Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-01-18

so that the strong -blooded colonel
felt every nerve tingling with desire
to conquer her. AS they sat deco
rously in the best room, engaged with
cards or with cake and wine, this
self-poised, merry maiden, without
violating the code of politeness one
jot, made her suitor feel that she
was fenced about with shining
swords of wit, each one sheathed in
a gay laugh. Her manner made lit
tie of his condemnation of his sons
attachment, which he had bluntly ex-
pressed to her, calling him ssbrash
young lad who stepped before his ell
ders." An undaunted faith in the
star of true love laughed in her eyes,
which showed a constant carelessness
of his authoritative presence that
piqued and challenged the colonel
more tnan augnC else.
Thus Colonel Carter visited Mis-
tress Dwight and her niece daily for
the space of month, the two lovers
meanwhile being prohibited meet
ing. At the end of the second month
they were not allowed to leave their
own homes, where trusty servants
kept them under surveillance. 1t had
come about in this way. The colon
ell was counting on the entire separa-
ton of the lovers for extinguishing
the slight fancy, as he deemed it, be-
tween them, when, through the faith
Iessness of servant, he learned that
they had been exchanging notes as
often as twice day through the en-
tire period of prohibition. The tone
of the particular note intercepted
spurred the infamed colonel to in
stant action, as in learning from it
the obstinacy of his sons passion,
he discovered how much engaged was
his own heart.
But though confined to their homes,
though unable to communicate with
one soul outside, Godfrey and Ellen
still transmitted by the Inexplicahle
Messenger their daily notes, ardent
with such words as love in constraint
may pen. Quick-eyed Ellen had dis
covered this messenger, and given
the hint to Godfrey before their CONF
munication through servants was cut
off contingency half anticipated
by them. Here is one of the letters i
''MY BELOvEp.-1or words, far
dearer to me than my own life, were
broaght yesterday by our trusty SER
want; to-day he returns this from
thine Ellen. Do not speak, Godfrey,
of our confinement | would wait a
lifetime for thee and count it little.
You ask what fare have l in passing
time, but truly 1t brings bushes to
my cheek to think how time passes,
given all without wasted minute to
one constant, precious thought; and
yet I am not abashed to tell thee this
but take sweet pleasure in robbing
my own heart of its defenses.
breathe every breath, Godfrey, in
thought of you. Oh, what con-
quered Beatrice am | And yet |
doubt if your father think me tam
ed spirit for last evening when he
came as customary on love intent.
and the wine set ont, he shot the
customary compliment at me. re-
piled with that laugh you praise me
in so greatly, and such gallant woids
testified to many years in practice,
and asked whether he thought the
ladies in the BraZils handsome when
he journeyed there in his youth. But
he bore these hints towards his age
bravely, and | admired him fol his
pluck, being your father, though a
cruel one now. Deal Godfrey, with
a thousand embraces,
Your faithful ELLEN. -
After certain lapse of time the
obduracy of the lovers began to per-
plex the colonel and his ally, Mis-
tress Dwight-a rigorous old maid
who thought young people born into
the world solely for purposes of dis
cipline and abnegation. | do not
know what turn affairs might have
taken if prying Mistress Dwight had
not discovered one of Elien's letters
written but not yet posted-the very
one | have just given-containing
mention of the ''trusty messenger" +"
The scene when she displayed her
discovery to the colonel, and when
Miss Ellen was later called in for adj
monition in his presence, was worthy
of a Sheridan. Never before was
the fair girl SO brave, so gay, so
careless: never the aunt so prIm.
A dozen times the aunt cried s.Fie
fe - to the niece; who would bind
herself to no engagement against
writing, but promised that they should
hear whenever letter came, adding
that it would assuredly be daily.
This promise, indeed, was kept.
Every evening came the colonel down
street, cooked hat on head and cane
in hand; and every evening Miss FL
len threw back her head with mis-
chievous glance to tell him that sne
had been pleased in learning of his
son Godfrey's welfare that day, and
trusted that the colonel shared in it.
| Often she added some trifie of news
from the other household TO complete
the colonel's poignant assurance thai
the correspondence was of verify