The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-11-15

own secret ny former hashfnlness n
turned with tsnfoli intensity and foun
myself often embarrassed in her prcsencs
while At the thought Of telling me be
hearts story. though my brain was smi,te
through with dazzling delight At th
dream OF sucoessiul wooing, yet ! was
overwhelmed that utterance would, ! VA
sure. be IN impossibility,
Aud Mabel? Her cyss were very kim
to me. They turned 10 me with soitene'
lusire that thrilled me with hope. and ye
| il l attempted even a compliment,
blushed. noundered and was lost
One evening wo were talking Of all man
nor OF subjects, from grave TO gay, and st
sirayed TO marriage in general and espec'
tally to the matrimonial lot cf some Of oul
friends.
"You remember Boyd. don't you, HIP
asked Tom.
"Tsll. bashiul fellow like ms?" said.
Yes" replied Tom. laughing. "He
married Miss Cutting, our former school.
teacher Ialways thought she proposed
TO him.
Sensible girl, / exclaimed. / think
il is positively womans duty sometimes
to help man ont You rsmsmhsr that
little book OF the late Dr. Horace Bush.
nell, published some years ago. called, "A
Reform against Nature? In it he de.
nounced the whole woman's rights move
ment, but maintained that every woman
ought to have the right to propose marri-
age to the man she liked. l think he was
scientifically correct.
Ispoks with great eagerness, looking
always at Tom, bn. at tho last word my
glance turned TO Mabel. Her eyes were
hXed on mine aud the look ! met there
sent the blood to my heart with such tn
multuous rush that l grew faint with con-
fusion and presently rushed out Of the
room and to bed-tbough not to sleep.
Tho next day | went out in the afternoon
by myself for scramble through damp,
very rough gorge where Tom and Mabel
did not caro- to accompany me. l was half
glad to be alone, for was nervous over
my audacity Of tho night before; yet at
thought of Mabel's kindly eyes l was so
overwhelmed with binding happiness that
| had to look many times at bit OF rock
before could sea the strie that denoted
glacial action.
1t was late sunset when / reached the
nm. The last iosy light was flushing the
distant mountain peaks with that marvel
ous beauty which is one OF the wondrous
,hsrms Of Swiss scenery. 1 made my way
pause to Mabel's parlor, led there
BY force that seemed to draw me by .
power beyond my control. The room was
quite dusk and she was alone As en-
cred. she came towards me with quanti-
y Of papers and letters in her hands.
These cAme whileyou were away" she
aid
Mechanically / took the papers. Among
liem was . large package, on which
limly discerned the word. Due" fol-
owed by an illegible stamp
"You have paid something on this" /
'aid; show much was it?' and looked up.
Postage not stated, replied Mabel.
Promptly, smilingly she uttered the
words.
Then her dark eyes softened and fal.
cred The papers and letters were scat
sered over the floor ! had caught her in
ny arms with all the audacity that had
,nce before been mine in my boyish days.
Only now, a. ! pressed passionate kia.
,es on her brow and lips found voico to
utter the yearning that was consuming my
heart. - Dio Leuis' Monttiy.