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

previously, and now moved back
wards and forwards from her post of
observation at the window to consult
the little Swiss clock hanging over
the writing table-for Ter eyes were
not as good as they had been.
There were few people living who
were very dear to her, and of these
she was expecting this evening the
two whom she loved best in the world
her goddaughter and namesake,
Betty Carew, and Colin Campion, her
nephew.
She had a definite object in view
in bringing these people together. A
few weeks before she had had an at
tack of bronchitis, and this illness
had suggested to her the advisability
of making her will. When she began
to consider how she should divide her
property between Betty and Colin her
heart seemed torn asunder. She
could not calmly contemplate her old
! lace and china and all her favorite
personal possessions going out of the
family, for she wanted Betty to have
| them Colin must of course have
the little estate, but then too he must
have the money to keep it up, for she
| did not wish Forde to be neglected
after her death.
At length an idea occurred to her
which, if carried out, would obviate
all difficulties. Why should not Col
in and Betty marry and share her for
tune equally, without any trouble
some division of it? With this tho't
in her mind Miss Campion had invit-
ed them to Forde, and was now
awaiting Betty's arrival with some
nervousness.
Her nervousness increased when
she had welcomed her goddaughter
and brought her into the drawing
room-for it was necessary that she
should make Betty understand how
desirable husband Colin would be
without raising any suspicion in her
mind.
"You are very tired, dear,'' she
said, Fastening to pour out 4 cup of
tea with trembling fingers. 81 shall
never become reconciled to trains
they are noisy and dusty. 1t is
pity we are in such hurry always
nowadays. They managed better
in the last century, when journeys
were made in a leisurely manner by
coach"
eff we were eighteenth century la
dies, godmother, / should be at the
Rectory at this moment-for the jour
ney from Devonshire would have
been impossible by coach. So | am
glad that we were not born a hum
dred years ago."
''If you put it in that way, dear,so
am [. | hope this visit will be pleas
anter than USUAL she added nervous
ly. "My nephew Colin is coming
tonight; he is going to stay for some
time"
''He is a doctor in London, isn't
he? have heard you speak of him."
81 dare say. He has bought a
practice there answered Miss Cam
pion. "He is very clever in his pro-
fession, and so tender and kind 1t |
is quite beautiful to see him with
children. But he ought to marry;
there is always prejudice in favor
of married doctors"
''You had better tell him so,' said
Betty, with a smile.
81 mean to do so; and / think he
will be settled before long," said the
old lady, nodding her head mysteri-
ously.
''Oh, if he is already in love, he
will not need your advice, godmoth-
er p
ssBut he is not in love, my DEAR"
returned Miss Campion hastily. "You
must not think Colin is foolish,
sentimental young man. Indeed he
is considered rather cold in society
and he is as proud as you are, Betty"
"Will he marry if he is not in
love?" asked Betty, raising her eye
brows slightly.
"Oh, no, my dear, of course not p
ssThen you think he will obedient-
Iy fall in love with any one when
you tell him he ought to marry? He
must have his emotions under admir-
able control y
ssHe would not fall in love with
any one," said Miss Campion, with
a vague understanding of Bettys
''but he cannot fail to see
what a sweet girl
II see, interrupted Betty quietly
you are saving him a great deal
Of unnecessary trouble in suggesting
whom as we'll as when he should mar
"
"Colin would not marry any girl {
whom he could not like and respect"
said Miss Campion little anxiously.
'sOh, no But he is not sentiment
H." suggested Betty. "The girl he {
narries will be a happy woman p'
'She will indeed" agreed her god t
mother. 81 am so glad that you ap- '
)reciate Colin" l
Soon after Betty had left the draw i
ng-room to dress for dinner. DIR.
Jampion arrived. When the first s
greetings were over, his aunt remark Y
ID, tentatively: '
Il have asked Betty Carew to