The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-09-29
MIDDLEBURY. VT, SEPTEMBER 80, 1882.

when he left herr One day he asked
her.
"Wil YOU miss me when l am gone?
Positively, next week, must go back
to the city"
eyes, shall miss you," she replied,
and he noted that her cheek was color
less.
1t smote him with quick, contrite
pain.
al had best go now," he said. "Lea,
in all my life never so longed to be a
rich man, that might let my lips say
what my heart has already said"
"Indeedl" she answered.
The cold, cutting infection of the one
word, repeated now, recalled TO him
the first time she had answered him.
1t almost maddened him.
"Lea," he said, in sudden impulse,
Il io'v yvu. BE my wifel"
"I said that L would like to see you
tried" she murmured.
He threw her hand from him.
"You have been but trying an eX-
pertinent, thcn-making my heart your
toy?"
"Nol IL think l care for you
little; but You are carried away by i'm
pulse, and a momentary infatuation.
You would regret this, later. Remem-
ber your pride of birth your need of
fortune"
"You would grace throne, my
darling, let alone the poor home
soldier can offer you. But you shall
never want for anything my means can
give you. Oh, Lea, how poor a fellow
| was to talk Of sacrifice. Nothing
could be sacrifice which was for your
dear sakel Will you marry me, dar-
ling, and make me the proudest, happi-
est man on the face of the broad earth?'
II VIII promise nothlng," she an
swered, gravely; "and | insist that
you consider yourself in no wise bound
by honor to repeat those words. Let
us part for six months. If at the end
Of that time you still love me, come
and tell me So"
"SiX months?' he exclaimed, impa-
tiently. "Six eterniticsl Lea, this is
cruel"
But she stood firm.
81 will pnt them to good use, then,
dearest" he replied; Gin paying of
old debts, and making no new ones.
But, meantime, you will write mc?'
"Not a word, not line. | wish the
lesson, in memory or forgctfulness, to
be complete"
"Rcmcmber, theu that in December
next | come to claim my Christmas
gift"
would say; and thus they parted.
To Jack Loring they were the longest
SIX mouths he had ever passed. With
each day, each hour, he loved better
this wild-hower he had discovered and
culleu IVr Ills own. Snc mad the charm
of nature and the refinement of art
He loved her with depth and passion
surprising to himself.
The snow was piled high on the
mountains when he returned to them
but the birds were singing in his heart
as he mounted the hill and knocked on
Farmer Silas' door. Lea herself OPEN
ed it. How beautiful she looked! but
he.noted, in some surprise, that she
wore costume of dark green vclver,
bordercd with ich fur He had never
seen her before except in the simplest
gowns.
"Lea," he said, II have come" and
nmu am ready, she answered,
and hid hrr face upon his breast.
"Iou are sure quite sure you are NOT
making a mistaken" shc asked, little
later.
lie silenced her with kiss.
"Iou are eXtravagant, little one,' he
said, pointing to her dress. "Fm afraid
Wen have to make it last long time.
Where do you get your wonderful style,
Lear No matter what you wear, your
dresses look models of Partisan art"
81 always import them" she answer
ed, demurely and then both laughed.
That day, standing in Uncle Silas'
parlor, they were married by the village
clergyman. just after the ceremony,
before they started away, Lea put into
her husbands hands a paper.
at is my Christmas gift TO you," she
said.
"What do you mean darling? You
have give me the sweetest of all gifts"
"But this comes with me-" she in
sisted.
Then Jack unfolded it. 1t was a
legal document, setting forth in legal
phrase Jack Loring's legal claim to
draw, with equal right an interest with
Lea Loring, his wife, all income deriv-
ed from an estate valued at half a mil
lion to Lea Danemore, by will of her
deceased father, in her own right.
The man turned deadly white, but
two soft, clinging arms crept about his
neck.
"You won't love me less because |
am an heircss? she said. at will be so
much nicer to come to you for what |
want. only meant to try an expert
ment, Jack, hut found it worked two
ways. You know Uncle Silas aud Aunt
Hannah are no relations in reality OF
mine. But the summer after papa's
death l was very III, and came here for
quiet, and learned to love il SO that
this Vear I cana hack This j. all