Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-02-09


help observing, and he appeared worthy Of
all the care and affection she had bestowed
on him.
The days passed on, and as we grew to
know each other well we were the best of
friends, we seemed to have been always
friends; there was such congeniality of
thought and feeling that word a look
even, from one seemed intuitively compre-
hended by the other.
How long this state of things lasted ] can
not tell. | took no note OF time; | was in
blissful dream, floating with the tide.
asked not whittier. But | was awakened.
Albert had gone to neighboring city on
some business of a financial nature for my
aunt, which he expected would detain him
week. The third day after he left us, the
postman left letter for me bearing the post
mark of Wardville. 1t was not in Hetty's
handwriting saw at glance, but in the
coarse, uncouth hand of an unettered man.
all unused to the pen. 1t was from old
"Uncle Abel" as we called him, the gard
ener, whom we had left on guard at home.
My old nurse had met an unlucky fall and
broken her arm, he wrote. and his wife was
taking care of her and the house, and begged
that would not curtail my visit on account
OF the accident, as Hetty was quite comfort
able now. This was the substance that |
deciphered from the hieroglyphics of the
old mans letter.
30, auntie, l must go home, and at once"
| exclaimed regretfully, as l at last made
out the fact of the accident.
"Is it really so bad as that, dear ?" ques-
toned my aunt, "your old nurse is really in
no danger, and no doubt Mrs. Abel will take
quite as good care of her as you could If you
were there, and you have been so long in
coming to me that am 10th to give you up"
40, wish could feel it right for me to
stay. You do not know how it wrings my
heart to leave you, but old Hetty will miss
me so, and l should lily requite her years of
devotion to me to leave her to the care of
strangers now. ] must go home tomorrow"
| said as firmly as | could, for the tears were
Just ready to overflow, and | ran out to the
garden to hide my emotion. | was pretty
thoroughly awakened by this time from
my rainbow-tinted dream, and understood
whittier l was drifting. None too soon,
thought, as / realized painfully that | was
leaving the best of my heart and life behind
me, and the future looked too dull and
dreary to be endured. And the shame and
agony felt, when | thought l had given
my heart unwooed, unsought, for Albert had
never spoken word of love to me it was
his tender sympathy and kind appreciation
that had won my love, his noble intellect
that commanded my worship.
| sank down on low seat in the arbor
and wept bitter tears of shame and despair.
| could not for moment suppose that one
so handsome, so gifted as Albert could ever
cherish any stronger feeling for one so in
significant as | than friendly interest and
regard, and | even wondered that he had be-
slowed as much as that on me. The sun
went down, the evening dew fell chilly
around me- but | needed it not / was
striving with myself for mastery over the al
most irresistible desire to stay yet little
longer, and look upon his dear face once
more before should bid it goodbye forever
A gentle touch upon my shoulder aroused
me. l raised my head and there stood Albert
beside me. | was completely overwhelmed
with shame and modification. My tear
swollen eyes, felt, betrayed me, or if they
did not, could not bid him goodbye with
out betraying myself. A moment before
and | was pleading with my heart to see
him once more, now | only wished to hide
myself from him.
mo bad news from that sweet sister Of
yours, hope?" he said, with real anxiety
in his look and tones.
"Oh no." | stammered, "not from her
but thought you miles away, Mr.. Morgan,
and you gave me such start"
Excuse my intrusion on your solitude.
| came home, having dispatched my business
sooner than ] anticipated, and not finding
you in the house, aunt directed me here,-
am intruding too much p he asked
ION no. onswered, al must soon have
gone in anyway, for | am to go home to-
morrow, and | have my trunk to pack
And why are you leaving us so sud-
denlyI Are suvh tiresumo company
that you weary Of us so soon 7" he de-
manded.
that" said hurriedly, " but my old nurse
has broken her arm and | must go home and
care for her."
$50 it is your old nurse who is to break
up our pleasant summers holiday; your
old nurse who would be Just as well tended
by some old crone, and dare say much bet
ter. Young ladies are not apt to be famed
as nurses" he said.
Well, am not at all famous in any di-
rection," answered, "but old Hetty would
imagine that the touch of my hand would
soothe her pain more than all the apotheca-
RVS medicine; she is just SO foolish and silly
| about me-"
"Not a very foolish notion that. i have
half mind to break my arm to try your
powers of healing myself. will if you will
promise to be as faithful in my service as
you are in that old nurses" he said, his
piercing eye scanning my own closely as he
spoke.
felt my cheek grow hot beneath his eye,
but answered with all the gaity could
assume.
"Don't break it just yet, beg of you
two patients at once would be rather trying
| to even my healing powers"
"Well, will not, them" he answered, re-
suming a more serious tone, at least not if
| can help it, but / am wondering how
many young ladies would give up their sum
mer's holiday to wait on an old servant?"
"Not many, perhaps, but remember am
not a young lady, am almost an old maid,
and have been used to caring for others
all my life," ! answered sturdily, determined
that he should not be deceived in thinking
Inc heroine, when | was only doing my
duty. And felt a sort of savage delight in
Furnishing myself for my foolish idolatry, by
making myself as disagreeable in his sight
as was in my own.
He laughed softly, then said, Well, here
is a different specimen of the gender femin
inc than / ever met before. You are the
first unmarried women / ever met who &C
knowledged herself anything but young but
| had before discovered that you were differ
emit from others OF your SEX"
This speech reused me.
Eyes, | am different" said, al was al
ways different from others. Other girl:
have parents TO love and care for them
| have had none for long years. Other girl.
have beauty, elegant manners and other at
tractive accomplishments. | am plain anC
homely and faded and unl0ved," | added
bitterly
He caught my hand and held it firmly il
his as he said in tender voice, You mis-
judge me, you mistake my meaning alto
gether, you are different TO me from all othe
women, because you are to me the most Low
able, the truest and best of all the world
You are not plain to me, in form or feature
and if you were, the wealth of your noble in
tellect and the treasure of your true and ten
der soul would make me forget it. | be
lieve you love me even as | love you, for II,
other woman can awaken the love in M,
heart that you have done, and | cannot be
lieve it would have been SO exercised j
there was no answering emotion in you
own soul. Speak, dearest, and tell me | an
!, not deceived"
But could not speak for tears He di,
not urge me- but soothed me with tende
, caresses until was quiet.
Did hurt you 80 cruelty, my love ?" h
asked
80 no, no." answered at last. "Thes
, are the happiest tears | ever shed. | almos