Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-05-13
Miss MOrley's Love Story.

The words rung on the frosty air,
and the voice vibrated with pain and
earnestness. For moment the my
riads of stars cleaning on high SEEM
ed to close down and swarm about
Miss Morley's head. Her brain
whirled and the ground seemed heav-
ing beneath her feet, but when she
felt his strong supporting arm about
her, her force came back, and draw
ing resolutely away she raised her
sweet, worn face to his and realized
for the first time that the boy she had
befriended and petted, educated and
advised through the last few years
was a boy no longer. She looked at
him as he stood before her in his
power aid strength, his cheeks glow
ing and his dark eyes eloquent with
mans passionate love and feeling.
'slIiss Morley, you have been to
me a guardian angel. Since the days
of my wild, profigate boyhood, when
nv idleness and truancy vexed your
patience, you spared the rod but gave
me freely of your best counsel and
knowledge, trying to turn me to bet
ter ways you have been the only saint
in nv calendar. When the setting
sun came in the schoolhouse windows
and fingered over your hair and face,
a glimmering of the truth seemed to
shine upon my angry, rebellious spirit
even then. In later years, when your
good teaching had borne fruit, you
have won my heart by your womanly
kindness and your faithful help and
encouragement. No other wo-
man can ever be to me what you
are and have been. Give yourself to
me-" he exclaimed, with manly AFRO
gance which sat we'll upon him. "Be
nv wife and l will do all in my pow
er to make you happy"
He moved toward her but her small
thin hands waved him away. She
drew her circular closer about her and
shivered as she spoke. Her voice
sounded low and choked, but she
stopped his impassioned utterance
with her resolute speech.
"Ned, / am sorry never thought
our intimacy would lead to this. l
meant to guide you to happiness and
prosperity, not to bring you any
trouble
"You will bring me blessing if
you only say yes to my question:" he
interrupted.
ssAh, no! it would be the worst
trouble could bring you to link your
life to mine. You mistake your feel
ing of affection q thank you for that,
it is so pleasant to be lovedD." He1
voice trembled and Ned moved quick
" towards her again, but her hand
warned him back. "You mistake all
this for the love man gives the wo-
man he wants to marry. | am an ole
woman, ten years older than yourself
1t is not fit, it is not possible that
sit will be i 1t is / will not have
it So" exclaimed Ned impetuously.
'sYou shall marry me. L will have
no other"
He grasped her shrinking figure in
his arms and strained her to his breast
while he pressed not one but many
eager, passionate kisses upon her un-
resisting lips. The surging blood
rushed over her face and neck; he
could see her cheek grow darker in
the sunlight; for one moment he felt
her heart beat wildly against his own
and then she struggled to release her
self. He let her 60 with deep
shuddering sigh, and hiding his face
in his hands leaned heavily upon the
gate post. Silence fell between them
the young mans passionate nature
was stirred to its depths, and a fear
full battle was waging in the breast Of
Jane Morley. She believed in his
love; rejoiced in it, also; her hear
was throbbing painfully. Two Wis
ions rose before her. One was of {
small old lady with snowy hair anC
an air of gentility, one looked up tt
by the young and pointed out will
admiration and pride by older PEG
pie, respected and revered in thu
church, both criticised and admired
outside, and always clinging to thu
outside seat upon the Fashionable
coach her many friends were sedu
lousy driving in the city. She saw
herself growing old in the school
room. She saw-well, she turned
away from this vision, she saw, oil
the other hand, happy, loving wife
loving and beloved, reigning in a lit
tie home that Ned should provide
His children, perhaps, gathering
about her knee. And he would al
ways be faithful and true and sh
would always be loving and happy
but no, she hears laughing, loud, ant
merry and hooking; the people il
the fashionable coach are talkin,
about it. ''Old enough to be hi
mother" ''Isn't it absurd ?" ''Wh
would have thought Miss Morle
would have been so foolish p "W
all thought her so wise and good.
Chime in the rest. can old maid
you know" Miss Morley straight
ened herself; her pride was reused
In low, half-smothered tone, sh
speaks at last and Ned Coburn raise
a pale, drawn face to listen. Sh
stands before him, her satin circula