The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-04-25


Bruce he smiled and told mo that was
not his name--hs name being Bebb.
Bebb, thought-what funny name
However it did not prevent my thinking
him very pleasant, and being secretly
glad when he told me he was quartered
at Norton Folgatc for some months to
come.
10 be brief, alter several meetings
Captain ljcbb, whose name had now
transpired in my family, began to pay me
marked attention but although in my
inmost heart liked him, still was well
aware that for "Ilow ard" to ally her.
self with a Bebb would be regarded as an
impossibility iu our family.
lie came to endeavored to n.
gratiate himself with my mother and
sisters-.sent me bouquets, books, music,
and in fact did all he could to show his
preference. which 10 my heart of hearts |
would fsin have shown was mutual. But
how could L? Ny sisters, alarmed by
my evident leaning toward him, instituted
system Of ridiculing him, which had he
only family guessed would, | felt sure,
have prevented him from ever again eB-
tering the house.
His personal appearance was stigma
tized as the most vulg gar that had ever
been seen his hair, which was really
brown, was always alluded to as carrots,
aod shuddering fit frequently overlook
Louisa as she described the horror she
experienced when on one fatal occasion
he had shaken hands with her, and his
hot. cammy clasp had almost given her
fit
Perhaps owing to this lis name de.
generated from Bobb into Blubbcr, and
several times my mother narrowly es-
capped addressing him as such, so persist.
emily was he called it behind his back.
A dead pig having been found one
morning in the sty was strongly ad.
vised to go down to see the likeness,
which, from my partiality for DiuLber,
my sister felt sure would be interesting to
me. am ashamed to confess that | had
not the moral courage to refute these ua.
called for csumnies, and when | did re-.
celve L proposal of marriage from Capt
Bebb my answer may be imagined. |
refused him and cried myself to sleep for
many nights afterward.
But the deed was done, and Captain
Bebh was not one to ask again. and l
heard soon afterwards that no had loft
Merton Folgate.
Very little was thought OF tho affair in
my own family and Of the general opiu.
ion am Of course unable to speak. The
idea that /, Howard" had been asked
to become Nelly Bebb, or Nelly Blubber,
sometimes elected would.be witty re.
marks from my sisters but by degrees
the existence of Captain Bebb came to be
totally forgotten hy every one except
myself.
Meanwhile We did not grow younger
as the yesrs rolled quickly on, and as
they went became moro and moro con.
scious Of the error | had made n reject.
ing man whom felt could have loved
and respected, simply because he was rid.
iculed by my sisters and bore tho unaris-
tocratic hume Of Bebb.
Seven years had passed away---still NC
were going out to PARTIES" unwilling
ly bu. my sisters more persistently than
ever, But alas times had changed for
US; partners were nc longer plentiful
and we were obliged to be thankful tc
the few who asked US to dance or offered
to escort us to supper and who were
generally spcaking, mere boys, whose
nursery days seemed like yesterday
However, rather than return home with
out having danced at ali, was indect
glad to take turn with them. But OF
one particular occasion, at ball in thS
assembly room, even the boys failed US
and the three Misses Howard were stand
ing together IN a most palpably family
group, when the entrance of large party
gave us some nomentary diversion
1t was the Alymers Court party -lord
and Lady Aylmer, two or three dowagers
bevy Of bright eyed, pretty girls, ant
several gentleman. Amongst the latter
who should | recognize but my OLD fricuC
and rejected admirer, Captain Bebb
llo was looking remarkably well--hsp
py and handsome no resemblance to {
; pig was possible now, surely, and for al
instant wild hope shot through IN,
poor heart that he might see and speak t,
me again He did see. but instinctivel,
| felt he hardly recognized me-
Seven years had not improved me
with bitter pang felt that He bowed
and passed on with young and prett
, girl leaning on his arm. Oh, the mort
fcaiion Of that s1enpg--ihe weary, des
. psrate longing had to hide myself some
where; but there stood. faded oval
, flower" youthlully attired ia white ;arla
tame and blue satin ribbons, unuoticed
T neglected and, what felt far more, uu
cared for.
A Whether he meant it or not. ooul,
{ not tel, but he seemed to DO perpetual
/, passing Ihero | stood. At last my sis
tiers consented TO 60 home, and Margars
, having secured the arm Of weak mind
ed little curate, who offere his other arr
/ to my mother, the three walked slowl
across tho ball room followed by Louis
T proud, erect and indignant at the wan
of appreciation she had met with an
, myself with downcast eyes and burnn
laco. The cloak room seemed haze
to me, and the drive home was COMPARE
9 lively bliss, although it was embittered b
r remarks from my sisters on the resppeal
/ ance Of the captain, OF rs he was nov
Colonel Bobb, and the announcement tha
. latter all Nelly might have dooe wor,o.
r Yes, Nelly knew that now, as mau
a another foolish girl, or elderly young lady
h knows when it is too late and in 10
= quiet corner few heavy tears droppe
i silently upon my crimson shawl when
o remembered how had allowed myself I
g be Influenced by ridcule to reject what
e felt sure would havo secured the hspr
| ness Of my lille