The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-06-02

uouSeWorh WAS ull uOne, Lneb evening,
and she was in her own room, she set
ahrself diligently to work, writing out
en- advertisement-"Wanted situation"
"For 1 never can live in the same
house with the naughty beauty who has
stolen John Marden's love away from
me" she thought, with a cruel pang at
her heart.
So the lovely September days went
by, and the colored leaves began to fall,
and the nuts to drop softly in TIE woods
at night; and when October reigned il
royalty over hill and mountain, the
wedding-day drew near.
Tillie Kerr had been to visit the farm
house. A hard, hard day it was for
jamie when she came with her black silk
dress, with its fan-shsped train and
plumed Rubens hat, and white blonde
scarf, wrapped like fringe of sea.foam
around her neck, to criticise and find
fault, and stare in curious, listless
pride and care SO long.
''This hall is so ridicuIously narrow"
said the bride elect; land the idcs ,of
they make me think Of corkscrew r.
John Marden looked at the staircase,
down which he had been carried baby.
Il had never struck him as incongruous
before.
sand, OF course" ratified on Miss
Kerr, "you will have the partition be-
tween these two rooms taken down, and
an arohway put up2"
"Of course" echoed Squire Marden.
But he didn't know why he said it.
jamie was looking on, and there was q
painful look in her face. She was think
irg OF how poor Mary's corpse, crowned
with white flowers, had lain there so
short a time ago; how the dear old moth
or, whose memory jamie still so tenderly
revered, died in the sunny back-room,
just when the March snow. drops were
bursting through the frozen ground.
''Though I don't know" added the
bride, playing with the ivory top OF her
carved parasol, "but that it would really
be'cheaper in the end to pull the whole
thing down, and build something to
suit ones self exactly"
-. The house is overA.hunIrngrayely.
"Tbere is no other house in the country
so old
"Oh, horrid |" cried Matilda, recoiling
with little theatrical cry. "The idea
of living in house that is-a hundred
years old T.
And she laughed aud rustled away,
with her jet chains sparkling, her pres
ence leaving faint perfume behind her
of patchouly; and jamie had secretly
felt that, If she saw much more OF Miss
Kerr, she should learn TO hate her cor
daily.
The wedding evening came, and all
the country people, high and low, were
invited to participate in the festivities.
Mrs. Waller, from whose house the
bridal was TO be celebrated, had done
her best to give her friend what she
called "a tiptop wedding" The village
band was engaged; the walls were deck
ed with autumn leaves, scarlet berries
and cvergreent; the bridal-cake was
mountain Of snowy perfection; and the
old clergyman, in his robes, stood wait
kGAedH lSa'@sii "a pale frightened face,
to where the bridegroom stood, stalwart
and handsome, with his "best man" at
his side.
There's no use trying to hide mat.
ters any longer" said she, Historically
--"Tillie has gone Gone with Captain
Swedenborg She went riding with him
this afternoon, and I made sure she'd
come back. But she hasn't; and here's
the telegram from New York. Read it,
someone. / haven't the face to do it,"
Judge Toucey, who stood next to her,
put on his spectacles and leisurely Pc
rused the telegram:
"Good-by, everybodyp' 1t said eau
cidly. II am married to Captain
Swedenborg. and sail for Europe at
noon tomorrow. Every woman has
right to change her mind, and I have
changed mine. TILLIE SwEpESBoRa."
There was briei silence OF second
or two. and then Squire Marden spoke
out.
Changed her mind, has she 2" he
eaid in clesE riagipG Yq;f fA.sIia;f Q6 bel
n it is not to one bride. it shall be- to
another. Little JAMIE" to the pale girl
in the dove-colored silk dress, who stood
at his side, twill you take the place, in
my love and my home, which this heart
less woman has left vacant9 Will you
bp my vifeY"
To the day Of her death. jamie Lee
never knew exactly what she answered.
She only knew that she was gently led
to the brides place; that Squire Johns
strong hand held hers; that his clear
voice spoke the responses; that ahe
murmpred her share, feeling, all the
while, as il she were in dream.
But when the ceremony was over, and
the guests crowded around to offer their
congratulations, the mists all cleared
away from her heart and brain, the
tranquil light came back to her eye.
John Marden's wife What higher
happiness had life to offer to her ?
And when they were driving home,
ia the soft autumssl moonlight, she
looked wistfully into his face
John" said abe, ''are you sure that
You do not regret this sudden step OF
yours9 p
"Regret 1t, sweethearif" he said,
tenderly pressing her hand. "Regret
that have discovered ere it is too late,
that false, fair woman's crafty nature7
Regret that have found my sweet
guardian angel at last?'
And so the nine days wonder OF
Squire Marden's marriage died away.
Mrs. Captain Swedenborg never return.
ed from Europe-and JAMIE and her
husband live happily in the old farm
house, which never has been altered,
and never will be.
'It is good enough for u.s." says
Squire Marden, when people talk about
"modernizing' the place.
SIT is homel' jamie adds, softly.
Es0nr homar'