News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-12-06

poor girl, now her tender heart wOul
be tortured by his imagined neglec
when no answer would be Forthcoming
She, knew. would suffer in silence, an
l fondly hoped that he would do tn
same. So l locked the mail bag an
waited for the messenger to carry it t
the station. The express would pass i
an hour and half. And then a strug
gle began in my heart. The mis- stampe,
letter seemed to look reproachfully a
me from the box into which l had throw
it, and seemed to whisper to me that on
little act of mine could send it unim
pedo on its mission.
No one, believe, unless he was il
my situation, actuated by the same de
! spairing, selfishly horeful feelings tina
! were overmastering me, could under
stand what base impulse I conquered
when at last, after an hours temptation,
L took that letter from its resting place,
substituted a postage stamp for the rev
enue one, opened the mail bag and let il
go. Then after it was done some hot
tears rushed to my eyes. 1t was my last
hope, and l could not help indulging
some weakness over its grave.
The next mail from New York arrived
three day after. had the poor salts
faction of seeing the results of my good
action in q letter in the handwriting of
my rival, addressed to Annie, making its
unwished for appearance, as / knew it
would, and shortly after Ir. Merrill
took it away with him as be called for
his mail. Loungers came in and out of
the Office and went away finding me little
disposed for conversation. Nothing yet
WIS known in the village of my requisi-
ton, so was spared the pain of listen
ing to congratulations that was in no
mood to hear. When / went home that
evening l was surprised to find nv
mother absent, and still more surprised
when on opening note she had left for
me, l learned that she was with Annie
at DIR. Merrills, and that l vas to fol-
low her there. Hopeless as [ felt, the
prospects of seeing Annie again promised
me only painful pleasure, but still the
thought of being near her had sweet
and sad fascination that l could not re-
sist. When l reached the doctors [
found himself and my mother seated in
his office, 50 intent ON the moves of a
knights gambit, that a mere nod on my
entrance showed their consciousness of
my arrival. Annie was not there; I !!
found her in the parlor standing upon |
the hearth rug, the glow of the freight !
shining on her golden hair and a glow |
Of eager, happy expectation in her look
that was new to her sweet face.
@ [ am so glad to see you," she said. |
giving me her hand. ." I have been i'm
patient for your cOming-and I will tell |
Tou why. There is question 1 want
you to answer. 1t perplexes me, and
somehow l think can look to you for
solution. You remember letter I
in the early part of the week ?''
She hesitated and cast down her eyes.
81 have too good a reason ever to for
'et it, / answered bitterly.
l saw her face flush. She went on.
81 answered that l. tier the next day. |
was of vital importance to me that il i,
Iould go then as there would be no I
her mail for seteI.d darg-J Wws
oubled when 1 wrote it, and stamped = =
at my uncle's desk while the messen- !;
sr was waiting to take it to the Office. :
found, too late, that | ha mis-stamped !
. have been utterly wretchcd for the :
Rst few days on account of that mis- !
Ike. l knew too we'll what the fate of =
y letter would be. Judge then how
elieved 1 felt when my uncle brought I;
lie this "-t taking from the mantelpiece !
he letter that had come that morning.
If it escaped your keen observation :
ow did my letter pass the eyes Of the p,
Few York officials undetected2 This is -,
ny question"
Her eyes searched my face. :
/ took her hands in my OVID. :
Annie" said I, 81 believe ] could !
lake no one understand what it cost my :
'slous heart to rectify that mistake, but :
did it. knew it must be an answer ;;
D that letter that you spoke of few :
lights ago. 1t ought to prove to you
ow unselfishly loved you, my darling,
-hen / restamped it and sent it on its
my to him. I never thought you would
nd it out. 1 did it to spare you a mo-
lent's uncasiness. If the man you love
ares for yOu rs much as 1 do, he will
make your life happy one"
GLOW can repay your generosity" ?"
lie said with voice tremulous with feel
ng. "YOu could not have acted better
( you had peep at the contents of that
etter. But your reward may be claimed
Vhen You read this"
She handed me the letter and glided
mt of the room. 1 took it over to the
haded lamp and read the following:
d" Dear 1nnio-When beside your
ather's dying bed we entered into an
of marriage; felt as he did
hat the interests of the firm of which he
nd 1 we're partners would be best sus- ]
Rined by our union. l wrote to you ]
otifying you of my readiness to fulfill :
~ part of the engagement, and request
lg you to be ready to return with me
n Saturday as my wife. You say to me {
nat must not come. There is but one ]
xplanation in this refusal, and that is j
nat You have seen some one who pleases !
on better than your humble servant. i
t is but natural, child cannot blame I
on. The young should mate with the s
oung, and 1 am too much your senior i
0 expect to awake in your youthful
cart feelings that have long been life
ess in my own. 1 release you from
'romise that am now aware was made
y you under the pressure Of the sad
But this fact can never {
feet the fatherly regard 1 have ever
for the only child of my dear
id friend"
/ read no further. Here was my re-
rard. And how nearly had lost it by
lie desire of gratifying an ungenerous
impulse. Annie has since assured me
hat had Joseph Norris arrived on the
ay designated, so great was her awe of
er fathers old partner, that she never
7ould have had the courage to contend
gainst her destiny. Indeed, the cir
umstauce of having made the error she
id in mis- stamping the letter, seemed
o her troubled mind significant of a
eep meaning, and that even beyond the
rave of her father sought to control her
ctions.
Annie did not return to the parlor. I
ound her seated in the doctors Office
interested in the game which
1st at the moment of my entrance he
rought to victorious conclusion.
Check"
"Mate," I cried, finishing the word
Or him, and catching Annie in my arms,
eedless of the astonishment of the ell
erly pair, demanded my reward.
Well, Joseph Norris, grey haired, COM
and undemonstrative, came
D Greenwell to other nuptials than his
wn. He gave away my dear one with
he best of grace, and after the marriage
me on my admission into
he firm. Ny ignorance of his meaning
? S so apparent, that with q grim smile
10 enlightened me. With my bride |
cquired the half interest in an East
ndia firm in New York and Calcutta.
f Annie had chosen to appear as an or
ohan, dependent on the bounty of her
lnc,e, she had the after satisfaction of
moving that the love she won was
,ffered to her alone, and not to the
yolden store that attracts so many
tutors.
"My dearest " sometimes saw to her.