The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-05-27

and she selected one from pretty, green
velvet case.
THAT is handy little article to carry
about with YOU" | observed ; but il
should be large enough to bold thimbe
and thread as we'll"
She laughed.
"Oh, my dear Marbury, don't credit
me with any such thrift aforethought. |
am indebted to Mr.. Smithson for the
dainty little needle.box, given, as he said
Ito repair the damage he had DONE
wonder if she caught q glimpse oil
my face as knelt down to my task, fol
she was silent q moment, then she added
lightly, as if to Gil up the time, but m ore
as question than remark
"You seem to know the gentleman
Mrs. Marbury2"
81 was with his mother in her last ill.
Ness, and housekeeper for some time af
terwards, Miss, and I'm sorry to say |
don't know much good of him."
You see, Mrs. Chappell, said that tc
put the dear young thing on her guard
but l don't think she thanked me, for
saying coldly. "Some people are very
censorious" she drew the barely finished
skirt from my fingers. with cunt That
will do, thank you !" and swept from the
nursery.
sighed, as heard q well.known Sc.
ductive voice address her on the staircase
and looking down over the banisters, saw
Walter Smithson lead her back to the
drawing-room with marked attention He
was about thirty years OF age, tall and
well-formed and had he been as good as
he has good looking they might have been
fairly matched. But more than one girl
in his fathers workshop had cause to rue
his Establishments, and know his wild
ways hastened his mothers end.
l was in Mrs. Varey's room when the
party broke up. and the ladies came in
for shawls and bonnets. Miss Royle had
to stand good deal Of raillery on her
conquest. but she was quick at repartee
and neither Mrs. Gray nor Mrs. varey
we're equal to her in the witty contest
yet | saw that her eyes absolutely danced
with her new delight. She had tender
heart, too, and as I hold baby for last
kiss, she slipped sovereign into my
hand and whispered, "I'm sorry | was
cross with you, you dear old SOUL"
Setting aside portly Mr.. Crofton aud
all other admirers, Walter Smithson was
ready to hand Miss Royle and Mrs. Gray
to their cab, and to bow them off in bis
best style.
He fingered in town much longer than
business required, l am sure, and the god.
mother came to see the baby more than
was necessary, and the two generally hap.
pened to meet by some mysterious affinity
Twelve months later | was again al
the vareys'; the eldest daughter, a girl
Of thirteen, being dangerously i'll. Kind
Bessie Royle came and went, always
bringing some little thing for the invalid
or for her godchild, and soon | learned
that she and Walter Smithson were en-.
gagged. had told Mrs. Varey all
knew of him, but, like the younger lady
she thought me prejudiced
Not long afterwards scarlet fever broke
out in Mrs. Gray's school, and my profes
sional aid was sought
Miss Bessie and soon became goot
friends, and before left she showed me
letter in which good old Smithsou rec
ognized her as his sons affianced wife
and saluted her as an angel from heaven
80 blessed had been her influence on hi,
son. He would be thankful to see hin
settled, was taking him into partnership
and was having the old home ct Redditct
re6tted and enlarged for them.
SO proud was che of her gentle inAu
ence over Walter, who had confessed tha
be had lacked such love as hers to b,
his guiding star and keep him in the righ
path, that could not find 1t in my hear
to daunt her with fo-ebodiDgs and whel
healtL breatbed in at the windows il
Hampstead, | left her busted with prepar
ations for her marriage the followin,
spring.
There were hyacinths 10 bloom 10 thu
oolored glasses on my window-iedge il
Camden street when l received a shar,
summons from Mrs. Gray.
"Miss Royle had had shock and bro
ken blood.vessel. was wanted imme
diately."
Never shall forget the change in he
face.
She was reclining ON the shoulder o
her trusted old servant (who was gener
ally entrusted with her mistress secrets)
her clothes bedsbbled with blood. Their,
was large travelling trunk in the middl,
OF the floor, which, like chairs, table, an,
piano, we're strewed with bridal robes an,
other paraphernalia which she had beer
packing, and some of the fine embroideret
linen was likewise Aecked with crimson
stains.
Near the trunk was a crushed letter o
which took charge. 1t was from Wal
ter Smithson, and told the whole story.
1t was a wild and incoherent confession
Of vice and folly. of entanglements h
could not free himself from, Of passioDat t
love for her, and q reputation of his pro
mise to marry her, on the ground that h
was utterly unworthy Of her, and thei
union would bring about only unhappines
to both
Youth, health. the blessing of God, an,
a good doctor pulled her through tha
time but she never was herself again.
She sent his letters and his present
back with never a word helped her t,
pack her wedding garments CAREFUL
away said jestinglv "there were as goo,
fish in the sea as ever we're caught, an,
she had best take care of them in cas-
Mr.. Crofton went down on his fat knee
to her, and proposed"
Out into company she went. as she ha
never gone before; and as she paid 10
Mrs. Gray's cabs and tickets to thoatr
or concert, that lady never objected
People. Mrs. Vsrey amongst the number
said Rnasia Rnula had ao,n M, o,o. l.