Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-07-31

really that sort of thing is not so very
cay TO cay; besides |, like all heiresses,
h,Jd had such an experience of match
baking mothers that / WIS little dis
posed to show any consideration for
them as race. Ny engagement to
Granville was not generally known in
Tho county, SO that by this time most Of
our neighbors, including Colonel Whar
ton, had begun to scent a romance. The
time bonored materials were ready to
their hand-the handsome young man,
the rioh young woman, the accident and
it's ihvariable results. 1t was reasonable
enough that they should smile and look
knowing when they called to inquire;
and did not think 1t worth while to IN
deceive them.
Yet they were not deceived. People
who take commonplace, everyday view
bf things seldom are, and | don't know
that there Is anything very surprising in
a disabled young man becoming en-
amored of a comparatively young won-
an with whom he Is brought into con-
tact all day and every day, even though
she be a black browed young woman
and two years his senior, and no great
beauty. Especially if you throw in the
fiddle What, | own, did rather sur
prise me was the extreme reluctance
that | felt to administer tho requisite
dose of cold water to my young conva-
lescent. | had never experienced the
smallest compunction in previous cases
Of similar kind, because, Of course,
was old enough to know that of all IN
happy mortals man who has been
crossed in love Is the first TO find conso-
lation; but then in previous cases l had
teen willing and anxious to get rid of
my adnirer, whereas ! did not at all
wish to get rid of Mr., Longfield, How
ever, he soon grew so demonstrative that
1t was impossible for mo any longer to
shirk a distasteful task, and one after
noon, when lie had almost told mo in so
many words that be loved me, | rushed
Mt it neutrality-suspicious. because | could
not trust myself TO linger upon tho
thought of how delightful such an avow-
al might have been to me under other
circumstances.
walked away from the piano, at
which he was sitting, replaced my violin
in its case and remarked casually; 81
am 50 glad that our musical perform
ances have helped to while away tho
time for you little, | suppose | shall
have to hang up the fiddle and the bow
for good before long, because my future
husband unluckily Isn't an admircr Of
music, Did tell you that | am going
to be married in the spring tony cousin,
,ro a
know that rising politician by namo if
you haven't met him.
a very long tilne-quite II minute,
should think-elapsed before he an
swered me, but when he did so his VOICE
was under control, though he could not
Keep slightly reproachtul ring out of it.
! forget what he said-some nonsense, |
believe. about the high character which
Granville bore, aud his worthincss of the
great prizc that he hal secured. Poor
Ooy And yet it was ridiculous to pity
him. 1t would have lcen great dc,,!
more to the purpose, as could not help
feeling after Ia! left the room, to pity
mvscii, tor indeed may as we'll admit
at once that | loved him.
can truly say that had never loved
any man before, and | can add with
equal truth that WAS fully conscious Of
my folly in loving this youth, who was
sure to forget me As soon as he should bo
out in the world once more. knew
that Ao WIS really fond of me for the
tlIae being; | did not suspect him of hay
ing been attracted by the beaux yeux do
ma cassette, but then | also knew that
was tWenty-scveu, while he was only
twenty-five. All the same had very
little sleep that night, and before morn
ing had resolved that everything should
be at an end between mo and Gran
vile. My conclusion-an1 | still think
was right in so concluding-wjls that
ought not to marry him, loving some
body else. | do not deny that | had
hopes with regard TO the effect Of this
decision upon somebody else, but ! do
say that | should not have acted other
wise even If had had ID hopes, and
was we'll aware that was about 10 lay
myself open to the taunt Of having fall
EN- between two stools. Before break
fast telegraphed to Granville to come
down at once, after which | made some
excuse for driving off to the neighboring
county town and lunching there.
wished, if possible, to get the impending
interview over before | saw Mr.. Long
field again