The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-02-25

ciety, and (worro still) threatened with
that medical advice' in which my poor
dear mother believes so implicitly. I
wish you would hire me as your com.
psnion,' and let me stay here for the
rest of my life"
Lady Lorings bright face became
grave while S.slla was speaking.
"My DEAR" she said, kindly, "Iknow
well how you love retirement, and how
differently you think and feel from other
young women Of your age. And 1 am
far from forgetting what sad circum-
stances have encouraged the natural
bent of your dispo dtion. But, since
you have been staying with me this time
Isee something in You which my init.
mate knowledge of your character fails
to explain. We have been friends since
We were together at school, and, in those
old days, we never had any secrets from
each other. You are feeling some anx-
fety, or brooding over some sorrow, of
which know nothing. 1 don't ask for
your confidence; I only tell you what
have noticed, and I say with all my
heart, Stella, I am sorry for yon."
She rose, aud with intuitive delicacy,
changed the subject. "I am going out
earlier than usual this morning." abe
resumed. "Is there anything I can do
Tor your She laid her hand tenderiy
on Stella's shoulder. waiting for the No
ply. Stella lifted the hand, and kissed
II with passionate tenderness.
"Don't think me ungrateful," she
said; 81 am only ashamed" Her head
sank on her bosom; she burst into tears.
Lady Loring waited by her in silence.
She we'll knew the girls self contained
nature. always shrinking, except in
moments of violent emotion, from the
outward betrayal OF its trials and its
sufierings to others. The true depth Of
feeling which is marked by this inbred
modesty is most frequently found In
men. Tho few women who possess IL
are without the communicative consola-
tions of the feminine heart. They are
the noblest, and bat too often the un-
happiest Of their sex.
"Will you wait little before you 20
ont p Stella asked, softly. She had
conquered her tears, but her head still
| dropped while she spoke.
Lady Loring silently returned to the
chair that she had left--hesitated for q
moment-and then drew it nearer to
Stella. "Shsll I sit by you p she said.
"Close by me. You spoke Of our
school days just now, Adelaide. There
was some difference between us. OF all
the girls, I was the youngest-and you
were the eldest, a nser,yfths eldest, /
thinkr ~ :.
"Quite the eldest, my dear. There
Is q difference of ten years between US.
But why do you go back to thatT
"Its only recollection. My father
was alive then. was at first homesick
and frightened in the strange place,
among the big girls You used to let
me hide my face on your shoulder and
tell me stories. May hide in the old
way and tell my story?'
She was now the calmest OF the two.
The elder woman turned a little pale,
and looked down in silent anxiety at
tho darkly beautiful head shat rested on
her shoulder.
"After such an experience as mine has
been," said Stella, "would you think it
possible that l could ever again feel my
heart troubled by ,nan--and that man
stranger"
"My dear think it quite possible.
You are only now in your twenty-thlrd
year. You were innocent OF all blame.
at that wretched bygone time which
You ought never to speak of again. Love
and be happy, Stella-if you can only
find the man who is worthy Of you. But
you frighten me when you speak Of
stranger Where did you meet him?'
"On our way back from Paris"
Travelling in the same carriage with
you"
"No-it was in crossing the channel.
There were very few travellers in the
steamboat or might never have noticed
him"
"Did he speak to your"
"He never even looked at me-"
"That doesn't say much for his taste,
Stella"
"You don't understand mean
have not explained myself properly.
He was leaning on the arm of friend |;
posed, by some long and dreadful ILL
ness. There was an angelic sweetness
in his face-such patience such resis-
nation For heavens sake keep my
secret. One hears Of men falling in love
with women at first sight But woman
who looks at a man, and feels-oh, it's
shameful | I could scarcely take my eyes
of him. II he had looked at me in re-
turn, don't know what should have
done-I burn when ] think Of il. He
was absorbed i hin suffering and HIS
sorrow. My last look at his beautiful
face was on the pier. before they took
me away. The perfect image Of him
has been In my heart ever since. In my
dreams. see him as plainly as I see you
now. Don't despise me. Adelaide !"
! "My dear. you interest me indescrib-
ably. Do you suppose he was in our
rank OF life? I mean. of course. did he
look like gentleman
, "Thsre could be no doubt Of it."
i. "Do try to describe him, Stella.
d Was he tall and we'll dressed2"
, ''Neither tall nor short-rathar thin
quiet and graceful in all his movements
dressed plainly, In perfect taste.
How can ] describe himf When his
TREND brought him on board. he stood
u the side Of the vessel looking oui