The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-02-10
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years abroad as Mrs. Grusvenor's COM
panion; she had done a great many
things-her duty noticeably-and yet her
life held no sort of fruition.
She grew very sad when she reflected.
She had often wondered why it was; but
now she had come to the conclusion that
it must be her own fault-all owing to
her own weakness. The truth had been
forced upon her by certain episode.
DR.. Severance had asked her to marry
him; and he >eemed both surprised and
angry when she told him she was already
engaged-had been for over six years.
"What are you waiting for?" he had
asked, brusquely
1--WE are both poor" Lydia answered
brayely. ''IIe has his neither to support
and two sisters to educate, and it is very
difficult for young lawyer to make any
heddway."
in that case, should give it up"
said the doctor, bluntly. "Are you GO
ing to waste your youth waiting for this
man, Miss Dayton? Don't you think it
would be much more sensible for you
both to dissolve such relationship
am not speaking now as lover, but as
friend You are both old enough and
sensible enough to take the matter phil
Osophically. Ii you were free you might
life sweet and pleasant; and-perhaps
he might find some rich girl who could
help HIM out of his difficult es."
These words had sunk deep into Ly-
dia's mind; she thought of them for
months. 1t was not that she cared to
marry Doctor Severance; she knew that
she could never do that under any Cir
cumstances, and he knew it too. He had
given up all hope of making her his wife,
and gradually they were drifting into
confidential and friendly intercourse
which suited them mu3h better. Still
the DOCTORS suggestion had fingered in
Lydia's memory. She felt the force of
what he had SAID, and was trying to
come to a conclusion. OF course, she
must have ceased to care for Henry Os-
borne as she once had, or she could not
have argued the matter as she did. But
she still was very fond of him, and, when
she had made up her mind to break off
her engagement, the resolution cost her
many bitter pang.
She was long time in writing the let
ter which explained the motives of her
action; but she sent it off at last, together
with the little plain gold ring, now some
what worn away on the edges, and
great many letters signed in bold hand,
YOURS faithfully. Henry"
She felt as though she had been to
funeral, when she came back from the
post office; and, in the sorrowful fulness
of her heart, she told Doctor Severance
what she had done.
81 think you have acted wisely, Lydia"
he said, in the friendly fashion which
had grown natural between them.
II think so, DOCTOR" she replied; "but
if could only feel perfectly sure!"
Nobody ever does any important
thing without dOubts," he said, kindly;
nobody can tell about the issue of any
thing. But that ought not to concern us.
What we have to deal with is the princi-
pie, and l think we are about right
there
81 don't know" Lydia answered, her
eyes filling up with tears. sit seems
very false and treacherous when l think
of throwing him over just because he is
too poor to marry me-"
''If he is man of sense" said the doc
tor warmly, "he will see it as you do. 1t
certainly is not right for either of you to
prolong such an affair forever. What
does an engagement mean, if not mar
riage? Yours was nothing but mock
cry, Lydia. 1t absorbed your thoughts
and energies without any return. 1t was
bad for both of YOU"
"Perhaps it was,' said lydia, With
wan smile 81 don't suppose happiness
is worth calculating"
"'There is a blessedness that is higher
than happiness, quoted the doctor
Don't you remember, LydlaP / was in
love with you once, and yet | have come
down to commonplace friendship which
is a great comfort to me-"
YES" said Lydia, with faint sigh.
"But fancy you were not so very much
in love with me, after ALL"
Woman-like, she was not without some
vague regret that in gaining friend she
had lost lover.
1t was several days after this that Ly-
dia received letter from Henry Osborne.
1t was dated week before, but, owing
to slight mistake in the address, or
rather an ELIGIBILITY due to hasty writ
ing, it had made roundabout tour and
reached her much belated. When she
received it, she fancied it was an answer
to her own letter; but, the moment she
opened il, she knew it was written be-
fore hers; the two, of vastly different
tenor, had passed each other on the way.
"My darling" it began, 81 cannot tell
you with what strong feeling / write you
this morning. | am so beside myself
with Joy that fear l cannot give you
very intelligent account of what has
changed the whole aspect of my life
our lives, mean to say-my uncle left
me several small lots in little town in
Western Pennsylvania. / was only boy
at the time, and no account was made of
the legacy-for the property was worth
only few hundred dollars, and it has
lain idle ever since. But now it has sud
denly become valuable. The discovery
of large Oil-well on the adjoining lands
has made nay poor lots worth an enor-
nous sum. To-day have sold them to
New York syndicate for large sum.
am rich man, dearest, and you know
what that implies! am coming to you
at oncel After all these years of waiting,
have suddenly grown inpatient; want
to be married Immediately. There is no
reason why we should wait any longer.
We have lost SO much time that we can
not afford to lose any more. Oh, my
darlingl am SO proud and happy when
/ remember how faithfully you have
waited for me all these years of poverty
and separation. My heart glows when
think of it, and / thank God heartily for
the blessing of your Lowell shall be
with you in a week. / am settling up my
business, with a view of taking you
abroad for several years. Till see you.
then, my darling, and through all time
to come, yours faithfully,
Henry"