The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-06-26
MARY's BROKEN TROTH.

When Mary Clairmont's engagement
was proclaimed to the world there en-
sued a general expression of surprise.
People generally are surprised at mat.
rimonial engagements. There is ALWAYS
some cogent reason why things should
have been adjusted otherwise-why
John should have married Joan, and
Peter should prefer Betsey. Nobody
was ever yet married to suit everybody.
But in Mary Clairmonts case it did
really seem as if the course of true love
had interfered seriously with the cur
rent of common sense and prudence.
Miss Clairmont was only One-and-
twenty, tall, imperial beauty, with
dewey black eyes, a skin as fresh as
damask roses, and dark brown hair that
coiled in shining bands at the back of
her head. Moreover, Miss ClairmOnt
had "career" before her. She had lust
graduated from the Medfeld Medical
University and taken out her diploma as
an NJ. ID.
"And only to think of it," said Aunt
10, bursting into tears of vexation and
disappointment, "that she must needs
90 and ruin all prospects by getting en-
gagged to Harry NARROW down in New
York;"
at does seem strange, Aunt 10, when
| sit down and think it over" said DIR.
Mary, laughing and blushng. "Six
months ago my profession was all the
world to me- | neither wished nor
cared for anything outside of its limits.
The future was all mapped out before
me without let or hindrance; and now
you see"
4, ,r,.,,r1,1 I,
brainlesS idiot can get married and keep
a mans house and mend his shirts for
him, but you were intended for
something higher and more dignifed,
Mary"
Mary's downright eyes sparkled.
"Higher, Aunt Jo?" said she. "More
dignifed?" There is no higher or more
dignilied lot in life than that of the true
wife of noble husband"
"Fiddlesticksl said Aunt 10. Gas if
every poor fool dazzled by the gilt
ter of wedding ring didn't say the very
same thing! You've disappointed me,
Mary ClairmOnt. and Pm ashamed of
you, and that S the long and short of the
Natter
"Dear Aunt 10" said she, 81 shall not
let my sword and shield rust, believe me.
Harry has only his own talents to ad
vance him in this world, and it will be at
least a year before we shall be ready 10
marry. In the meantime | shall accept
the post of visiting physician to the Al
denbury almshOuse and practice my
profession in Aldenbury just the same as
if there were no engagement"
II wish to goodness there wasn' t, said
Aunt 10. II tell you what, Mary, do
not fancy that smiling, smooth-tongued
young man of yours, and don't think l
ever shall"
Still DR.. Mary Clairmont kept her tenn
per.
81 am sorry, Aunt Jo," she said pleas
antly, "but hope that you will in the
end change your mind"
81 used to keep thread and needle
store when | was a young wOman," re-
marked Aunt 10, dTyly, "and | always
could tell the ring of a counterfeit half
dollar when customer laid it the cOu =
ter. | could then and | can now-and
tell you what, Mary, there's base metal
about Harry NARROW"
Mary bit her lip.
perhaps. We will not discuss the
subject further, Aunt Jo," she said with
quiet dignity, and the old lady said no
more.
"Aunt 10 is wrong" said Mary to her
self
'Mary is making fool of herself" "
thought Aunt Jo