Litchfield enquirer., 1881-03-10

Daugnter Allce, nave received prope- sition of marriage for you from worthy gen.
 tleman, not as think quite disagreeable to you. Indeed it is the son of our friend within there"
 "Master Southworth !" exclaimed AL | Ice.
 'Yes. His son Edward asks your hand,
 dear child. What is your answer ?" ''Yes"
 The father turned in some surprise. and 1 looked into his daughters face It was white
 and rigid almost as death My daughter, there is no need for such in-
 stant consent unless you are quite sure of your own mind. had thought that Master Bradford"
 ''Do not mention that person if it pleases
 you Sir. like Edward Southworth passing | we'll. He is brave gentleman. and courte-
 ous, and, please you, dear father, go and tell l your friend that say yes, and excuse me for
 tonight. Good cen, father" ''Good cen, little maid; wait one moment before you run away. It is but right that l you should know that have nearly settled
 my mind to sell all that have, and cast my fortunes with our brethren in Holland. It was for that 1 went to London so often in the
 last month, while worshipful Elder Brewster
 and his associates were there If do this,
 and you wed with Edward Southworth, who | abides in London, we must be parted, my
 little girl-we two who have never been part ed yet" ''Oh, father!" and Alice clinging about her 1 fathers neck, weDt piteously wept for the ap
 preaching separation, and wept for the death
 of her young love dream, and yet never way
 cred in her desperate determination.
 ''Oh, father, father p sobbed she. and then
 -''but you will have my sister Mary le ,and
 never could abide in Holland" sSTt will mt he Eko tbiS trnlxz oDd tba
 man looked round upon the pleasant garden
 where he had played in childhood, where he | had wooed his sweet young wife, where he l had wandered seeking comfort for her early
 death and where he had thought to watch his
 own day draw to it's close | Not like this, but 'Whoso loveth house or
 lands better than melt is daily borne in
 upon my mind that must go, Alice and for
 myself 1 grudge not the sacrifice; nor for
 Mary. who is but a child but if you shrink | from the toll and privation, or if your con-
 science does not bid you go sweet one, here is
 an honorable escape. What say you?''
 ''1 will never go to Holland, father. And | if Edward Southworth cares to marry me he
 may"
 | She was gone, and her father looking after | her in wonder and some doubt, could only | say, ''What man so wise as to read woman's
 heart But yet it was consent, and as such l must repeat.it."
 Six months later Thomas Carpenter, with his daughter Mary, arrived at Leyden, and | among his first guests was William Brad ford, who, with pale lips, and high-throb- l ping heart, inquired of him for news of his l daughter Alice. ''Alice? She welded with Edward South
 worth the morning that sailed from South ampton, replied the father, careessly, for al- | ready he had forgotten dim suspicion form | ed by the strange manner of the girl at the
 time of her betrotha], and Bradford had never | opened his mind to him. u.-DoRoTHY MAY. | From the house of Father Robinson, the
 pastor of the struggling community at Leyden
 and with whom Master Carpenter was at
 present lodged, William Bradford returned to
 bis own abode in family of the name of
 May. In the little parlor sat young girl
 spinning flax upon small wheel, who at his
 entrance glanced up, blushing brightly.
 ''So soon returned, Wiliam" said she, | shyly. "Did not you find your friends p | 'Yes-and no," repliedthe young man, tos-
 sing his hat upon the table, and throwing
 himself upon the high backed settle beside the | ire.
 '''Yes ard no!" You speak in riddles,
 friend" said the girl, her bright color fading
 as quickly as it had come. Have you any
 ill news from homer"
 ''No, Dorothy, no i'll news; no news at all | to man who knows what women are only l tidings that one whom I thought my own has | given herself to another man. and, I dare to say, were the whole truth known, cares
 pought for either of us. | And as he spoke he folded his arms upon
 the end of the settle, and bowed his face | upon them, careless whether she who watch | ed perceived the emotion he could no longer | conceal.
 A few moments passed in utter silence, and l then light foot crossed the floor, hestating
 hand was laid upon his head and a girllsh form sank upon it's knees beside him. "William, dear William ?" said Dorothy | Mays soft voice; ''all women are not like
 that"
 "What care whether they be or not ?" And the young man ground something worse than
 sob between his clenched teeth. | Another pause and then again the timid voice:
 May, William, do not scorn all because
 one is false, for that is neither just nor kind
 to yourself"
 'I do not scorn you, Dorothy You are | good and kind, and will. doubt not, some
 day be true to the man who wins your love; | but she" 1uueeu l WOulu D0 true, F1Q the man Hove love me, sighed the girl her head sinking so
 low as to hide the glowing color of her cheeks. | William Bradford listened took counsel of his own heart; nay. then. of his wounded pride and love, if you will have the truth then sat upright and placed his hand beneath the chin
 of that rosy face, raising it to level with his | own. And you love man who loves not you,
 fair Mistress Dorothy?" asked he at length. ''To my shame be it spoken" Nay, to the honor of thy tender humble
 heart. And wouldst thou wed that man,
 knowing that he had loved another woman l passing well and that the wound was not | wholly healed p
 Il would wed him, and try to heal the
 wound with my own love-" whispered the
 girl.
 Dorothy, am that man?" 'None other."
 And thou wilt be my wife ?"
 "A true and loving one, so surely as God gives me strength and life." ''So be it." And again the young man rais- ed the blushing face and kissed the trembling
 lips, It was a strange betrothal most un l wise one-for human love is at best but a feeble staff to support one ever lfe's rough places and, weakened as this was, ah, who could not have forseen the end? But Dorothy Mays widowed mother saw | only comfort and satisfaction in the gaining a
 husband for her child, of so we'll esteemed l character and so fair worldly prospects, not to
 mention the setting at rest suspicion which
 had for some time haunted the good dame's
 mind, connecting Dorothy's pale cheeks, lag giug step, and fearful eyes, with William Bradford's attention or neglect. So all was arranged without difficulty on the one side or the other: and the second let ter that Master Carpenter sent home to his daughter Alice announced the marriage of her
 sometimes playmate. William Bradford to
 very worthy and also comedy young woman,
 Dorothy May by name. :" uL-MISTREss ALICE sOUTHWoRTH. When Mistress Southworth read this letter in the dim, vast chamber of her pew home in tDuks Place Hanaara Ho,,sa ,,