News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1895-11-14
Almost Parted.
BY FERN GREENLEAF.

eff Colin Delorme would only fall
i'll love with and marry Miss Camp
bell, how nice it would bel" said
stout ood-natured Mrs. Gay to her
companion in loud aside.
"For her-yes," was the curt re-
ply. He is wealthy enough in any
case, but what would half of old
Campbell's property be for one
brought up as she has been? l hear
the place is mortgaged heavily, and
the-ofd man lost By speculation be-
fore he died; so his niece is not the
heiress we fancied. Yes, it would be
very lucky thing for her if Colin De-
lorme should ask her to marry him,
and | have no doubt she would jump
at the chance"
madam, said q clear voice at the
woman's chair, which made her start
and glance hastily at the fair young
face above her, madam, you honor
myself and my affairs too greatly"
Voice and face belonged to the girl
of whom they had been speaking,
Honor Campbell, and as the gossip
stammered forth some sort of
apology, she turned and glided from
the room, every pulse in her body
quivering with anger, wounded pride,
and perhaps far keener pain.
Whyhad she allowed herself to be
coaxed into Appearing among the
guests of her cousin, to whom the old
fman laid so recently in his grave was
~ A. hnr hn
deer us f3her?%
Why had she brought her mourn
ing robes and her mourning heart
forth from retirement, even when
friends pleaded with her to do so?
And they thought her poor enough
"to jump at a chance" of marrying
Colin Delorme because he was to
share her uncle's possessions with her
and had wealth of his own-Colin
Delorme, with his frank, handsome
face and his CHEEKY voice, and his
heart of gold, which any living
woman might prize more than the
crown of a king!
How heartless and material people
were, she told herself as she went bur-
ridly out to the little garden, which
sloped down to q sheltered spot-a
dell often visited by her.
In the path, with it's checkered
light, she came face to face with the
object of her thoughts-Colin Delor-
me.
Glow pale you are, Honor" he
said to her, looking with eyes OF
tenderness which she did not see into
her young face. care you ill?"
"Thank you-no."
"Then let me tell you what l have
been thinking of, Honor. Our uncle
divided all he had between us. Let
US make no division, dear-and let
us join our lives and leave the old
place as it is. Do yon think | could
make you happy as my wife, Honor,
my darling? would try hard. ]
think | could succeed. Will you risk
your life in my hands? Honor, you
are as white as death. Have l star.
tied you? | thought you knew my
heart this long timel l know uncle
did"
Had he said such words to her but
the previous day-but an hour De
fore-how gladly she would have put
out her hands to him and said -
eyer, Colin; l know your heart
and will trust my life in your hands
1t has known no lovesave that which
you have taught it, and am only
happy when you are near mel"
But the words of the gossip were
fresh in her memory, the humiliation
which they aroused still ragged hotly
in her breast.
With low little laugh she turned
from him to gather up the long trail
of her black dress, and her grey eye
grew bitter.
"You are far too generous" sh
said, coldly. 81 learned to-day tina
you are quite expected to ask me t.
marry you, Colin, by our kindly &C
quaintances. You have not dis
appointed them-you have asket
me; but am not yet so poor in sou
if am in purse. | will not MARI,
you for the sake of keeping the ole
home, dear as it is. Thanks, Colin
for your generosity; am not tempt
ed | take no advantage of it"
His face was quite white as sh
spoke these cold words--she who hat
ever seemed so sweet and gentle, 81
softly womanly to him.