Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-06-02

ward. There is no use in trying to describe
her inimitable grace her varying expression
every moment disclosing some new charm-hei
delicacy OF department, and at times her gravity
of Gemeanor and Thoughtful ways.
Well, this was comfort-thcre was no deny
ing II. Every day the sweet girl won upon me.
She seemed perfection in all she did and said.
Her playing was exquisite nor did she depend
upon masters and practice, for her soul was the
depository for beautiful gems OF melody, and
she drew them forth at will. How she had re-
tanned her girlish simplicity, the swce. modesty
Of mien for which az child she was remark
able never could tell. Certainly, Alice
Haughton was unlike all other young ladies |
had ever seen. had rather mathematical the
whole class but Alice IIaughton redeemed
them all.
Let me hurry on with my narrative. Every
Gay grew more hopelessly enamored She be-
came shy and sensitive, and gave me by her
manner occasional glimpscs Of hope. sur
prised her sometimes singing over softly the
songs ! loved. / saw her read tho books
praised. Sometimes l looked into them and
found such passages marked as made my heart
beat more rapidly.
Not long after my symptoms had become
thus violent, l received letter from younger
brother whom l had not seen for ten years,
and then he was boy. l remembered his ex-
treme beauty, and my soul grew sick. Impend-
ing evil like horrible vulture Tapped its
wings over my head. He wrote me that he had
become prosperous merchant that he was
coming soon to see me- 1t was warm, glow
ing. impusive letter, but, strange to say,
| 1aJ II, hand ND fhrnw II in tha
! fire.
1t was singular coincidence, but the day he
came-as i'll the case of Alice-l was called
away. When returned l caught the sound of
a manly voice. Hate entered and received n
welcome in my heart. went into the parlor
my brother ran up, his handsome face all
aglow, to greet me, and then returned to bis
seat by the side of Alice. He must have no.
ticed my GOODNESS, my constrained demeanor
my abstraction, from which l was called by
Alice's musical voice:
"Why, guardy, why didn't you tell me you
had a younger brother?'
81 thought you would meet him soon, and
the pleasure would be all the greater an
swered, bitterly. 1t stung me to madness to
behold him sitting SO near her to hear them
talk together like old and confidential friends.
All manner of demon thoughts crowded to my
brain. Among them came murder. I felt
that my countenance must be awful, and kept
myself busily turned away. Still they chatted,
they laughed-oh, how uobly beautiful they
looked together! That evening we were all to-
gether in the music room Alice at the piano
walking, filed with horrible thoughts Fred,
my brother, leaning over Alice. How free she
,,;tl l, %,, e.,
to my jealous eyes. What business had she to
sing my songs to him? Oh, if they had seen
me look at them! To be sure she always pre-
faced her music with "this is guardy's favorite,'
or " / often sing this for your BROTHER" but
what sort of balm was that to such heart as
mine? At last said "good-night" abruptly.
Alice came to me all anxiety; she asked me
timdly if 1 was not we'll. / could have howled
"No, hypocritc y but | said, with as calm
manner as / could assume 81 have business
to attend to-"
For moment noted that she looked per-
picked, unhappy-but l was still blinded by
jealousy.
"Look here Harry, don't go to bed so early |
again. said my brother the next morning, sit
deprives me of good society both that of
yours and your charming ward She did not
stay ten minutes after you had gone. You
should not leave the young folks alone, espec-
ally when one of them is as shy as a kitten"
"Did Alice leave you, then?' J asked, sud
denly relieved of great weight.
"Of course she did. What modest young
girl could sit with stranger alone am sur
prised at you for leaving us.
Oh why did l not disclose to my brother the
ont {nf, l,o,. |
me torture beyond estimation. But would not
over my every faculty.
The next day Fred asked me to walk with
him to the cliff We went away together.
~ have something l wish to say to you
Harry said Fred.
My heart leaped my blood was on fire. l
made as if had not understood. Are your
nerves steady?' I asked. "Can you stand
like this upon the edge Of the bank?'
He paused, looked at me earnestly moment
and went forward to try His foot was on the
very edge; nearer than mine his brain might
have reeled; mine did not--nntil l jostled
against him i'll STOPPING. My God, he was over
I sprang back as if 1 was shot. Not for a
thousand worlds would 1 have yentured near
the edge of the accursed hill.
The day, the week passed. 1 forgot to say
that Alice on that very day had gone to spend
a week with schoolmate. When she returned
she asked after Fred.
I said, watching her steadily "He is gone.
Are you sorry?'
"Why, yes l think he might have told me
and said goodbye" she replied, rather
petulantly.
Ii he had stad longer we might have had
wedding said, with harsh and almost con-
vulsive laugh.
She looked at me earnestly for moment, as
She said innocently: Why, who would have '
been married?' s
you and he perhaps ventured. ,
She turned as pale as ashes her lips quiver- ,
I'd, she cried out passionately: "You are
,ruelH y and almost ran from the room.
What was l to infer from this ? The glance, I
.he tone had struck me as being, to say the t
east very peculiar. Good heavens could it {
AVE been that all the time she loved me :? NV =
'rain throbbed : my guilty soul swaycd between
umults of delight and terror. If so, dared 1
marry her in my blood-suiltness Yes, :.
Jared do any deed now dared and would. |
Alice became my wife, but horror hung '
'round me. could take pleasure in nothing. q
surrounded her with luxuries aud called her =
ny queen. She was an idol 1 worshiped
ler. One day she said
"Why do we not hear from Fred d?'
My heart stood still, but l ventured some a
lon-committal reply. f
Did lie ever ask your advice about any, r
hing in Particular sic inquired with SMILE :,
"No;'' I replied with my old ferceness :,
why do you ask such a question ~
"Oh, Harry" she said, reprovinsly, "you "
arried you prejudice to far-I know she must r
ave been loving girl by his description il
Before, was hot; now grew icy. "By his II
escription lovely girl what do you mean?" =,
asked, in wild astonishment.
"Why you knew he loved one of the Edge
,onts, didn't you? He said the father once II
id you an injustice and you never forgave him. Il
lie being dependent on you in some way for d
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