The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-10-10

who arrested her guest on the way to the
front door.
Mrs. Fargo and Albert now rushed
out, and the storm centre was trans
ferred to the hall.
"You must not go, Amelia. l entreat
you do not 60" cried Albert, wildly.
"Of course you will notg " said Mrs.
Fargo, with decision. 81 never heard
of anything so absurd come back direct
ly. insist upon knowing the meaning
of all this She took Amelia by the
arm, and almost torcibly led her back
into the parlor. cit is clear, you two
have met before" she continued, as
suming the office of inquisitor; when
and where was it,
"Shall tell9" asked Albert.
Amelia maintained naughty silence.
"You do not object, and, really, see
no reason why you should. Mother, you
have wondered that | did not marry.
This is the reason" He pointed to
Amelia, who still stood ped in her
long widows vail, clasping the white
robed child in her arms.
81 was not to blame, she said, calmly.
"You were to blame; you should not
have let your father influence YOU"
"You should not have disputed with
my father. lie was older than you, and
of course knew better"
"That is an exploded assumption. But
/ am not going to renew that discussion
with YOU" Then with suddenly awak-
ened tenderness he advanced and took
from her tired arms the little girl who
was nodding heavily against her shoulder.
"There, sit down." he said, gently.
CATER all these years we may certainl y
let the old quarrel rest. l was so take n
by surprise that l did not do justice to
the tender feeling my heart has Away 8
retained for YOU"
Tender feeling-quarrel! What in
the name of heaven are you talking
about7' cried Mrs. Fargo, impatiently.
81 am going to tell you" returned
Albert, laying the head of the sleeping
child against his breast, and beginning
to walk the floor "How like you she
is, Amelia" he said, looking fondly at
her. "See, mother, this should have
been your grandchild. Yes, we were
engaged. You remember, Amelia, the
night l proposed3 1t was after the hall
at the college, and we were walking
home together through the moonlight
village street. You wore rose pink silk
with tulle over it, and the tullc was all
in tatters, but You looked as lovely as an
angel; and you said Yes without hest
tation, like the frank, sweet girl you
were, ALI we were very happy"
''But you would always dispute with
papa about the proper treatment in
fevers, and the giving of calomel, and
all that" said Amelia, sadly. Papa,
who had practised medicine forty years,
and who of course knew so much better. "
''Ahl don't speak of that" pleaded
Albert, humbly, melting more and more,
wrought upon, not by memory alone, but
by that inexplicable tenderness that will
flow out about a little head nestled
against the breast. II own that | was
wrong"
"You admit it, at last" exclaimed
Amelia, with an air of triumph.
"Wrong in disputing, l mean; not in
the principle"
"You cling to your heresy1 Papa said
it was flat heresy."
"What have medical theories to do
with my loving you9' he asked, pausing
before her, and looking earnestly at her.
"You married, to please your father, an
oldschool physician twenty years older
than yourself Did his medical ortho-
doxy make you happyl"
"You shan't question me So" she re-
piled, making a last struggle. "Give
me my baby. l don't love to have any
one hold her but myself
''See how sweetly she is sleeping in
my arms, Amelia. have never been so
happy since the night we walked home
from the dance together. Doesn't your
heart tell you you owe me some repara-
ton for the happiness you have kept
back from meN
Amelia futtered her fan and looked at
the floor. 1t was stained floor she no.
ticed.
"Let me keep the baby" he urged
'Let me teach her to call me papa"
A faint smile curved Amelia's lips, but
she did not look up. He bent on one
knee before her.
"Say, yes again, dear, he whispered.
'T'll be so good to you both"
The smile grew more decided, and she
bent forward as if to kiss the child is fair
temple. but Albert, perhaps misinter-
preting her design, bent forward also,
and the kiss fell upon his mustached lip.
Mrs. Trim and Mrs. Fargo had tiptoed
from the room some moments before.
Half an hour later Mrs. Fargo returned
to the parlor, thoughtfully overturning a
chair as she passed through the hall.
"Well," she said, IF YOU two have
come to place where you can leave off,
perhaps you will come to dinner"
1--WE have resolved never to leave off, ~
said Albert, but dinner will not be
amiss."
"l'm afraid it will be very much amiss, "
observed his mother. 1T has been wait
ing an hour"
Never mind" rejoined Mrs. Fargo,
cheerfully, well wash it down with
phials of Nux. "-Felip Gray in NeW
orleans Times Democrat.