Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-04-23

be married in six months time, and she
was to go away with him to Brazil
where he had secured n government
appointment.
There seemed no need of the passion
ate protestations, the solemn oath ol
this fond lover: their truth was to be
tried. In the fifth month of their en-
gagement, Aunt Ruth-of whom Saidee
was the especial pet and protege was
thrown from her carriage and received
injuries which, though it was not be-
ieved they would prove fatal, left her
in very critical and ndapprehensives state.
True, the wedding-day was. named
and Wilfred must GO; true, there were
| loving hearts beside Saidee to care for
poor Aunt Ruth, but it seemed to her
tender nature most a crime TO leave
her, at least, until danger was positively
past. And when, one morning, the old
lady drew down the fair face TO hers,
and whispered, imploringly, You will
not leave me, pet, while there is doubt
of my getting wellP" she promised un-
besitatingly that she would not.
Perhaps if she had known Wilfred
Hare better, she could not have promised
so readily. But she knew him only as
the tender lover, the man who had
sworn that, come what would, no power
on earth should ever separate him from
her. 1t could be easily settled, she
thought; he, as she, would feel very sad
and disappointed, but he, as she, must
see the impossibility of her going now.
They could be married, and, as soon as
Aunt Ruth was decided out Of danger,
she would go to him..
All this in full trust and faith she con-
fided to Wilfred Hare. She was i'll pre-
pared for the reception her words met,
the imperious workings of this man s
will. What right had she, without con-
sulting him even, to make a promise to
any one that conficted with her own to
himP His love gave him the right to
command her; if she loved him she
would obey. She must marry him and
and go away with him, else their
present relations must cease.
In vain she pleaded her promise, her
tender affection for Ruth; he would
yield nothing to an old woman's whim.
So he remained imperious, persistent; /;
she troubled, yet hopeful, thinking that
finally he must yield, neither believing
that separation was possible when the
testing time should come.
Saidee strove to smile; she took up
her worsteds and continued sorting
them, as if thus to begin disciplining
herself for the burdens of her new life.
1t could not be otherwise, she thought
she could not break her promise to Aunt
Ruth, she could not leave her now. And
as Wilfred willed she must submit
Amid her pain arose sudden, keen
feeling of disappointment; it vanished
almost Immediately in realization that
was born from it.
&c | am so glad" she said, softly, "that
| am not one of those who think per-
tect object is necessary for loving; do
not think perfect object is test of love.
[ am not blind; Wilfred is very tyran-
nical, selfish, very, very unkind, but, as
never till to-day have | flu ly realized it,
so never has he been so dear to me-"
This realization awoke tender re
solve.
81 can never let him 60 away so; l
must prove to him how dear he is and
must ever be to me-"
From this came the tender note that
found its way next morning to Wilfred
Hare:
Il cannot let you go away, dear,
without one little word. know you
are angry with me, and l am very, very
unhappy, for never, since our engage
ment, have | loved you as to-day. My
little word is that | must always, always
love you, and that | will never marry
any man but Wilfred Hare. Perhaps
some day you will understand and for
give me, and then you will be glad TO
think of this"
Very sadly she dropped the tender
little note in the mail-box, very drearily
she went back the familiar road to her
home.
1t seemed but yesterday that she had
walked here with Wilfred, so happy
and confident. How sad and dark the
road seemed now So absorbed was
Saidee, that she did not see the man
walking ahead, who suddenly turned
and paused, as if awaiting her. She
started as she drew closer and perceived
him, her first impulse was to flee; she
shrank from the sad face that she felt
now was so like hers.
But it was too late. He had retraced
his steps to meet her, and was now
walking at her side.
Saidee," he said, softly, there are
not many days now. Do not send me
away from you
He made no effort to cloak his tender
ness, either in word or look. He had
loved her from the happy time when, as
children, they hid walked this road
together; she knew it, and it had once
been the great sorrow of her life that
she could not return this love.
Despite the sting of his words, there
awoke in her heart a pity for him, such
as she had never known before; wild,
regretful longing that she could mo-
have loved him; q sudden, strange
realization that she had wasted hel
affection, that this mans stanch, loya
heart was worth an hundred such al
Wilfred Hare's.
This last she battled quickly down
not so the pity or the longing
Strangely moved, scarcely KNOWN,
what she did, she placed her hand OF
his arm, and answered, gently:
There will be many, many days to
us to walk together, Mark |"
He could but have presentiment O
her meaning, so sadly earnest was he
tone.
"What do you say, Saideep" h
asked, with pity for her, and a joy h
could not repress mingling oddly in hi
look and tone.
THAT am not going to be married
Mark-that is, not yet awhile. Wilfre
is angry with me; but l must not tel
you'll do not know why so forget my
self. 1t is only that l am to stay wit
Aunt Ruth for the present that is al
Mark.
She truly said she did not know why
she felt very traitress thus openly I
!, blame Wilfred Hare. She did not rea
ize, poor Saidee! how pleasant Mar
, Vale's devotion had suddenly become
! her-how plain she was making this.
But he could not see. He walked G
, beside her silently, little dreaming
was aught to her to-day beyond whi