Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-08-25

Snoulu ma you mere! i KNOW WIN
heathenish hours you keep, and VIII
heathenish places you frequent"
She never answered; her eyes wei
fixed on the far sea-line, her lips close
in namelcss pain. He threw himse
ON tho sand at her feet, and looked II
with laughing blue eyes in her chang'
less face.
"My solemn Janet! What has com
over you of late? Where has your SUI
shine, your sparkle, your youth, you
smiles, your color gone? Tell mo wha
it is. Janet ?"
Nothing you would care to know"
He shifted uneasily; his eyes left he
pale, still face, and wandered seaward
"You know am going tomorrow
Jennic?"
4 eyes, know"
81 wanted to speak to you before
went, Janet; that is why I got up at thi
unchristian hour and looked for 70,
here. don't see the necessity of hurry
ing our marriage as Uncle Etheridg
wishes to hurry tive are both young
enough to wait. should like to spent
this summer in Switzerland and Italy, i
you have no objection"
81 have none"
"And when 1 come back in til,
autumn, Janet, will you be my little
wife ?"
She rose mp straight, and looked il
his smiling, handsome face for the first
time.
"No," she said, sternly, ~ will never
be that Here is your ring, Mr.. Eth.
eridge, and here we part"
"Janet !"
He sprang to his feet, and stood look
ing at her in surprise, in sort of terror
in nothing else.
"Here is your ring-take it Yo,,
will not ? Then let the waters take it.,
less faithless than you =
She drew the band of gold, studded
with brilliants, from her finger, and flung
it far into the sea.
"Janet, listen to me Janet, good
Heaven are you mad ?"
"I would be if listened to you. Go,
marry Eva Ingestre tomorrow, if you
like What is it to me ?"
She turned and walked steadfastly
away, leaving him there petrified gazer.
Straight up to her own room, there to
sink down by the window, her arms drop
ping on the table, her face lying on them.
Not in tears-not in womanly sobs, only
in mute, deadly pain, weary of life, of
herself, of the sunshine, of all the world.
"False !" her tortured heart kept cry
ing" false And I loved him so dear
ly--so dearly"
The breakfast-hell rang. She rose up
and went down, a little paler, little
stiller than her wont---nothing more.
Old Mr.. Etheridge was there, bright
and lively. Miss Inglestrc was there,
chattering like n magpie, her pretty ring
lets freshly pcrfumed and curled, her
roses at their brightest. Ernest was
there, silent and sulky, but glad, if the
truth must be known, that he was SO
we'll out Of the scrape.
She gives me up of her own accord"
he thought, with a sense of injury; "no-
body can blame me. I'll speak to Eva
after breakfast"
But he was forestalled. After break
fast his uncle carried Eva off to get her
opinion about some ornamental garden
ing to be done, and his tender declara-
tions had to wait. Janet attended to her
household duties, and then, with her
work-basket, went and sat down by the
open window. Presently the aching eyes
closed in dull, dreamless sleep.
With voices in her ears she awoke-
voices that blended with her sleep, and
that confused her. They came from the
garden; the voice of Ernest, tender.
pleading; the voice of Eva, sweet and
clear.
Marry you. Ernest! Good gracious
me what an idea! And you engaged
to that solemn Janet! ~
"She is engaged to me no longer; she
las broken off of her own free will-ieal-
'us of you.
And You want me to take what on
'ther rejects Flattering, really! A
thousand thanks, Mr.. Ernest Etheridge.
1t the same time-no p
Eva! Eva for Heavens sake, listen
% me! I love you with my whole -
"Heart! Of Course you do! And
7ou will break it because 1 refuse I
hall be shocked and disappointed if
'ou don't! There don't coax I
ant marry you, because I'm going to
marry your uncle Now, the truths
mt /"
Janet rose abruptly and left the win
low, fully awake at last.
81 never thought of that" she said,
n her way to her own room. "I might
ave seen, but never thought of that"
She kept her chamber until dinner
ime, and then went down to preside at
able with that fixed and stone-like face.
)nly her uncle and Eva were there,
10 think the boy should go off five
ours earlier than he need" Uncle Eth. ,
ridge grumbled. "Janet, how can Won
low such capers p !
Miss Ingestre looked at her, mali ,
lous sparkle in her turquoise-blue ,
yes, malicious smile on her rosebud =,
ps. Miss Stuart met the look stead :
lstly. !
"Mr. Ernest Etheridge's comings and 8
oings are nothing to me; he is as free
, the wind that blows. But when am
} congratulate you, my good uncle? ?"
Mr.. Etheridge neutrality-suspicious. 4
l at Eva.
$50 you have told her, pussy?" v
II protest have done nothing of the |
'rt," cried the amazed Miss Ingestre, t
but then she is witch, and knows r
" Precisely. And when is it to be ?" r
Well sinco yo,, boya div;na1 n IN | h