Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-07-11
TIE FALSE AND TRUE.

When my husband, Roscoe Arnold, ask
ed me to marry him, felt it necessary to
tell him that did not love him as he did
me-that understood his DEVOTION be-
cause | had felt it for nnother-that other,
Ivan Grey that to my husband had to
give only a grateful affection. Would that
suffice?
He said that it would. He told me af-
terward, that through my weeping he did
not catch the name; that he thought said
also that my lover had died
From the first, Roscoe was u good hus.
band. If did not appreciate him then,
l was not unhappy. had q bright, beau
tiful home which Roscoe named Hesper-
ides. The library was extensive, the con-
servatory luxurious. Books and flowers
being my ruling passion, my husband had
taken especial pains to crafty me-
After our boy was born, and everybody
pronounced him Il most healthy and beau.
tiful child, Roscoe said to me-
Constance, are you happy now9"
looked right straight into his brown
eyes as truly said; "Yes, Roc"
He bent and kissed me with delight I
had never seen him show before.
dearest you are miner he murmnred.
That was all he said.
1t was just two years after our mar
riage.
A few days later he received a letter.
asked who it was from.
my sister, he answered.
81 never knew that you had sister" ,"
said, in surprise.
"No, have never spoken to you OF
Ora When my parents died in my boy
hood, Ora was baby, and was taken by
IN aunt down to New Orleans, where she
was raised with her children. | have on.
ly seen her once since. She is very pretty.
This letter tells me she is to be married"
He gave me tho letter to read. 1t was
written on delicate fragrant paper, the
penmanship easy and graceful but rather
too fine. Rather brief communication,
prettiy expressed, asking us to come to
the wedding.
TO New Orleans in July! | am afraid
to take baby, and could not leave him."
:" see that we cannot 90. 1t is imprac-
BILE. l will write and tell Ora"
And give her my love. Say that |
hope she will be very happy"
| had been present at but one wedding
in my life, and that was my own. was
six-and-twenty. 1t was very different from
what thought it would be when | was
eighteen. At eighteen had been betroth.
ed to Ivan Grey; at twenly-six | married
Roscoe Arnold.
The suggestion of another wedding
brought back the past TO me. When was
alone, and baby asleep in his basket,
Went to drawer in the private cabinet
and took out packet of letters and pho
tograph,
The latter was vignette-a face hand.
some as Greek gods, with u perfection
| of contour that must ever be fascinating
AS | looked at it, the peace of my heart
fled away. The breath of the past, fra
grant, new, spring like, swept over me
the warm, imperious impulses of youth
started to lie in my blood.
looked ut the letters but did not oper
them. There was no need had learn
ed each one by heart years ago. The pack
ct was small, and sat with it held be-
tween my palms for nearly half IN hour
But put away letters and picture at4ast
and sat down by the open window, swing
ing the baby's basket to and fro. jus
then l heard Roscoe whstling lightly, n
he ran upstairs, and in II moment he en-
tered the room, his hands full Of pont
lilies.
"See here, Connie-heres treat 70
you. Aren't they beauliesP"
NI,, c,,,o,;ko No,,,o, I tOo1, tIo Il !.
things from him and put them in a crysta
globe of cool water.
=" See here" said Roscoe.
lie had pulled up his straw hat, and th
curling hair about his white forehead wa
literally dripping with perspiration.
See how wilted am, hurrying homt
through the heat to save your lillies," h
said.
brought him some cool water to bath
his face, laid out for him some fresh cloth
ing, and went away to see if dinner wa
ready Thus | took up again, the pres
Gnt.
Another year went by. was surround
ed by every comfort; tenderly cared fol
| resolved not to unlock the rosewood Cub
met again.
was reading in the portico, one Jun
morning, while Melisse, the nurse, wa
leading little Lyle along the garden walk
when carriage came hurrying up th
drive.
| sprang up, fearing something had hal
pened to my husband. But by the time
reached the open hall door, lady, alone
was coming up the steps from the carriag,
She was very young, richly robed, and r
stantly addressed me:
Are you not my brother Roscoe
I wifeP" she asked " am his sister Or,
: from New Orleans"
E; | don't remember how welcomed he
@ but threw open the drawing-room doc
a and she entered and dropped into n seat
Al = 7 .