Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-08-11

stern of the boat sank deep in the
tranquil water, which splashed in
over the side, and brought him to his
senses somewhat.
.sDon't you know how much / have
loved you. Miss Orrlngton p he whis-
pered passionately, as though fearful
that prying ears might hear him,
| spite of the seclusion of the waters,
and her low answer assured him that
his passion was returned.
And hour after hour passed heed
lessly by, and the moon cast many
an admonishing glance backward at
them as she retired to rest behind
the hill-tops, ere they realized the
lateness of the hour, and the happy
Peter, who envied not the angels,
once more seized the oars and pulled
his precious freight shoreward.
But the reaction came as soon as
he once more sought his pillow, and
he moaned in agony as he thought of
the cruel gulf that lay between him
self and the girl whom he worshipped; /;
for the thoughts of bettering him
self by the alliance had all given
place to the one engrossing idea of
possessing her.
One device and another was hit
upon and thrown aside as impracti-
cable, and when morning came he
seemed no nearer to solution than
before; but during the day he con-
jured up a pathway out of the dilem-
ma, which, though not honorable, he
felt assured would at least bring mat
ters to crisis.
That evening he told her a story
of how his parents were set upon his
marrying a girl for whom he had new
er entertained the slightest affection,
and then, as his well-nigh hopeless
love added fervor to his words, he
urged her to marry him Immediately,
so that this question might be set
tied beyond all dispute; and the girl
who was trembling with emotion, to
his infinite delight consented.
Their arrangements were of the
simplest possible character, and
twenty-four hours afterward the
guests assembled in the hotel parlor
to witness the impromptu marriage,
though all day long horror of what
he was doing had been creeping over
Peter Fillmore, chilling his heart and
paling his usually ruddy cheek.
And now, as the hour drew near,
and he went to meet the guileless,
confiding girl, he felt more like a
condemned felon going to his execu-
ton, than a prospective bridegroom.
Miss Orrington met him with down
cast eyes and flushed cheeks, aad
her hand trembled as she placed it
in his.
His eyes devoured her hungrily.
He noted her dimpled shoulders that
cleaned like ivory above the dainty
muslin dress she wore, with the knots
of flowers and simple adornments
that SO enhanced her beauty, for no
jewels shone upon her fair person
and then, at the last moment, his
manhood asserted itself, and he beg
ged for moments private conversa-
ton with her.
A look of horror cleaned in the
brown eyes of the girl as they stood
alone in side-room. She seemed
almost fainting, and grasped chair
for support as he leaned toward her,
with set lips and the impress of death
upon his face.
miss Orrington, can not marry
you y came from his pallid lips, low,
yet distinct, and then he stopped,
while the deceived girl sank into the
chair and sobbed piteously.
81 would have made you a good
wife, she moaned, as Peter gasped
for breath and tottered back and
forth before her.
''But / am only blacksmith and
have nothing but my trade to depend
upon. 1t would take nearly my last
dollar to pay the clergyman" he said
at length, pausing before the weep
ing girl, sand / cannot wed one so
far above me-"
Miss Orrington sprang to hel feet
and bounded forward. Her arms
were about his neck, her tear-bedew-
ed face was pressed to his. while the
words she uttered seemed to come
from the depths of her tender girlish
heart:
"Oh, Peter, Peter! / am so glad
| am nothing but ladies' maid, and
| thought | would try to do this sum-
mer as my mistress does; but if we
love each other what do we care for
money! / thought you were going
to cast me off because of my pow
erty!'
Never a happier bridegroom than
Peter Fillmore led his blushing bride
to the altar, albeit the guests had be-
come somewhat impatient at the de-
lay; and the honest blacksmith is as
proud Of his tidy home and pretty
wife as ever was prince of his gor-
geous palace and bejeweled consort.
HAVE CHEERFUL HOMES.
There is nothing grander or more
inviting than cheerful home; and
no duty is more holy and enncbling
than that which reduires the mainte-