The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-12-09

But poor Hetty, since her father died
bankrupt, had experienced enough of
poverty's ills, and heard enough from
hor mother and sisters to learn to look
upon riches as the key that could open
to her the golden store of life's pleas
ures.
Lloyd could give her comfortan COM
petence, but as Mrs. Frisbee she could
have an elegant city residence, carriage
and servants, balls in winter and water
lng-places In summer, with everything
else that she might desire.
Not that she was light and frivolous,
or longed for more worldly pleasures;
but for the time being the picture had
dazzled her, and ini her present angry
and resentful mood against Lloyd, what
wonder that she listened to all that Mr..
Frisbee had to say, and before she
reached homo had accepted the rich
widower's proposal?
And yet somehow Hetty felt in her
own heart that this was the most miser-
able evening she had ever spent.
As the days went by Hetty grew no
happier in the contemplation of her
brilliant prospects. She turned with
species of loathing from the man she
had promised to wed, and her heart
went out more and more to the lover
whom she had discarded.
They sometimes met, but he was dis
tant and proud, and it was not for her
to make advances. So she decided 10
let her engagement become publicly
known, and one day went over to Mrs.
Sutton's and asked Sue Sutton, Boyds
cousin, to be her bridemaid.
"You ought hardly to expect it of
me, Hetty," Sue said, with some spirit.
81 think you have treated Lloyd badly"
"How so2"
"Because know he loved you, and
used to think you loved him. You
certainly did behave in manner to en-
courage him."
"Perhaps We were mistaken in fancy
ing that we loved each other"
eff you were mistaken, Lloyd wasn't.
have never seen q person so changed
and unhappy" said Sue, with tears in
her eyes.
"He didn't appear to be unhappy
last evening, flirting with Josephine
Willis"
"Oh, that was merely put on! She
hirted with him and he humored her, IS
blind. know Loyd-how proud he
is, and that he would never allow any
one to suspect how he suffers. But
when we ell came home from the party
where he had heard from Mrs. Carter
that you were really engaged to that
Mr.. Frisbee-oh, Hetty, he looked so
wretchedly, and we heard him walking
up and down his room for hours, and
tossing about on his bed! I'm certain
he couldn't have slept wink all night"
"Where is he now?" asked Hetty, o
little tremulous.
"I don't know. He went out before
breakfast. and haven't seen him since.
I believe his heart is broken, and that
take his own life" said Sue, with tears
in her eyes. rand he had been look
ing at your portrait, Hetty, for found
it on his table, propped up against
book"
my pOrtrait' Why, he sent it back
"Did he? Then this must be copy.
Wait a moment, and I will get it for
you to see."
She was hardly out of tho room,
when Hetty heard well-known step in
the hall, and the next moment Lloyd
himself entered. Instinotively she had
drawn back, and the great bookcase
screened her from his view. He did
not, however, look around, but throw
ing himself in a chair. leaned back with
closed eyes, and seeing him thus she
was struck with the change in his APP
pearance. His face was pale and bore
unmistakable traces of suffering, re-
pressed by the strong will which she
knew he possessed. But now, alone as
he thought himself, the strain seemed
relaxed. He bowed his face in his
hands and groaned.
Hetty's heart beat fast and the tears
rushed into her eyes. Oh, if he would
but bend from that stubborn pride, she
would give up Mr.. Frisbee, wealth,
everything in the world, for his sake
But for her to make advances-neverl
Lloyd rose from his seat, and walked
across the room to the bookcase. Het-
ty shrank more closely into her corner,
and the high-backed armchair hid her.
She heard him rummRging about behind
the books on the shelves, end then she
saw his arm extended to- the light,
holding up two glass vials. So near was
she that she distinctly read the labels,
one of which was "Laudanum." This
he thrust into his breast-pocket and
seizing his hat, turned to leave the
room. But at the door he paused,
went back to the table, and scratching
a few hurried lines on sheet of paper,
left it lying open and went out.
Hetty, almost as pale as her lover,
instantly sprang up, and seizing the
paper glanced over it, murmuring
brokenly as she read
"DRAR MOTHER: Can no longer beas-
agony-seek relief-home tell Johnny-take
good care of you-go before you meot you
| In"
Hetty was trembling all over; but
now great light, as il sudden re.
solve, dawned upon her pale face, and
without O pause she rushed from the
room, crossed the lawn, and with light,
swift steps followed the retreRting
figure down the road. She overlook
him ust as he turned the elump OF
cedars near tho stables. Was it there
that he designed to commit the terrible
deedp
Lloyd turned on hearing her breath
lessly call his name. He looked good
deal surprised at seeing her--no longer
pale, but flushed and with disordered
curls hanging about her forehead.
"Oh, Lloyd, don't do It'll For my
sake, don't |"
"Hetty, what ails your Don't do
what p
"You know; you didn't see me, but
was in the room when you took tho
the poison-the laudGnum. Oh, Lloyd,
don't kill yourself-don't~
He looked at her steadily, With a
curious working of bis countenance.
"Why should l not? You would
not care" he said, gloomilY.
"Indeed indeed L shnnld r eha