fine looking, besides, It Is !
wonder that ! was attracted to him. i
was several years my senior, but tn
only gave additional eciat TO my ool
quest; for IL was very soon noticed thl
among all the young ladies at the hous,
I was apparently the favorite Of the ell
giant professor.
"My wardrobe, as I have said, WI
new and fresh, and was not 80 plai
looking as You may suppose. M
wrinkles were dimples in those day
and my eyes were as bright as Bella
and did not wear glasses then. !
short, ! suppose I was quite belle.
But dresses, however pretty an
fashionably made, will not stay pretty
and whole, and fresh, il not taken car
Of. More than this, q beautiful face
Of little account when set in frame G
tossed and dowdily- done-up hair.
was not many weeks before my careles
habits told upon my appearance. Mr.
Hamilton and the girls, or some friendl
lady who took an interest in me, woul
now and then in company pin up m
gathers, smooth out my ribbons, or pul
of some loose braid from my dress skirt
"Finally it became the habit Of th
Hamilton girls, and therefore q matte
of course, to look me all over before W
went to ride, or down to the parlors, les
I should lose some article of attire, an,
call blush to their cheeks.
81 remember that once was yer,
much mortified, when the professo
handed me fearfully soiled collar tina
had come off my sack, and which wa
obliged to acknowledge was mine. Ever
I, thoughtless as I was, had hesitatet
about putting it on in the morning
girls, always remember that when col
lar is in doubt, it is-dirty.
elf I had only settled that poin
properly when I stood before my glass
in the morning, I should not have beer
stung with shame when Miss Graysor
exclaimed, as the professor asked for it,
owner, and held it towards her:
"Please don't imagine I would wear 9
collar like that 7
"Our rooms, as said, opened on q
long piazza, which commanded fine
view Of the sea. This piazza was conse.
quently favorite promenade.
You may imagine that my room was
not in fit condition to be seen by the
promenaders as they passed the long
windows, when I tell you that sometimes
for two or three days I did not make my
bed. Iwould Just throw the counter
pane over the sheets, and make it do
"The contents of my dressing case
and trunk usually Uttered the mantel
and chairs and floor. OF course could
have dropped my curtains, but generally
my carelessless was too inveterate to re.
member even that cheap expedient.
"Mrs. Hamilton once kindly spoke to
me about my habits, but I received her
counsel SO ungraciously that she conclud-
ed to let me do as l pleased. So my
room continued in its condition of ohaoe
ribbons, slippers, faded bouquets,
shells, MOSES, seaweed, and garments Of
all descriptions hopelessly jumbled to-
gether.
"The rooms of the Hamilton girls
Joined mine, and their habits were very
neat and orderly. Naturally 1 found
their apartments much pleasanter than
my own room, and used to sit with them
most of tho time when we we're not with
the other guests. The girls occasionally
came in to my den and picked up my
dreary scatterings, and put me in order
for Sunday. But Monday morning
would find me at 'odds and ends again.
Somehow my things wouldn't 'stay fix
ed,' I used to say.
"The weeks flew on golden wings
after Prof. Blanc became my daily com
panion; and when the season drew near
its close, my heart was mine no longer.
He was the one in whom I found all that
was noble, and good, and great, and
my thoughts and dreams ware all of
him.
As yet there had been only the inter-
change of pleasant thoughts, and those
delightful attentions that seem to mean
so much. Like all modest maidens, I
dreamed, and hoped, and waited for the
words that would be the fulfillment of
what my heart desired.
"Words came, but they were not the
words for which I waited, nor were they
spoken to me. overheard them, and
they changed my whole life and charac-
ter.
81 was sitting in the summer house in
the hotel grounds, alone, at dusk, one
evening, where had gone, hoping soon
to be followed, when, coming slowly
down the walk, heard the steps and
voices Of men. did not care for the
companionship of two, SO gathered the
folds of my dress back into the corner,
hoping the gentlemen would pass on
and not notice me. They paused, how
ever, among the shrubbery at the en-
trance, and I, instead of making my
presence known, sat quite still and lis
tened.
too, then9'
"It was DIR. Grayson's voice that
spoke.
"No, not in that way. I shall never
marry woman who offends all my ideas
of neatness and nicety.'
The professors voice uttered these
words, and my heart fairly stood st Ii.
But if you love her as you say,
urged the 1octor.
1T would not continue. When
ove has reason to blush for its idol, the
homage cannot last. The woman marry
must be as neat as her heart is true. So |
should every one be, I take it, who calls
herself lady
"'But, Blanc, are you not carrying
his too far, and making it of more i'm.
oortance than it deserves9 There is
.eason in all things. don't see much
n this, and the doctors voice was q
rifle impatient.
"'No,' returned the professor, calm
y. The point is this: natures like hers
md mine are antagonistic-after fash
on. am, by habit and nature, orderly
md particular. She is decidedly the re-
,erse. Should we marry, after the first
ew weeks of blinded love, my eyes
would be opened to the truth, and I
hould hate slattern.'
"You are harsh and cruel in the way
'ou argue. Don't you expect to sacri-
Ice something9 Don't you know men
lways grow more particular the longer
hey remain unmarried9 All young
iris, I take it, are careless; and if she
uits You in all other ways, and you love
ler, you are foolish to give up your
bought of asking her to be your wife
"sI am not harsh, andif there be any
ruelty in the matter, it is I who suffer