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

ONtlt AlhlNlAlt Md hbAAANhs
was his pet, and she did not seen
happy. She had lost flesh and color ant
was moody.
Pauline Bruce was an orphan. He
father. after making and losing fortune
died, leaving his penniless, twelve-year
old daughter to the care of his brother
Granville, and his sister, Lavina-thC
only surviving members of his family
Granville Bruce was lawyer, with bu
a moderate income. He lived in the ole
Bruce homestead, and his sister was hi'
housekeeper. He was indulgent, she
was strict. To the uncle, Pauline was
merry, sunny-haired, blye-eyed child
born to be happy. To the aunt, she was
a thoughtless girl, fast approaching
womanhoOd.
At Is, Pauline committed what Aunt
| Lavina considered an objectionable in.
discretiOn-she fell in love. She and
handsome Jack Garter had cOrrcsponded
during his course at West Point, and
when he returned home to Fulton
for a few weeks what was more nat
ural than that affairs should come to a
crisis.
And so they parted-Jack to join his
regiment and Pauline to settle down to
the daily round the common task. jack
letters came regularly. As Aunt Layina
insisted on reading these, and was not
sparing in her criticisms of the same,
they seemed to Pauline like public prop
erty, and the only part OF her little
romance that had not been spoiled was
the memory of those walks on summer
evenings, the dark, earnest eyes looking
into hers, the tender voice talking OF
the ''some day when they would both
be so happy.
But now matters changed. George
DraytOn, bachelor, 40 years old, and
wealthy, had become Pauline's ardent
admirer, encouraged by Miss LaVina, who
privately persuaded Granville Bruce into
the belief that his niece was becoming
sincerely attached to her rich suitor. At
last, one summer evening, a year after
Jack Carter had said goodbye and gone
West. Aunt Lavina decided that the
time for action had come, and armed
with her knitting and a severe expression
of countenance, entered Pauline room.
The girl sat by the open window in the
moonlight. She bad on loose, white
wrapper, and her light hair fell over her
shoulders. Her round, child, like beauty
did not soften Miss Lavina's heart, but
exasperated her.
Pauline" she began. at is time
you were thinking about the future.
At present you are entirely dependent on
your uncle and myself. but we are both
growing old, and your support of late
has proved burden. For myself, can
stand it. But Granville, while seemingly
robust. is not rs strong as he once was,
and he feels the expense sadly. He is
fond of you and does not complain, but
he has talked to me of the relief it will
be to know that you are comfortably
settled and cared for by our kind and
generous friend"
"Of course" continued the frigid
tones, "you do not love Mr.. Drayton. 1t
would he hardly proper il you did. You
respect and like him, and that is all that
is necessary. the rest will follow. There
is nothing to prevent your marriage tax
| ing place in six months"
The girl shuddercd
| 80 sOon!" she gasped
''Why should you wait? 1t is moi
as if you were bound to an empty
headed boy'-pointcdly and severely
-"who had his way to make. Good
night"
Pauline did not hear. In her ears rang
the words whispered on moonlight
night a year ago:
Il am only poor man, Polly, who ha'
his way to make
How they had hoped and planned How
they had talked Of what would happel
when he was first lieutenant. He hat
said that then she would be his Polly
his sweetheart.
The next day Paulna sent pitifu
little note to Lieut. John Carter u. S. a
1t only asked him not to misiudge her
but to try and believe that it was nee
essary for her to give him up, anC
she signed it-"FOr the last time-yOuI
Polly"
When this epistle was handed to Jacl
Carter he had Just sealed letter ad
dressed to "MiSs Pauline Bruce" tri
umphantly informing her that he wa
now a first lieutenant, and that he wOult
be in Fulton the first of January, as h,
would have months leave of abscnc,
at that date. This important missivc wa
thrown intothe fire by the writer witt
the feryent CALCULATIONS:
sit is the work of that infencl OLE
cat"
And then, though he was a brave arm,
man, he threw himself face downward
on his narrow couch and sobbed like
heart broken boy But that Afternoon
at dress parade his comrades noticed
look of determination about the firm
mouth and fiery spark in the browl
eyes. His only answer to Pauline's lctte
was:
81 cannot understand. shall see yOl
on New Years day." -.
The evening following that of Miss
Lavina's talk with Pauline, Uncle Gran
vile kissed his niece tenderly.
There was pcrceptible quayer il
his voice as he said IN his old-fashione'
way: !, .o,.
happy with the man of your choice. ii
seems rather too old for my little girl,
think, but if you are satisfied. well an
goodw
The months passed, and in Novembe
Miss Levina named the day of her niece
marriage. 1t was to be the first of Feb
ruary. Pauline wondered if in her aunt
code of etiquette it was highly imprope
for a girl to have any say about settin
the day of her own wedding. But sh
held her peace.
1t was toward Christmas that Uncl
Granville became anxious. Paulin
had changed to such thin, fragile CIR
He watched her closely and became col
vinced that all not right with her II
questioned her as to her health, bu
always met with the same response:
81 am well. thank you"
Then he attacked Miss Lavina on ia
subject.
"Sister," said Mr.. Bruce, ''what is th
matter with PaulineP'
"The matter? What do you mean? Ha
been complaining to your
"She has not | wish she would, fC
then might know what is the matte
with the child. She is like ghost {
herself. She has lost flesh, color an
her spirits and there must be some caus
for it. If you had not assured me thf
you had a satisfactory talk ON the sui
ject of her engagement should say thi
She dreaded the thought of her approach
ing marriage"
"Granville, you are talking nonsens
You are fool about that girl. WI
should she marry George Drayton If 81
does not wish to do sop
Christmas dawned bright aud clea