The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-02-26

On entering the breakfastroom Pauline
found her uncle and aunt awaiting her.
After exchanging the usual greetings,
Miss Lavina handed her niece the pack
age left by her lover the night before.
With trembling fingers Pauline opened
the box. She gave little gasp of dis
may. 1t contained a chain bracelet and
in each link was set diamond"
81 can't wear It'll" she cried
Pauline, you forget yourself" ex-
claimed her aunt.
81 beg your pardon, did forget"
stammered the girl, hastily slipping the
box in he- pocket.
"That is strange" unused Uncle Gran
vile. 81 fail to understand girls who
are in love-"
The holiday week slipped slowly by,
too rapidly for some people, but wearily
and sadly for others. Pauline belonged
to both classes. To her one day was
like another in dreariness, and yet each
hour was precious in her sight as being
among the last that she should call her
own. As New Years day drew near she
became nervous and restless. Her
uncle's eyes followed her anxOusly, and
he lay awake far into the night ponder
ON the change that had come over the
merry girl.
At last he discovered the cause of all
this unexplained wrethedness. Pauline
had always invited number of young
people to spend the first evening of the
year with her, and this year was to be no
exception TO the general rule. She
awoke on the morning Of January 1st
with a sickening thought, only one
month more of freedom-nnd this free
dom almost bondage, She returned her
uncle's morning kiss with white, quiver-
ering lips.
Nearly the entire day was spent in pre-
pairing the house for the evening festiv-
tiles. The faded Christmas holly and
mistletoe were removed and replaced by
fresh. About the middle of the after
noon Uncle Granville entered the parlor
and found Pauline draping the fireplace
with long green streamers.
Little girl" he exclaimed. / came in
to tell you bit of news. Guess whom
met just now?"
Pauline grasped the mantel for
support ,
"Well, my dear; Jack Carter is at
home. l was so glad to see the dear boy
that l asked him to come in to-
night. At first, he hesitated and
looked queer, I,.thought, but finally he
consented"
"Oh, uncle, he must not come, can't
bear it." and Pauline, white and trem-
bling, swayed as though she would
faint.
Her uncle lifted her as if she had
been baby, and she clung sobbing to
his neck.
'My little girl" he murmured. "My
poor little girl. Tell me all about it,
darling"
81 ought not to-"
"YOu must!h
"Jack and 1 were engaged, uncle
-till-I-accepted Mr.. Drayton."
"And you broke the engagementP'
''Yes, uncle"
''Surely you did not sell yourself-it
can't be that you accepted him-Dray-
ton, | mean-because he had the most
money!"
"Oh, no, mol / hate his money and
presents and everything he Owns-and if
he were not rich it would have been all
right. need not have taken him. But
you see. the money was the thing needed.
And that is why we are engaged. 1t is
his money am dependent upon-or will
| be soOn.h
The probability is that if Mr. Granville
Bruce had not been lawyer he could
hardly have fathomed the deep signifi-
icancc of this extremely reasonable and
lucid explanation. But he was a lawyer,
and sudden light broke upon his mind.
"Pauline, do you love Drayton9"
"Nom desperately emphatic.
"DO you love Jack Carter?"
The blond head sank lower on his
shoulder.
"Then why do you accept another
man?"
because had to! am such bur-
den and expense to you and it would
have been necessary for Jack and | to
wait years. Aunt Lavina said it was
my duty to you to engage myself to a
rich man-one who could marry me soon
and relieve you of the cruel burden Of
my support. She said that you wanted
me to do so. And know ought not to
be such a weight on yOu-you who have
denied yourself all these years for mel"
"My child you shall not marry any
man you do not love!'
"But mustn
"But you shall nOt!'
"What can dO?"
Nothing, dear! Trust your old uncle
that is all. And look me in the eyes
and promise me never to doubt that | am
amply able to support you for the rest OF
your life. 1t has never been anything
but pleasure"
He led er up to her room, and kissing
her badc her lie down and sleep till time
to dress for evening. Then she heard
him Gull Miss Lavina.
'Sster! Pauline has headache and is
lying down. See that she is not dis
| Of
time"
And without waiting to explain his
perempt0ry order he left the house. In
her darkened room Pauline slept heavily,
and Miss Lavina was left to her own
musings.
At supper, Uncle Granville met his
sisters stony gaze with cOmposure.
"How is Pauline?" he asked.
II know nothing of her except the in
formation which you so brusquely i'm
parted this afternoon"
Have you sent her cup of tea?'
81 have done so. After your decided
orders, brother, l did not care to take ii
up MYSELF"
Miss Lavina changed her tactics, and
inquired timidly.
"Have you seen Mr. Drayton to-day?'
81 have.'
"He will be here tonight presumeP'
eyes"
A longer silence, this time, was broken
by Pauline's entrance in evening dress.
She wore gown of pale green tulle,
through which her arms and shoulders
, cleaned Whitley. He color was vivid,
and her eyes glistened with feversh bril-
! liancy.
"My dear, you are beautiful to-nightl'
r exclaimed her uncle.
r About the middle of the evening
+ Pauline became conscious that Jack Car
| ter had entered the room with grouI
, of other guests. She heard the murmul
{ of surprise and pleasure that greeted hi;
= reappearance in Fulton society after sucl
t long absence-for he had always beer
: favorite. But she did not turn in his
direction till well-known voice said:
b. "a happy New Year, Miss Brucew
Y 'Thank you," she murmured, giving
Q him her hand without raising her eyes
But Miss Lavina seiged upon him i'm
:. mediately.
= "Mr. Carter, it is most fortunate yor
should be here justnOw. You know oul
dear Pauline is 10 be married the first o.
February, and You must stay East fol
wedding"
"Thank you, madamP
AT this moment Kate FLOYD, q FultOT