Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-01-01
forced itself upon her:

year. My nusDand has been dead Such
a short time, and | shrink from such a
responsible act"
81 cannot wait year. You know how
lonely | have been. and now that love
one woman with my whole soul-and
she is free, and | can at last take care
of wife-surely, HermiOne, you will
not refuse ?'
Poor Rupert, love you so much,
bow can 2"
Then you give yc r.consoAt ?"
81 do"
Breathless and wild with pain. Linly
tore herself from the spot. She sought
the house now and fleeing to her own
room. cast herself across the bed, writh-
ing with anguish. Lost lost They
'i"u a'A LIFT her ! She had not one.
Ihe tea-bell rang she did not heed
it. Inquiring voices called her name
she covered her ears with her hands.
Twilight and darkness filled the pretty
white room; the whip-poor-will's call
came on the dewy air, and the piano
sounded softly in the room below. 1t
was Hermione's touch, and Rupert, st.
Charles was bending happily over "the
woman he loved with his whole SOUL"
no doubt Poor Linly she wished she
could creep into her fathers grave aud
be out of the sight of their happiness.
By and by, in the stiffness. she heard
steps on the stair. Was Hermione CON-
ing? Yes, the door opened and Hermi
ones voice syllabled: sDear. are you
here? Why, we thought you had not
come from town."
She advanced into the room, putting
the light she carried under shade in
the corner.
You have come home with head
ache, kbow-the day has been so hot !;
but you ought to have drank some tea,
Linly, dear"
The graceful. fragrant form pressed
the couch by the girls side, a tender
arm stole around her neck
81 am glad we can be quiet. 1 have
something to tell you. Did hurt you,
LiDly. with my ring? Why did you
vince so p
1TV, H1OI s--i-T --~,'' r~~NiJ'
"Linly. something has happened to-
day, which gives me great hope and
pleasure. Shall | tell you %
There was little pause-such hand
little pause.
"Yes."
You have known my cousin, Rupert
St. Charles. year, and you feel quite
we'll acquainted with him, do you not p
"Quite we'll"
"He is all he seems to be, Linly.
think you like him."
No answer.
81 hope you do, dear, for he Is jus
what young man ought to be-honora
bic, pure and steadfast-and the woman
who has won his love is fortunate, in
deed-blessed if she returns it-for b
will make a devoted husband. Sh
could not have better fate than to b
the wife of Rupert St. Charles
Hermione Thetford heard her step
daughters quickened breathing, bu
could not see her face.
81 walked with him this afternoon il
the garden. and-surely, dear, you
head must be very bad. ! heard yO
moan"
Very bad. But never mind, Hermi
one."
He urged me to promise which
was reluctant to give"
"Yes."
IL hesitated to take the step he urge
upon me. because your father has bee
dead such short time. and others migl
think"
"You need not care what others thin
if you are sure of your own feeling
Hermione ?''
"It is because l am sure of ther
Linly. that at last yielded, / hav
known Rupert from child, and he
one in a thousand. So. dear. surely "
will forgive me if you are averse to tn
="
Forgive? What should l forgiv
dear Hermione p
IL yielded, and gave my consent tn
S he should tell you his love, and try
win yours, dear. For nothing cou
: make me happier. my sweet girl, ths
for you to marry my cousin"
Hermione's S voice died away. The
d was no sound in the darkened chambe
e She listened anxlously for Linly's /
t spouse. but the girl realized nothing b
n the feelings of her own heart.
e "Will you not speak, dear p
What shall ] say, Hermione ?''
: "Are you panied or pleased by wh
It have told you p
d "Hermione, l have been told th
It you and Rupert St. Charles used to 10
:, each other"
81 have always loved Rupert as
d cousin-nOthing more. 1t was your
d ther whom | loved dear, and so YOU