The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1877-12-26

"You are forgiven, Miss Kitty. In
your very uneonsciousness of treading
upon dangerous ground lies the receipt
of cure for what is perhaps a morbid
sensitiveness 10 my infrmity."
Lucretia had not heard these remarks.
She had alighted and gone to the poor
little victim OF self-confdence. Taking
him up tendsrly, she found that his
injuries were confined TO broken leg /;
so, with much petting and soothing she
took her delicate cambria handkerchief
and bound NJ the wounded member.
Coming to ti,ttserriage, she lifted up a
pleading face. f'
"May 1 take him in See-he is
somebody's pet. Look at his collar. It
is of silver, and his name-Fidget--is
engraved upon il. Some one is mourn
ing for his loss. We can advertise to-
morrow.
OF course the lite animal was admitted
on the prayer of such an interesting
special pleader, and the party we're soon
speeding homewards. lea
All were strangely quiet, even Kitty's
chattering tongue had received a sudden
quietus, and Mr.. Bertram was in brown
study.
At last Lucretia looked up and met
his eyes fixed with strange intentness
upon her face.
"I know you think me very silly, Mr..
Bertram, but 1 can't help it. 1 shouldn't
have had moments comfort for days
if I had left that poor little thing to
suffer-" .e.f...
"No, Miss Armstrong, you are mis-
taken about my thoughts. May l call
in the morning and express them to you
more fully than l can do now."
Lucretia looked at him, but thinking
by his expression that he was quizzing
her, said. indiferently
81 suppose you wish to classify my
folly by some learned name Seach the
records, by all means, and be sure to
relieve my suspense in the morning"
81 will most assuredly do 80"
The low, deep voice had an earnest
ness uncalled for by the occasion,
Lucretia thought, and then dismissed
the matter from her mind and gave
herself up to the enjoyment of her
drive.
According to promise, the next morn
ing Mr.. Bertram called and asked for
Miss Armstrong, and was informed that
Lucretia had taken her portfolio with
her, and strolled off into the park that
lay iustbehind the residence, and into
which any of the family or their friends
were at liberty to wander whenever they
felt disposed.
Here, seated on small mound, evi-
IDENTIFY lost in thought. he found Lucre-
tia, and, before che was fairly aware of
his presence, he had thrown himself
down at her feet, and pronounced her
name.
She looked up with a start, and then,
observing that his face was very pale,
she cried:
care you not we'll, Mr.. Bertram
Can do anything for you?" ...
He gave a sudden start as he spoke,
and his face lost its pallor in an agitated
rush of color. ...... aoG
eyes, Miss Armstrong, you can if you
will. Will you forgive me if I ask you
to listen to me while 1 tell you my mo-
tive in coming here this morning? 2"
Lucretia, in silent wonder at his agita-
ton, settled herself to listen to what he
might have to say.
miss Observation-Disclosures see
before you a man who seemed at one
time to have been selected for fortunes
favorite. Wealth, kind friends and
health, Joined to an unblemished
physique, were mine until the accident
occurred which made me cripple.
Until very lately / have been contented,
Notwithstanding my misfortune, although
I had given up all thought of ever being
other than I ana lonely bachelor.
But have fallen under a new influence,
that of love, and it rests with you to de-
termine whether my future is to be hap
py or miserable"
His meaning, by this time, began to
dawn upon Lucretia.
She rose abruptly.
"No, hear me through !"
AS he spoke kestook her hand gently,
and said /:
"Please sit down, and be your own
quiet, kind self until I finish my story,
even if your heart cannot respond to the
overpowering passion which fills mine
with your sweet imagine to the exclu-
sion of all other thoughts and feeling. 1
know am not fitting lover to offer
myself"
Lucretia put ont her hand with an
imperative, gesture +
"Do not say that. 1t is not SO Any
girl might be proud of such an offer"
"Then you will say yes ?" broke in
the eager lover. You will be my
wife ?"
cit is so sudden. / had not once
thought of you in that light" was the
hesitating reply.
"Tell me truly. Does this pitiful
lameness lessen my chances of gaining
your love ?" I
"No, oh, no |" she answered, earnest
ly. eff anything, I should love you
better for thinking how much suffering
you must have gone through before
reaching your present state of noble
resignation.
"T have not been very resigned OF
late 80 you must not give me credit