Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-08-27

AuAi
Colin kissed her and said gently:
81 should like to please you in all
things, Aunt Betty, but l must re-
serve the right of choosing my own
wife | hold some antiquated views
about marriage-among the rest,
that a man should love his wife.
Moreover, there is the chance that
Miss Carew would not be overcome
by my many and undoubted charms.
But we will let that pass"
81 won't say any more about il"
said Miss Campion, with sigh "but
when you know her you will under
stand how happy she will make some
one some day.
At dinner Colin sat opposite to
Betty, and, as he watched her beau
tiful, tender face, he was quite pre-
pared to endorse his aunt's opinion
of her goddaughter, though Betty
was anything but kind to him.
"Don't you think Colin is very
much like the painting of my godfa-
ther in the drawing-room, Betty ?"
asked Miss Campion.
"Do you mean that very handsome
soldier hanging between the win
dows?" asked Betty, regarding Colin
critically. "Oh, no, godmother; |
cannot see the faintest resemblance"
Miss Campion hastily changed the
subject, to spare her nephew's feel
ings, though Colin was inwardly de-
lighted at Betty's frankness-the
more so because he was undoubtedly
good-looking.
Presently another appeal was made.
to Betty by the fond aunt.
''Do you know, dear, Colin was
placed first in every examination that
he went in for when he was walking
the hospitals?"
''Really?" said Betty, incredulous-
ly, raising to Colin, the frankest,
most innocent of eyes. 81 thought
clever people became doctors, some
times 2"
For a moment Colin suspected
that she was trying to snub him, but
Miss Campion attributed Betty's
rudeness to fatigue, and sent her off
to bed very soon after dinner.
During the next few days Betty
found numberless opportunities of
sighting Colin, but she was so gentle
and affectionate to her godmother
that he retained his first opinion as
to the sweetness of her character.
He accepted her Sights with so much
good temper, and received his aunt's
praises with so genuine amusement,
that Betty was at last compelled to
confess to herself that her estimate
of him had been altogether wrong.
Ouc leu IlldJ BIC COilu uOb iCSpttb
him very much, for man who would
marry any girl for expediency's sake
was not worthy of much honor; but
she would be more polite to him, as
his conduct would not in any way af-
feet her.
Colin was very grateful for this
change in her attitude towards him,
and friendship sprang up between
them which "n his side deepened into
love. OF her feelings he could guess
little. She was invariably sweet and
frank; but the fear of losing her
friendship by attempting to gain her
love for some time prevented hun
from putting his fate into her hands.
On the last day of her visit the long
ing of his heart overcame this fear,
and he poured out all his soul to her,
not noticing that her face was hard
ening at his words.
"Tell me, Betty! Give me one
word of hopel Have L any chance?"
he pleaded.
She turned toward him then, her
face white and stern, her mouth wear
ing a faint, bitter smile.
"How well you do !' she said in
4 harsh voice.
"Do it? What do you mean?" he
asked his voice changing too. "Don't
you understand? l love you, Betty ]"
s'Hush ~ she interrupted harshly.
'That is quite enough. No, | can
give you no hope; you have no
chance Never speak to me of this
again l''-and, rising from her gar
len chair, she went into the house f,
md up to her own room.
This was what it all meant, then
How blind she had been She was !
he "sweet girl'' whom Miss Campion
thought suitable wife for Colin.
She had been invited here i'm order
hat Colin might see if she would
do" How grateful she ought to !
eel
She went down stairs presently,
ceiling glad that this was her last i
lay at Forde. She found Miss Cam
lion sitting alone in the drawing q
Dom, looking little displeased. b
81 am so cross, my DEAR" said the G
Id lady, drawing Betty to a seat by
Ter side. "Colin has ridden over to s
he Ladbrokes' for dinner 1t was i
cry thoughtless of HIM not to re- s
member that this was your last even
ng." Q
cit does mot matter, godmother," s
aid Betty, with gentle coldness. 81
7ould rather spend the evening alone v
nth you" y
"Would you, dear? | thought you /,
nd Colin had GOT ON more cOmforta- A.