The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-03-02

|
very hard at nothing, or perhaps at the
wall. Could he have seen his own face
| Just then he would have been surprised
at the change that had come over it.
There was a hopeless, despairing ex-
preston there which would seem quite
inexplicable to any of those who knew
| him best.
There's no other way; I'll have to
do it," he suddenly exclaimed, at the
same time rising abruptly. Then he
put on his hat and coat, went out and
walked rapidly away.
The evening of that day found him
at the house OF Judge Sharpe, sitting in
the library, apparently engrossed in Il
legal volume. But as he had been star
ing at the same page for the past ten
minutes, and that page happened TO
contain merely "a portion of the index,
it is doubtful that he was as deeply EN-.
crossed as he seemed to be.
A light step fell upon the carpeted
floor behind him. A young girl had
enl cred the room. A very pretty young
girl she was, and the glad smile that
lighted up her face when she saw the
young man made her all the prettier.
Walter Losing had evidently not con
fined himself to Judge Sharpe's library
on his previous visits. If he had, the
judges daughter would not have been
so pleased IT, see him.
PoriDg over dry legal volumes, as
usual, l see; what perplexing case rests
heavily on your mind now, Walter?
Why, what ails you? You look as glum
as if you had lost your last friend"
Tossing had turned and risen as the
young girl spoke, and the light, stream
Ing upon his face, showed 1t TO be in
deed mirror of everything gloomy aud
disheartening.
'lt isn't law case that is troubling
me; / would it were only that" he re.
piled, with a sigh that was almost a
groan.
" What is it, then? Has any msfor-
tune befaIlen youp'
" Yes, a misfortune indeed; or al
least ii seems TO be, now. Doubtless il
is all for the best"
What are you talking about? Why
don't you tell me what troubles your"
L came for that purpose-that l
might tell you. After this evening we
must not meet again"
repeated the words, slowly, as if she
could not grasp their full meaning.
The color surged to her cheeks and then
receded, leaving her very pale.
What do you mean, Walter? What
has happened? You cannot be in earn,
est"
:" But / am in earnest; have brought
myself to this after the hardest mental
struggle man could possibly undergo.
must be in earnest about this; it is
my duty; | would be dishonorable if |
did otherwise. But l am talking
wildly, at random; l hardly know
what | am saying or what to say or
how to say it. | heard some advice to
day; it came from your father, am in
honor bound to follow it. This is what
he told me-"
Walter rather incoherently recounted
what judge Sharpe had told him of the
case of Lewis versus Lewis, and the
comments he had made on that case.
And is that all?" asked Nellie,
when he had finished. She smiled
little as she asked the question, and
close observer would have noticed that
a sigh of relief passed her lips.
All? Is it not 100 much? Know
ing that your father holds this view,
can | do otherwise than give you up"
~ huught you had more pluck" said
the young girl, with just "a suggestion
of scorn in her voice.
g. 1t is not a matter of courage. but of
conscience, of honor. Can | 90 to the
man who gives me such advice as |
have received, who tells me never to
marry a woman who is beyond my sta
ton financially, I'd ask him to give me
his daughter who is dearer to him than
all else? am poor; have none but
the most probematical prospects; while
can readily see my position"
But l can't see it in the light in
which you place it. l thought you had
sufficient faith in me not TO believe that
would do AS that dreadful woman did
of whom my father told you. Your
prospects are certainly better than you
represent them. Furthermore, my
father would yield to my wishes.''
l do not lack faith in you; heaven
knows how strong that faith is; it is
because would feel that l had acted
treacherously toward one who has been
my best friend if held you TO your
your promise, that have decided to do
that which will take all happiness out
of my liie."
"Probably it never occurred to you
that the happiness of any one else
might suffer; it seems that l am not
at ALL"
You will soon forget; you will be
happier than l could ever make you"
"Ohl certainly, we women forget so
easily; it is only The men that remem-
Der; only the hearts of men that are
broken. However, since you wish it
so, it is not for me to object"
SIT is not what wish: it is what l
must do "
but suppose l should refuse to ac-
cept your decision; suppose l should
assert my rightsP Suppose should in.
sist at least on your trying for term of
years to bring your financial condition
up to what you consider the proper
stsndard?"
1T would be wrong to keep you