The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-08-27
keeping with her own youthful dreams.
One cold night In the middle of Janu-

keeping with her own youthful dreams.
ary they had talked over the old sub
iect until both fel. it to be exhausted
at least for that night. Julia drew
aside the heavy satin curtains, and
looking out, said: &C. 1t Is showing
heavily, aunt; tomorrow we can have
q sleigh ride. Why, there Is q sleigh at
our doorI Who can 1t beP A gentle
man, aunt, and he Is coming here" ERA
"Close the curtains. child. It is my
lawyer, Mr.. Howard. He promised to
call tonight" .y. ''il
"Oh, dearl 1 was hoping 1t was
some nice strange person."
Miss Phoebe did not answer; her
thoughts were far away. in fact, she
had talked about her old lover until
there had sprung up anew In her heart
a very sIrong sentimental affection for
his memory; and when the servant an
nounced q visitor on business, she rose
with sigh from her reflections, and
went into the receptioD-room. 3Hn
In afew minutes Julia heard her voice
In rapid, excited tones, and ere she could
decide to 20 to her or not, Aunt Phoebe
entered the room, holding by the hand
q gentleman whom she announced as
Mr.. Alfred Compton. Julia was disap-
pointed, to say the least. but she met
him with enthusiasm. Perhaps Aunt
Phoebe had quite unconsciously ma9ni4
ned the beauty Of the youthful Alfred |;
certainly this one was not handsome.
He was sixty at least, his fair, curling
locks had vanished, and his fine figure
was slightly bent. But the clear, sensi-
tive face remained, and he was dressed
with scrupulous care. nl-
The two women made much of him.
In half an hour Delmonico had fur
nished n delicious little banquet, aud
Alfred drank "te his promised wife
Miss Phoebe Wakefield, best and love.
hest of women" .
Miss Phoebe laughed, but she dearly
liked it; and hand in hand the two cid
lovers sat, while Alfred told his sed
little story of lifelong wrong and suffer-
ing; of an intensely nervous, self-con-
scious nature driven to extremity by
cruel usage and many wrongs. At the
mention of DIR. Orman Miss Phoebe ex-
pressed herself little bitterly.
MAY, Phebe," said Alfred; '' what
ever he was when my brother put me in
his care, he became my true friend. To
his skill and patience owe my restor-
alton to perfect health; and to his firm
advocacy of my right and ability to
manage my own estate owe the posi-
tion now hold, and my ability to come
and ask Phoebe to redeem her never-for-
gotten promise" 4t'. t..
Perhaps Julia got little tired of these
| old-fashioned lovers. but they never
tired of each other. Miss Phoebe was
not the least abashed by any contrast
between her ideal and her real Alfred,
and Alfred was never weary of assuring
her that he found her infinitely more
delightful and womanly than in the
days of their first courtship. Nf
She cannot even call them q silly or
foolish couple, or use any other reliev-
ing phrase Of that rider, for Miss Phoebe
or rather Mrs. Compton -resents any
word as applied to Mr.. Alfred Compton
that would imply less than supernatural
wisdom and intelligence. mo one bu
those who have known him as long as
have" she continually AYERS, "can pos
sibly estimate the superior infor matiol
and infallible Judgment of my husband.
-Harper's Weekly. aIH