The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-08-27

some fallen carnations; he stopped and
helped me, saying all the while know
not what, only that IL seemed TO me the
most beautiful language l ever heard.
Then we walked up and down the long
peach wslk until heard the rattle of
fathers wagon.
After this we became quietly, al
most secretly as far as DIR. Orman was
concerned very great friends. Mother
so thoroughly pitt ed Alfred that she not
only pretended oblivion OF our friend
ship, but even promoted 1t In many
ways and in the course of time DR..
Orman began to recognize its value. /
was requested to walk past Mr.. Comp
toms windows and say 'Good-morning,'
or offer him a flower or some ripe
peaches, and finally TO accompany the
gentlemen in their short rambles in the
neighborhood.
al need not tell you how all this re-
stricted intercourse ended. We were
soon deeply in love with each other, and
love ever finds out the way to make
himself be understood. We had many
five minutes meeting no one knew oil,
and when this was impossible rose
bush near his window hid for me the
tenderest little love-letters. In fact,
Julia, I found him Irresistible; he was
so handsome and gentle, and though he
must have been thirty five years OLE, yet,
to my thinking, he looked handsomer
than any young man could have done.
CAS- the weeks passed on, the doctor
seemed TO have more confidence IN us, or
else his patient was completely under
control. They had much fewer quar-
rels, and Alfred and / walked in the
garden, and even n little way up the
hill, without opposition or remark. /
do not know how l received the idea,
but certainly did believe that DIR. Or
man was keeping Alfred sick for some
purpose of his own, and l determined
to take the first opportunity of arousing
Alfred's suspicious. So one evening,
when we were walking alone, I asked
him if he did not wish to see his rela-
tives. ln
He trembled violently, and seemed
in the greatest distress, and only by the
tenderest words could soothe him, aa
half sobbing, he declared that they
were his bitterest enemies, and that Or.
Orman was the only friend he had In
the world. Any further efforts I made
to get at tile secret of his life were fruit.
less, and only threw him into paroxysma
of distress. During the month of Au-
gust he was very i'll, or at least DIR. Or.
man said so. ! 1scarely saw him, there
were no letters in the rose-bush, and
frequently the dispute between the two
men rose to u pitch which father serious
Zone hot day in September every one
was in the fields or orchard; only the
doctor and Alfred and 1 we're in the
house. Early in the afternoon boy
fx-<xx, <ho xx;lla xrxsth N lotfo,- ~
DIR. Orman, and he seemed very much
perplexed and at loss how to act. Al
length he said Miss Phoebe, must gc
to the village for couple Of hours
think Mr.. Alfred will sleep until my re.
turn, but if not, will you try and amust
himP i.
II promised gladly, and DIR. Ormar
went back to the village with the mes
senger. No sooner was he out OF sigh
than Alfred appeared, and we ramblef
about the garden as happy as two lover,
could be. But the day was extremely
hot, and as the afternoon advanced the
heat increased. l proposed then tha
we should walk up the hill, where ther,
was generally breeze, and Alfred wa
delighted at the larger freedom it prom
ised US. ..
"But in another hour the sky grew
dark and ]urid. and noticed that Al
fred grew strangely restless. His cheeks
flushed, his eyes had a wild look OF ter
ror in them, he trembled and started
and in spite of all my efforts to sooth,
him grew irritable and gloomy. Yet b,
had Just asked me to marry him, and
had promised l would. He had callet
me his wife, and had told him agair
my suspicious about DR.. .Orman, an(
vowed to nurse him myself back to per
feet health. We had talked, too, o
going to Europe, and in the eagernes
and delight of our new plans, had wan
dered quite up to the little pine forest a
the top of the hill. ..
"Then noticed Alfred's excited con
dition, and saw also that we were goin(
to have a thunderstorm. There was al
empty log-hut not far away, and / urge(
| Alfred to try and reach it before tn,
storm broke. But he became suddenly
| like child in his terror, and it was on L
with the greatest difficulty / got hin
| within its shelter. a.lI..
s'As peal after peal of thunder crashet
above us, Alfred seemed to lose all con
| troll of himself, and, seriously offended
left him, nearly sobbing, in corner
and went and stood by myself in tn
open door. In the very height of tn
storm saw my father. DIR. Orman an,
three of our workmen coming through
the wood. They evidently suspectet
our sheltering place, for they came di
rectly toward it.
"'Alfred' 7 shouted DIR. Orman, in tn
tone of an angry master, where are yol
sirP Come here instantly
! my pettedness instantly vanished
and said: Doctor, you have no righ
to speak to Alfred in that way. He
going TO be my husband, and | shall no
permit 1t any more
go Miss Wakefield he answered, 'thi
Is sheer folly. Look there!'
II turned and saw Alfred crouchinl
in corner. completely paralyzed will
terror; and yet, when DR.. Orman spok
to him, he rose mechanically, as q do,
might follow his masters call.
80 am sorry, Miss Wakefield, to de
stroy your fine romance. Mr.. Alfre,
Compton is, as you perceive, not fit Il
marry any lady. In fact, am his
Keeper
"Oh. Aunt Phoebe! Surely he was no
lunatic!"
so they said, Julia. His frantic ter
ror was the only sign l saw OF it; bu
DIR. Orman told my father that he wa
at all times really dangerous, and tina
he was annually paid large sum I.
axe cnarge OF MIN, as ne became uncon
trollable in an asylum"
ibid you see him againP"
No. I found a little note In the rose
bush, saying that he was not mad; ths
he remembered my promise to be hi
wife, and would surely come some da
and claim me. But they left In thre
days, and Melissa. whose wedding ont
fit was curtailed in consequence. twitte
me very unkindly about my fine Graz
lover. II was little hard on me. 70
he was the only lover ever had. Me
lissa and Jane both married. and wen
West with their husbands; / lived o
at Ryelands, faded little old maid, ur
til my Uncle Joshua sent for me to com
to New York and keep his fine house 70
him. You know that he left me all b
had when he died, nearly two year
ago. Then l sent for you. i remen
bered my own lonely youth. and though
I would give you a fairer chanc
suntP"
"Of him. never. His eldest brcthe
died more than a wear AGO. L suppOs