The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1882-12-07

be sai down q, little distance. and lock.
el eolily At her.
And have too ask an explanation of
your condnct, said Eosamond, quietly
Isnpposs yoa refer 70 my absence for
THE past ten dsys' be replied have been
out Of town.
Inleedl | MAS not aware Of Il, she
said. Formerly you thought IL worth
while 10 tell me your movements. 10 write
to me when you were away. All that is
over now, II would saean. aud you are
changed. consequently you cannot com
plain II too am changed.
This is not At all the right way TO look
at the matter. be answered loftily. left
town because did not wish 70 see you for
the present. wished to mark my dis.
pleasure at your coninct, require ofyou
now to explain Why you suffered yourself
to walk in broad daylight leaning on an
other lnans arm, not evsn quitting your
hold when you saw me--Quite careless not
only Of public opinion, but Of mine.
He ceased, and sat very stifiy upright.
with his chin loftily In tfc air.
Rosamond looked at him thoughtfully
for moment, and when she spoke her
voice was very quiet and low.
Fred, she said. do not wish any fenc.
ing or playing about the true issue OF this
question. might. indeed. complain not
only Of your absence and your silence, and
your daring to approach me now, demand
ing an explanation in 20 decideda tone. l.
too might request You to explain several
things. might ask how you could allow
Yourself to treat with such his respect the
woman you have chosen for your wife,
and have professed to love; l might ask
how you, as gentleman. could have met
me that morning, trying with my girls
strength to support and help poor man
who had fallen in the street, and was faint
with pain, and not only pass without offer
ing assistance, but without even word, q
look.
II was Phil Blount, stammered Mr..
Boone. How should ! know he Lad hurt
himself?
How should you know. indeed2 Yes,
it was Philip Blount. hope il it had
been another man---a stranger, a beggar-
| should have tried to help him as best
might Perhaps in that case you v wouldn't
even have vouchsafed to bow to me.
certainly don't see, he replied, super
any necessity for young ladies to
beggars in the street. But il Phil
Blount had hurt himself, the case is diff
ferent; / accept the explanation.
! 10 evidently prepared to unbend but
sfie moved closer into the corner Of her
sofa and said No. Fred the case is differ
ent. / am the one to whom explanation
and apology are due, and apparently you
have none, 70 give. But as | said before,
lot us have no fencing. 1 am not speaking
IN anger. but in intense conviction. Could
be SO treated before marriage by man,
without having full time dnring his
absence and silence 10 think what lis real
disposition must be, what his proiessed
oye must amount to, what sort OF married
life must | expect to lead with him? And
| have thought of it all, with pain aud re-
5ret for the dissolving of my dream, but
gratitude that have walked in time. l
nave to say goodbye to you Fred--dear
Fred shall never call you by that name
lgain, but Iwish You would believe that !
peak with every kind and friendly feeling.
But we must not spoil each others life.
We don't suit You do not love me.
You're entirely mistaken, he interrupted
With some heat. / do love you. l have
,ften told you so Ii
Yes, SO you have. Perhaps you did lit
le-perhaps you do just now; but it won't
,urt you. Say goodbye, and part friends.
or indeed we never can be. anything
more.
And at the same hour OF the same day
Philip Blount was saying TO his beautiful
iancee: No. Mabel, you don't love me;
know it now. You allowed me to love
'ou, and fora time that was happiness
nough; but tits no longer. Your coldness
makes me miserable For all these long 4
lays have lain on my sofa, vainly hoping
or something more than the common
,lacc card ofinqniry you might have sent /
o an ordinary friend some comforting, ,
owing words. Even visit, many a girl i
sould mol have thought too much for the :
nan she intended to marry. Z
1t would not have been at all coareaaJh, /
etorted Mabel, coldly---hardly proper. /
iou are too restless. too eeigeaat. have d,
assured you, once for all, Of my .
egard have given you my promise; what I
more can yon ask? Il
ask 10 have it recalled. beautiful icicle.
aid Philip, bitterly The suffering will be
II mine, the blame all mine; the eclat OF ,
he rupture, il there is to be such thing I,
hall he yours. Dismiss me on any plan
-ou choose; never contradict you; but do
10 let us go on in this terrible mistake.
ion cannot love me-perhaps you cannot
owe at all And am maddened between
ny abortion for your beauty and my mis-
ry at you coldness. Let us each be free
Yes, said Mabel, with bitter look; fre
o send flowers to other girls. TO offer your
Irm in the street to ladies who may choose
o accep: So conspicuous attention.
Philip looked at her earnestly. You l
re speaking Of Miss vane. he said. Yes, J
he was most kind and helpful that morn.
ng. Bot, Mabel, dearest. Is it possible
hat any jealous feeling about her is at the .
'oot Of your cold manner TO meG For {
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