Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1893-09-22

"1n timel" repeated Jack, i'm
patiently. "Why, EVE, he don't
change his views on any subject within
five years time"
"Well," she said, with O sigh, 81
suppose we shall have to wait, even il
it is as long rs that"
One day the squire, returning from
his morning ride, found his daughter
and his sister seated in the pleasant
little sitting-room opening upon the
garden.
Eva's white fingers were deftly
fashioning some rosecolored ribbons
into dainty knots and loops.
"What are those for" her father
inquired, as he seated himself in his
own big armchair and unfolded his
paper while CHANGING admiringly at the
silken stuff.
"To wear at this lawn party this
evening, papa. And you will 60 with
us, of course?"
"a lawn partyr All, 1 had for
gottenl Well. where is it to beat
the Lyens'?"
"At the Rivertons'," Miss Maddox
said
He scowled as he roughly shook out
his paper
81 don't wish to interfere with your
pleasures or enjoyments, Eva," he
said, "but would rather that you
should not so to this party at the
Rivertons'.
She knew that when her father ex-
pressed wish, 1t was intended as
command, and her hands dropped
listlessly into her lap, crushing the
crisp ribbons. Tears forced them
selves between the long lashes, and
she presently rose and quietly left the
room.
Then Miss Maddox looked up from
her own work, and there was some
thing unusual in her expression.
Archibald" she sad, gravely, II
have something to say TO you. I
would warn You not to carry this
matter too far, nor to be too hard
upon Eva and Jack Riverton, lest you
drive her into open disobedience and
even an elopement.
can elopementl"
His sister took from the little work
box which Eva had left on the table O
folded letter.
II found this here, just where you
see that she keeps it. Perhaps !
ought not to have read it, seeing that
it is q love letter but, Under the cir
cumstances, l consider it my duty to
let you know the contents. viii you
read it, or shall do SOP"
The squire replied with a sort OF
inarticulate grunt, which his sister
interpreted in her own way. and
accordingly commenced reading,
aloud:
my own precious angel, Eva"
''Bah |" said the squire, with an ex-
preston Of unutterable disgust.
" since cruel and relentless fate at pres
emit forbids our meeting, can but take this
unsatisfactory method OF communicating
with you, and telling you, my own dearest
darling, Of how unspeakably and unutterably
uohl YOU hic " Hic.
"The fool!" muttered the squire.
"'Oh, my souls beloved"
"For heavens sake, Matilda, spare
me any more of that sickening and
idiotic stuff Why, it's worse even
that l would have thought Jack River.
ton capable Of What were you say.
ing about an elopement?"
at is this" answered his sister,
glancing down the page:
Il find that l cannot exist apart from
you, and since your unfeeling father"
"Humph!"
" will not consent to our union We must
take our fortunes into our own hands and
defy any earthly power to keep us
asuuder.'
1.-THE rascal - cried the squire,
starting erect in his chair.
But his sister put out her hand,
deprecatingly.
"Hear the rest, Archibald!"
"Not another word The idea of a
rascal and idiot like that presuming to
court my daughter"
'But at least hear the last lines:
" Goodnight, my souls beloved May
angels fan you to slumber with their fra.
grance-laden wings and in your dreams
think OF your own devoted
"'ARCHIBALD MADDOX"
There was blank, bewildered
pause.
"What does this mean, Matilda?
What letter is that?"
His sister quietly handed it to him.
at is one which you wrote over
,wenty years ago to the woman whom
you loved and married. Eva Chesney.
Your daughter found it few days ago
lmong some old letters and papers in
he attic closet"
The squire looked over the faded
md torn sheet as one in dream.
81 would not have believed that I
ould ever have written in style such
8 this" he said, in a strangely sub
Iued voice.
And yet you were devoted hus-
and and made your wife happy
He read the letter through, and
1oisture gathered in his eyes.
eve are apt to forget-apt to for
ct ~ he muttered, Ms he refolded it.
just then Eva entered the room.
81 must put away my work" she
aid, apologetically, and there we're
races of tears in her eyes
Her father put out his hand, and
rev her gently to her former seat.
"Sit down, dear, and finish your
ibbons. l will take you over to
be Rivertons' this evening"
And Eva never knew until after he1
marriage to Jack Riverton what had
aused 80 sudden II change in her
ither'sviews and sentiments in regard
- hot