Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-10-06

cruel, very wicked-but remember I was
young aud inexperienced. oh, Frank, won't
you forgive me won't you give me back
what you offered me once and | threw away
so blindly2 You we're willing
then TO take my worthless self, now offer
you my worthless self and all / have"
Frank Quornham sprang TO his feet, the
delicate nostrils quivering, the pale cheek
glowing for an instant with pink flush.
Minnie Pierrepoint too, had risen, and
stood exactly facing him but when she saw
that swift action Of his she came nearer and
looked up into his eyes sudden thrill of
pain and dread, and joy passed through her
she spoke quickly, to stay the words on
his lips:
Frank, dear, can't help being rich p
She stood with flushed, uplifted face, and
extended hands her breath came and went I;
there was half-smie on her parted lips,
and great tear gathered in her eyes, which
rolled down her cheek
Frank Quornham did not hesitate the
flush had faded from his cheek, his whole
face was white, even to the lips but there
was no faltering in the low deliberate voice :
Mrs. Pierrepoint," he said, "let there be
no misunderstanding between US. hope
should not be guilty Of that form Of coward
ice which sacrifices the happiness Of two
lives out Of fear of the worlds judgment.
But there is barrier between us greater
than any difference of station could have
raised up. Once trusted in you, believed
| in you, was ready to shape my life for you.
By your own act you destroyed that faith /;
of faith in other things, which you nearly
| destroyed, | will not speak. I am deeply
grieved that this should have happened.
can appreciate the generosity of your offer,
but | cannot accept it."
She stood like a statue before him, her
hands still extended, her face uplifted toward
him. She felt as il some one were stabbing
her, and her heart-blood was flowing, drop
| by drop, as she stood.
He had spoken quite gently, quite imper-
sonally but the scorn, whose expression he
had been so careful to repress in voice and
words, seemed conveyed to her with all the
more force by some subter means; she felt
paralysed by it, suddenly her own acts and
motives stood before her in all their miser-
able smallness, she seemed to feel dimly at
something greater and nobler, to see a great
gulf stretching between herself and this
man, gulf never to be spanned.
When Frank ceased speaking, there was a
pause; he stood with head thrown back, and
eyes fixed straight before him Minnie's arms
dropped nervelessly to her side, her head fell
on her bosom, she made a few steps to the
door; Frank came forward aud held it open
for her as she passed through the folds of
her dress touched him, and she felt his breath
on her forehead in the narrow doorway, but
she did not look up.
Back, back through dirty, crowded streets,
to stately mansions and pleasant parks.
For ever and for ever She had received
her sentence, and there was no reprieve-a
relentless though impllpable force held them
apart there was no hope.
She could see the long years stretching be-
fore her. and for the first time she realized
what she had forfeited, and her heart sick
ened as she came within sight of her great
house, and thought of the emptiness OF all
her splendor and her wealth without love-
Temple Bar.