Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-04-25
A REPENTED IIER0ISM.

1t was not poor Ethel's fault in the
least. She could not prevent Tom Ken.
dull loving her any more than she could
help being the dimpled, merry little body
that she was. Tom could not have told
you when he began to care for her, be-
cause as far back as he could remember
Ethel had been the prettiest girl in the
world to him. When she was only very
little girl, whose long yellow curls fell
down to her waist, it was her school
books that Tom carried; it was to her
chat he brought his offerings of apples
and icky taify. to her that he sent all
his alentines-valentines with impossi-
BILE cupids shooting arrows through ma
genta colored hearts-but Ethel thought
Ghey were perfect, and side by side the
two would spell out the stupid little
verses.
Only a low garden wall separated the
two houses, and it was quite natural that
Tom should come over it every day. 1t
was a little shorter way than around
through the gate, he would say. and
Ethel ga2ed admiringly at him as he
cleared the wall at bound 1t was lone
some at home for him with only the old
housekeeper and his father. and they did
not take the lively interest which Ethel
did in kites and dead insects. Toms
mother had died in giving birth to him.
80 he had never known the tender words
and loving touches for which in his child
ish way he had unconsciously hungered
His father. a somber, studious man, lost
all his interest in the world in losing the
one woman who understood him and
frightened his home like a sunbeam
Though he was very fond of Tom and
kind to him, in his own quiet way, vet
the child stood little in awe of him,
and gave his father none of the childish
condolences or merry chatter which
might have reused the silent man.
They were not rich, but Mr.. Kendall
had a small income from certain proper
ties he owned, and on that they lived;
the father among his books and studies
and the son growing up as children will.
1t is a way they have
EthePs mother was a widow and
wealthy. Besides being the only daugh-
ter, Ethel was an heiress in her own
right, and would be mistress of large
fortune as soon as she reached the age
to the importance of her daughters pros
poets, but the thought of money never
troubled either Tom or Ethel
AS they both grew older, however. and
Ethel was almost IS, the unpleasant fact
became evident to Tom that Mrs. Van
Zandt disliked him. He had not noticed
it as a child-perhaps the dislike was
passive then-perhaps not there at all;
but it certainly seemed to be there now
Her bow was frigid. her manner icy: the
dear little drawing room had lost its
coziness for him
And now. unknown to Tom. the worst
had happened. Mrs. Van Zandt had for
hidden Ethel to have anything further to
do with him, and Ethel had heard the
edict in silence. Accustomed to obey,
her silence was taken for assent; and
Mrs Van Zandt congratulated herself on
the management with which she had
settled this little affair Unpleasant it was
TO her, as trouble of any kind always was,
but she considered it "A duty to herself
that her daughter should make a brilliant
match. AS for the unimportant matter
of her daug hter's sentiments in the case, il
troubled her not bit; and as for Tom
Kendall. Pooh! all childish nonsense
and up went the aristocratic nose. The
very ribbons in her stylish breakfast cap
bristlpd with dignity
And Poor Toni He could not under
stand, at first, why all his invitation,
Were refused by Ethel, why she was ne
longer lat home to him: no more de
Iightful little strolls; no more rides
What was the matter? There was onl,
one solution of the mystery, and that wa
one which he did not like to discuss evel
with himself
One moonit evening Ethel had gon
down to the garden, and there, leaning
on the little wall, was Tom. She starte
back but he called her so imploringl
that she half hesitated and then was lost
for in another moment she too was lean
ing ON the garden fence
"Oh Tom. Tom" she whispered. -
must go back must.
Nov, see here Ethel" he said hal
in command, half entreaty, "what is tn
matter with you. anyhow? Lately 20
refuse to see me; you run away if | com
i'm sight, and now you are unwilling eve
10 speak TO me. No, ! shall not let 20
go till you tell me. Out with it,
And as the dismal story was told ToI
grawed the ends of his mustache dill
gently, and then the wretch laughed
actually laughed She looked at him
surprise.
do not be angry, Ethel" he sale
''Of course, it is rather serious; but d
you think it will stop my loving you
Why, Ethel, dear, nothing on earth ca
do that wish, though, had know
Ghis sooner, although have suspected {