The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-10-15

another"
Stay, stay Adelaider' he cried,
grasping both her hands. Have
mercy, if not on me, mt least on your
self. Think what you are doing. You
are scorning love which, though mine.
is pure as ever woman won--a love ]
never knew l possessed until your
beauty first dazzled my senses. have
been reckless maxwell, perhaps, a
bad man-but you can mold me to your
will; you can form n nature which is
moi all depraved into something worthy
of woman's hand"
And yet cannot love you," she re-
piled.
There is no personal sacrifice ]
would not make Tor your sake" said
he. There is no deed of daring l
would not accomplish, if such deed
would give you moments happiness.
| would toll night and day for your
sake, If need be; watch over your COM
fort with the eye of fond husband and
a jealous lover. 1 would love you as
woman never was owed; ! would cher
isl you as never before woman was
cherished. Oh, Adelaide, think what
it is to cast away such a strength of
affection as offer youl"
Grantly Thornby's face was of an
asben paleness; great drops of agony
stood upon his brow, and his lip trem-
bled with the intensity of his emotion.
"Is there no hopeP" he asked at
length, finding Adelaide disinclined to
continue the conversation.
None, alas, none" she replied.
Thornby passed his hand over his
brow once or twice, as if trying to con-
troll some wild thought. " Enough,
enough" SAID he. " No kindness will
win, no devotion move you You will
be my wife, no earthly power can
prevent that. You will hear no mere
of love which has been met with
scorn. If you think it degrading to be
loved by me, cannot help it-I would
not help it if could. / have told you
| never loved woman before; my life
has been too busy, my thoughts too
much aborbed in the pursuit of happi-
ness; but it is past; be at ease, for it is
the last time ever intrude my unwel-
come, my mad passion of love upon
your notice"
He wrung her hand, and would have
left the room, but Adelaide detained
him. "You say truly" said she; mo
earthly power can prevent my being
your wife. | know my duty. You
will trust to my honor, you will feel
that however my mind may be filed
with another's image. my life will be
pure and sacred to you as if the union
of our hands had been as well union of
our hearts. You will remember this P"
He pressed her hands and turned
quickly away. Adelaide caught one
glance of his face as he left the room,
and saw what she never thought to have
seen-the glittering of tears in his eyes
not used to melting soItncss. Her heart
panied her for having caused even a
moments suffering. How mortified
he must have been," she thought, "to
have been so decidedly rejected"
But how could she help itp She had
looked for no such tender, passionate
appeal to her feelings; hitherto his
wooings had been in bitter, burning
words-worGs speaking more of a de-
sire TO triumph over her will than her
affection. She was beginning to pity
him, and pity leads onward to love.
Had he been no suitor for her hand she
would long ago have admired him.
His indomitable power of character, his
rock like determination, his str, ng, un-
conquerable will, were merits which
under other circumstances could not
have failed in striking her woman's
eye.
Women like strength in a man far
more than beauty-it appeals to their
dependence; and no greater cont asst
could possibly be made than existed be-
tween the persons of Grantly Thornby
and William Beckett. The first, muscu-
lar in person, some would say almost to
roughness; but that could never be.
Mr.. Thornby was gentleman, and
what would have seemed heavy and
uuweilding in some, sat upon him with
n glance which only well-bred man of
the world could acquire. The other,
effeminate TO the last degree-pretty,
soft, womanly features; soft, white,
lady hand. tender blue eyes; light hair,
lying in little rings around n forehead
which looked as if the sun had never
shone upon it; delicate, slender frame,
tapering off with foot that Cinderella
might have envied, and you have the
picture of William Beckett.
Adelaide was thinking OF it now, and
contrasting it with the sturdy form, the
bold features, the large piercing eyes OF
Grantly Thornby. She was thinking, too,
she wished William had little more
manliness about him-at least enough
TO make some extrtion for a livelihood.
She looked very pretty sitting upon
the sofa, in deep thought, her fair hair
falling in waves over her shoulders,
her dimpled chin resting in her small
white palm, her eyes full of gentle, ten
der light, awakened there by her
woman's pity for an unloved man.
Sweet Adelaide! her thoughts were
taking strangely foreign shape, when
the entrance of her mother aroused all
the antagonism of Ter nature, and sent
her pleasant images flying TO the four
winds of heaven.
"Wellr' said that amiable lady,
looking steadily at Adelaide.
You have succeeded, "said Adelaide
81 have given my word, and now let me
have peace. I've no more to do with it.
Make whatever arrangements you
please, let the sacrifice be complete,
only give me peace"
The mother turned to reply, but
Adelaide had LETT the room.
IL WAS now in the middle of July. and
twas settled that they were TO be married
in the ct ming October, that golden
month of the year. Adelaide expert.
enced no regret, nor in fact seemed tC
take the smallest interest in the pro
gress of affairs. Mr.. Thornby was con
slant in his visits, but no common ac
quaintance could have been more re
served or respectful. No word OF low
ever passed his lips, no pressure OF hant
denoted his claim upon that little pro
perty, yet even Adelaide could not hell
noticing that his face in growing
graver was also growing paler; still
her nature revolted against the enor
nifty of forcing her into a marriage re
pugnant TO her feelings. Had he beel
In love with any one else, no hand woul'
have been sooner outstIetched in sym
pathy and coincidence. AS it was, sh
pitied him, and really began to exer
herself to Danish something OF til
gloom which surrounded his life. !"
wasn't his fault" she would think
latter all; he couldn't help it, poor fel
low, and as am to be his wife, | ma
as well try TO be agreeable"
From that day tine scene changed Z
tho dwelling of Mrs. Fairfax. 1t wa
an old rambling country mansion !
which they resided. and Mr.. Tnornby
estate Joined theirs. Flowers grew a
about in the greatest proiusion, an
there was large sheet of water Jul
upon the verge OF the wood where II
lazy water lilies lay with their whii
leaves all the long summer. To tn
spot Adelaide and Mr.. Thornby made
daily pilgrimage. Adelaide was astoi