Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-12-10

tiOu' IN eleven months Sne SnOuld be oil
age, and could claim her small fortune. If
Harry were true TO her, she would then be
willing to begin life with him on four thou
sand dollars.
Harry was indignant at all such prudential
considerations. lie spoke very disrespect
fully of Bruce Park, and declared he would
not say thank you for every acre Of it, and
the old wooden mansion thrown in, and that
eleven months was an eternity they might
just as well say good-by forever.
So the end Of all was that Harry babe her
Farewell till the 9th of the following
June, and that with many tears and protes-
tations they finally began their self-imposed
trial of each others fidelity.
The next mornings paper announced the
sudden departure of Mr.. Henry Torrens
for New York on business of Importance
likely to detain him some months" and
Eloise was angry enough at the information.
She had hoped Harry would try again to
convince her Of the folly of parting" and
she was determined at this interview to be
convinced.
For some weeks Miss Ethel did not have
a very happy time. Eloise wandered in the
park, or about the big, silent house, and
was not at all cheerful company. At first
Harry's letters were so long and frequent
that great deal of her time was salts
factorily employed in answering them. But
by degrees they grew both shorter and less
frequent, and toward the beginning of win
ter they stopped altogether.
The two women looked sadly in each
others face at the empty post-box every
morning, and Miss Ethel had her will made
during these days, and left her niece all she
had, as some compensation. But yet often
| when she saw the sad face that had once
| been so bright aud pretty, she half re-
| preached herself, and wondered whether,
where ignorance is bliss, if it be not folly to
be wise.
| One day toward spring-a bright, warm
day for the season-Eloise, who had now
long ceased even hoping for a letter, was
walking slowly up and down the great hall
dividing the large drawing-room and the
late Mr.. Bruce's library from the rest of the
house. These rooms were very seldom
opened, and still more seldom used. Eloise
only remembered two or three grand occa-
sons on which they had been used for great
entertainments.
A sudden fancy seized her she would
throw back the closed blinds, and let the
spring sunshine into the dark rooms. Be-
side, there were all kinds of curious orna-
ments there, and great many books to
examine them would pleasantly pass few
hours. Miss Ethel readily agreed. She was
glad to see her niece interest herself in any
thing that could begule thought from the
one sad, notifying subject of her desertion.
Toward noon she went to seek Eloise. Her
first glance showed her the girl sitting on
the hearth-rug with her lap full of letters,
and queer furnished Iindoo iewery. She
sprang up to meet her aunt, and with a
| at nal arlat aI
"Oh, auntie, they are yours, all yours I
was looking at that queer cabinet, and my
dress turned it over, and piece fell out of
the bottom, and these things were scattered
about" Then she ran out of the room shut
ting the door carefully behind her.
Poor Miss Ethel needed her privacy. Here
was her lovers vindication; here were all
the sweet words for which she had nearly
died. He had suffered all she had suffered
he had poured out his agony and his despair
in letters which had never until now reached
her. The poor lady took them to her room,
and never appeared again that day. But
she had no hard words for the hand that
had wronged her. "Dear father; he meant
il for kindness" was all that she said.
Still she grew very restless, and contiuu-
ally declared that she was sure something
was going to happen. But coming events
often cast long shadows before, and it was
full two months afterward ere Miss Ethel's
presentiment came true. Then she got a
letter one day which threw her into wild
teverish excitement "Eloise," she cried
almost sobbing with joy, she is come he
Is at the village; he will be here in an hour
How am to bear it 2"
Women seek each others sympathy in
hours like this, and Eloise--perhaps with
just little pang for her own sorrow-gladl,
gave 1t. But when she joined the long
parted lovers at dusk, and saw her aunt
lingering with tender cares by the hand
some dark stranger at the freside, she knew
that never again would Aunt Ethel want
sympathy; it was easy TO see her lover was
still her lover, and that they thoroughly
understood the past.
Perhaps the sight of their happiness was
a little irritating sometimes to Eloise. She
could not help blaming her aunt in some
measure for the loss of Harry, and she
wondered if she ever remembered now any
of her old opinions about the folly of marry
ing for love. Many women would have re
minded her of them, but Eloise was not i'll
uatured; and when she saw the old lover:
wandering about the gardens so happily
together, she only hoped that her own
blighted youth might have some such rec
ompense given it, for such joy it woulc
almost be worth waiting, little while, but
not twenty-five years; that was too strong {
test of fidelity.
1t was not asked of her. On the morning
of the 9TH of June, when the dew was yet OF
the grass, there was messenger to see her
He had with him an exquisite basket o
white roses and in their midst was a lette
which made Eloise Bruce the happiest girl il
Amar;oa And Amt Etha1 mat aa do
lighted. He must come here at once.
she said; "they would wait breakfast TO
him-and he must never go away again"
Then the ladies discovered that Harr,
and James Early were already friends. The,
had met at hotel in New York, and boil
: having their hearts in the same little South
ern town, they had speedily become con
! fdentia. And Harry was not long in get
ting his pardon, though his excuse nigh
well have been considered by less lovinl
mistress as an aggravation of his offense.
"You see, darling" he explained between
his kisses, "you wanted to test my heart
, and so thought it only fair to let you ties
! your own also. Do you think you wou,
! remember me, If you never saw or hear
! from me for twenty-five years, as Aun
= Ethel did that lover OF hers 2"
Harry | should remember you forever
| never, never would have married any on
else, if you had staid away altogether. Blu
indeed it was cruel to try me so bitterly"
|, "And how about your sending me away =?
al won't ever do it again, Harry; aud
never really wanted you to go, You ough
:, to have known that"
!, few nights afterwards, as they all sa
u together on the moon-lit veranda Aunt Etht
u said, very tenderly, Children, James and
will be married next Thursday, and we sha
!, sail for Calcutta Immediately. Could nc
y the two marriages be made at once TheI
Harry, Eloise could live at the old place, an
keep it from going to destruction. 1t
Fl Uses now; | made it over to her to-day
d and Mr.. Green says you are going into par
nership with their firm, so hope you wi
have enough to keep love from flying out G
your windows"
Little more was said at the time, for Aur
Ethel persistently turned the subject, br
i when she came into Eloise's room to bid til
2, new bride-eect goodnight the happy gi
e whispered; "Oh, aunt, how generous 70
u have been to us. Surely Mr. Early must
very rich to let you give us such a magnii
r