Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-08-02

was identical {: the same soul seemed
looking through the eyes. Whether
Alice noticed this or not, L could not
tell. She was talking in gay and ami
mated manner, and there was soft light
in her eye and flush of pleasure on her
lovely cheek which made her even more
than usually charming.
1 have no occasion to prolong this
story by making mysteries; so 1 may
as well say that the case of Mr.. Granger
and my sister was one of love at first
sight. Their two souls melted into one
at their first meeting, and the affection
which then sprang into life seemed to
grow every day. There we're no serious
loves; therefore its course ran smooth.
My fathers only objections rested on
the fact that Alice was still 80 young
and their acquaintance so brief. Against
the match itself he had nothing to urge,
as the young mans family, character and
fortune were all he could ask. So the
young people had it all their own way;
and the ever-beautiful drama, so old,
yet eternally so new, went on once more.
1t was fine morning in June, nearly
year from the period when this vera
cious history commences. In the cheer
full breakfast-room of my sister, Mrs.
Edward Granger, still fingered party
of three, the young mistress of the
house, her husband and myself. had
arrived the previous evening, and hav-
ing been separated from Alice during
the six weeks which had elapsed since
her marriage, we had, of course, many
things to talk over. So, though the
morning was wearing away, we still sat
there, Mr.. Granger considerably leav-
ing us to ourselves while he read his
paper by the window. I had forgotten
his presence, till sudden exclamation
from him drew my attention to his part
of the room.
1 had come to Alice's from grand
mammals, where I had been making q
visit, and had brought with me among
my luggage the portfolios of sketches
and drawings which she had left behind
last year. They were lying on the ia
BILE, and Edward, having finished his
paper, and getting no attention from us,
amused himself by examining them.
When we turned round, he was holding
in his hand the spirited sketch of his
own features which I so well remem-
bered.
"Why, Alice" he said, "where did
you get this p
"I made it, of course"
But never sat to you
"No; drew from memory"
"How came it among these things
that Charlotte brought from your grand
mothers ?"
81 left it there last summer"
"What little story-tellerl at that
time you had never seen me-"
"No, nor any picture of you; yet I
had drawn you, as you see"
"Will you please explain" said my
brother-in-law, throwing himself back
in whimsical perplexity.
Alice laughed. "You will not believe
me if tell you," she said, seating her.
self upon his knee.
"Well, love, tell me for all that"
Alice began the story gaily, but, as it
proceeded, her sportive tone became
serious, and her large violet eyes deep
ened with an expression of earnestness
and wonder. When she ceaaed, it was
with q cheek somewhat flushed, and a
sensitive quiver of the lips which she
could not quite control. Her husband
had listened at first with smiling inter-
est; but this soon gave way to an omin-
GUS look of exaggerated gravity; and
when the story was finished, he burst
into a peal of uncomfortable laughter.
Il oI ,,,o4s1 4ko 10 l. -,
eyes; and when we thought he had done
he suddenly started off again, and
laughed till he was tired. Alice and I
joined in the mirth, but my sister not
very heartily.
my dear little girl cried Edward,
as soon as he could speak, edo you hope
to persuade me that you really dreamed
all that about the green lady9'
"But it is true, Edward"
Edward went off again.
"And you dare aver that you were
asleep. I am confident you peeped."
"You impertinent boyl Small advan-
tage in peeping, when you were not
there"
"Do you presume to say you did not
know I was there"
"What do you mean, Edward"
'I mean that my recollection of that
kiss is as vivid as your own, only do
not pretend to have been asleep"
"My dear Edward, at that time you
were on the Atlantic, weeks sail and
more from home. 1t was ten days after
the eve of ST. John that you reached our
house, and you had only arrived the day
before"
"My dear child, who told you that ]
had just arrived from India ?"
"No one, perhaps; but we supposed
go, of course"
Nevertheless, on that night of the
23d of June I was near enough to get my
first kiss from your lips. 1t was mercy
Lottie did not catch me, though. had
Just time to gain the shelter of the thorn
trees before she came round the point"
"Now, Edward" cried 1, in amaze
ment. "explain your part in this mys-
terry"
"There is little mystery about my
part. It is true that when Frank Bald
win left Calcutta | was intending to come
home in the sailing vessel MoguI, which
belongs to our firm. But as found it
would be necessary for me to go to
France any way, took the steamer route
by the Isthmus of Suez, and was in Mar
seilles before the MoguI had passed the
Cape of Good Hope. staid in France
several weeks, crossed over to England,
and took the steamer from Liverpool to
Quebec, arrived on the Goth of June. 1t
happens that one of our clerks in Gal
cutta, faithful, excellent fellow, has
mother and sisters living on farm not
far from S., and l was the bearer of
letters and gifts from him to them. I
might have sent the things by express,
Of cnnrsa hut I thnnoht the women