Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-02-14

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her and falling deeper in debt every mo.
ment He knew he was making a fool
Of himself but he didn't care. He was the
happiest fool that moment in Gods happy
world.
"You are Just as much mine," she said at
last, her hands resting upon his head, which
some way or other had found a place in her
lap,-"you are Just as much mine as II
had not done all the wooing myself"
The Nerdon mansion had never seen such
a storm as followed Charlotte's avowal Of
her betrothal. Her mother insisted that she
would never consent, never in the world,
and the girl who had always honored her
wishes above everything else was in distress.
"But you did not marry rich man your.
self, mother why should you want me to ?"
she urged.
81 married man who was great-whom
everybody knew; why, If you were to marry
the man, whoever he is, who will fill his
chair, should be happy forever, but this
felow,"-and her indignation almost over
powering her she left the room.
1t was late in the evening when Charlotte
stole up stairs. Passing her mothers room
she saw that the door was partly open. She
knew what it meant. Women, even among
themselves, make their reconcilistions grace
fully, gradually. The pulled the door wide
open, as her mother had intended she should,
and went in. The lady sat by her writing
table her head rested on her hand, and she
was evidently sleeping. little pile OF let
ters lay before her, picture beside them.
Tears had dropped upon the letters and the
picture showed the stains of tears. Char
lotte looked at the picture closely. The
face was familiar. Surely she had seen it
III h.. ~ al
it among her acquaintances. Whose face
was it She started. A broken, uncertain
voice seemed to say, That's good picture
mark at the party, the portrait on the wall,
the picture that her mother cried over. 1t
was all clear, very clear, and she didn't care
to read the open letter by the picture.
"My poor, dear mother y she thought, as,
without awakening her, she glided to her
own room, carrying the greatest secret OF her
lifetime, save one.
1t was after midnight when Mrs. Merdon
awoke. She had hoped her daughter would
come in. She wanted to tell her that she
was no longer angry. She had been carried
back over parts of her own life and she
wanted TO tell Charlotte that after all she
must follow the voice of her heart, that her
own experience had taught her 30. She
was almost ready to confess to her that al
though she had married man who was
great, whom everybody knew, she--no, no,
no,-she could not tell her that. Very
slowly she put away the letters and the pic
ture, saying, Yes, loved him then, and,
God forgive me, have loved him ever since"
AT noon the next day servant brought
note to the presidents study: "Charlotte L.
Merdon requests the pleasure OF few mo-
ments private conversation"
al wonder what Addie Mather's daughter
wants of me-" thought the old bachelor as
he passed down into the reception room.
How the girl brings her to mind !"
In dignifed way that even surprised her.
self, Charlotte began l understand that
the trustees have given you appointing
power regarding the professorship, which
| fathers death made vacant"
"Yes."
"Have you made any provision yet ?"
"No"
al have candidate to present"
What-you A candidate who is it p
"Brent Seymour"
Charlotte's intimacy with Seymour was
not unknown to the president, but this as
| founded him.
alt is impossible" he said do not see
how you can ask it, how you can think OF
| it."
"Would you not do much to bring To you
one you loved ?" she asked boldly.
| A peculiar light came into the gray eyes
behind the steel-bowed spectacles.
"Yes."
"How much 2"
Anything"
| "Would you give professorship 7"
| Tba ,aoul;ar lnbt ;noraaead n waa AL
most a blaze.
"Yes."
"Will you give me this professorship, il
bring TO you one you love Z"
The gray eyes were now fairly aiame
She was understood. He sprang to his feet
Age seemed to fall from him like scale.
"Girl what do you mean ?" he shouted
"That she loved you all the time"
There was baseball match on the col
lege grounds, but it was not the topic Of th'
afternoon. A report that Brent Seymou
had been appointed to the chair OF astron
omy had sent half the college to his lit
tie house to congratulate him. They coul'
not begin to get inside so he stood out IL
the yard and shook hands with them on
by one.
In the early evening passing studen
saw an unusual visitor go up the path U
the Merdon mansion. 1t was the gray
haired president. Mrs. Merdon opened tn
door herself, aud the student couldn't he'll
seeing the look of astonishment on he
face, and that she tottered as she steppe
, back into the hall couldn't help hearing, i
tones that he will never forget, two excls
nations, Addie p" Frank - and the doc
closed.
When Seymour and Charlotte came il
|, from their evening walk they heard voice
in the sitting-room, and Seymour wa
! speechless with astonishment as he recol
I nized the presidents voice saying; :" al
Z glad that you rejected me once, for my 10
( is made wonderful by years OF darkness"
. Catching her lovers hand Charlotte stel
, ped with him into the room.
Mother" she said, d" if you haven't &c
/ too much happiness already,
q the venerable man who did not release th
+ hand he was holding" remember 20
/ promised to be happy forever if shoul
marry the man who will fill my father
3 chair. Let me present him."
NV host ceased. His story was evidentl
done, and as he drew back from the table
said, " The only thing fictitious about 1t
!, the name have given the poor student"
u "But,"I asked, did Charlotte ever te
n her mother of the visit she made to hi
: chamber when she was asleep at her writin
. desk p
"You may ask her." he said, smilin
: " She sits at the head of the table"
Absorbed in the story, had not notice
+ that my hostess was concealing her BLUSH
u behind the tea-urn.-Sunddy Republican.
~ A Brave Deed.
In July of 1864 boy of less than seve