St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-04-06

NlSltOr TO her nome III q frame OF mind
not the sweetest.
A week went by; but, try how l
would, | could not get that cursed
china out of my head, or resign myself
to the disappointment. | found myself
growing worse instead of better, and as
| fancied my health was beginning to
suffer | determined to run down to
| Brighton in the hope of distraction.
| The weather was fine; | metz several
| pleasant friends there, and after a day
or two began to think that in time l
might conquer the absurd craving for
what could not be mine. But even as
L was cOngratulating myself on the
partial discovery of my senses,
dreamed a dream so horrible that fell
back into my former unhealthy state of
mind. | dreamed that Miss CrOftOn's
maid, a red checked, rough figured
lass, had broken two of the cups.
saw her do it, and suffered agOnies from
the sight; also, to make matters worse,
she put the precious fragments (which
might have been cemented) in her dust
pan, with the intention of throwing
them away. | really think the greatest
feeling of pleasure | had known for
/
was only dream.
| hurried back to town the same day.
| felt | could endure the uncertainty,
the anxiety, no longer, and that to OBJ
tain my desire, any sacrifices l could
make must be made so-don't laugh
too much was resolved on my return
to ask Miss Crofton to become Mrs.
Headley and then upon the day of our
marriage the severed set would be
reunited. True, she must be some
where about fifty, while was Just thir-
ty ; but from what had seen of her |
believed she was very worthy wo-
man ; and, anyway, the china would be
] mine.
You will scarcely credit it, but | car
ried out my resolution. Two days later
was at the fair spinster's side, be-
seeching her to be my wife. | could
not bring myself to profess sudden
passion for her, but | told her was
tired of living alone, and asked her to
share my lot. | said was well-to-do
in the world, and promised to try and
make her future life happy one, and
as, while speaking, my eyes rested on
the four cuns and saucers, the cream
jug, and the two dishes, L no doubt
pleaded with show of fervOr which
must have considerably puzzled the
good lady. Like a sensible woman she
expressed the greatest astOniShment.
LET me understand you clearly, ,
she said. ''Do you mean to say that
you are in love with me?"
81 will make yOu good husband"
replied, thinking, as | spoke, how
beautifully modelled the handle of the
cream-jug was ''and | am sure thai
you will never regret accepting my of
fer"
"But do you really love me ?" she
persisted, ''an old woman as am ?n
Seventeen hundred and sixty"
said, mentally, "that must be about the
date it was made :" and then answer.
ed, looking at the four cups and sau
GERS, and thinking of the vacant spaces
at home B.: 81 esteem and respect yOu
highly, dear Miss CrOfton, and an
sure you will make a solitary hOm,
cheerful"
Suppose" said Miss Crofton, acute
ly, 81 were to take the poker and de
molish that china; would you still re
peat these flattering assurances of af
fection ~
"Oh, please don'tm | cried, starting
up as the horrors of my dream cam,
back to me.
"Mr. Headley," she said, gravely
'yOu will pardon me saying so, bu
sometimes | am afraid you are not quit,
right in the head. Is there any insan
ity in your family 2"
"None at ALL" replied.
"Neither your father, or mother. o.
any aunt or uncle shown any tendency
that way ?"
"Not the slightest"
every we'll you had better go HON,
now, and think quietly over what yol
have said to me. If, Tomorrow, yOl
wish to repeat your words, you viii
find me at home in the afternoon"
81 left her, and as | stepped out con
graduated myself that she had not ac
cepted me at once"
"What a fool am !" | said. ~ shal
always esteem that woman for not tax
ing advantage of me. | will write ant
} beg her pardon for my silly cOnduc
and trust she will still continue m,
friend" And yet, in spite of thes
praisewOrthy resolutions, the sight o
the vacant spaces sent all my goo,
r sense to the wind and, to shorten tn
tale, | went, deliberately, the next af
, ternoon, to Shepherds Bush, renewe'
my offer, and left the house formal,
. betrothed to Miss Lesbia Crofton. She
at least, behaved in a very sensibl
: manner.
e "YOu say you wish to marry me,
she said, "and am getting on in year
e now, so cannot, in justice to myself
( refuse such an offer. | have inquire
about you, and every one who know
/ you speaks in your favor. Still, yO
= may regret your choice, so you sha
b have plenty of time for consideration
5 We will not be married for six month
t at least"
X Although, after taking the frs
S plunge, | should have been glad to g
;, to the depths of my folly without de
a lay, | felt the wisdom of her word,
= and acquiesced in this arrangement
S OF course, with the new understandin
= between us, | saw both her and tn
d china nearly every day and as Mis-
S CrOftOn was an extremely nice woman
s | may say | grew quite to love her
=. as a mOther-and, had fate not inter
d posed should doubtless have marie
II hCi dI IhC tAplIdJlOn Oh Jne JlIl
named, and very probably should hav
been happy enough after a fashion
e One thing was very much to my Les
:" bias credit she INDUCED in no raj
1t lures, nor did she expect any from m'
o When we met, or parted, | imprinted
Il kiss upon her forehead, and that wa
= all. She ever Interdicted the use
e Christian names between us, and stiI
|. ulated that our engagement should /
r, spoken of to no one. Another thing
e found strange was that she was cor
d tinually harping, in a good-tempere
l, sort of way, upon the disparity of OF