Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-10-04
HER CONFESSION.


cd i'll having mo "1nished" to
the fashionable patent. was beautiful,
willful, utterly selfish and q devotee of the
art of flirting. So accomplished, Ireturncd
to my old home. A gay party went with
me, with whom 1 was to make the round
of watering places after a short visit to
my father.
Tho Sabbath before we were to start we
all went to the old village church., 1 shall
never forget that day. AS we all sat silent
there was slight rustling of leaves and
the impOrCCptible stir that announces Il
newcomer, and l turned to see that the
clergyman had entered nOiselessly. He
was knccling ut his desk, but when, after
"a moment, he rose l saw pale, intellec-
tual face, u grand head covered by light,
waving hair of golden brown, a tall figure
finely proportional, but little too slight
for the indication of robust health was
attracted and interested at first, but when
he began to read the deep, melodious in.
flCCtlunS Of his voice completed the charm.
listened en- anced.
From thai instant I saw nothing felt
nothing bh his presence, until the service
and $40 sermun We're ended.
Mechanically l followed my friends into
the porch. sudden summer shower was
gathering, tho air was chill, and nature
wore the gray hue so Ominous of her COM
ing commissions. had been unconscious
of the change, but the chill wind had been
blowing upon me from an open window as
1 sat in church, and now l shuddered as,
taking my fathers arm, 1 hurried home
ward. Before we reached the house the
storm broke, and all but the swiftest pc
destrians were thoroughly drenched. Ere
nightfall burning fever alternated with icy
chills in MY Frame and the effect of draft
and drcnching declared themselves.
Mr. Fletcher had been invited by my IA
ther to dine with us, but had excused him
self with the simple remark that his duties
absorbed the entire Sabbath day. But
during the week and after our friends had
left us, he called. 1 saw him in the little
morning room where 1 rested upon q
couch, and he dined with my father. This
visit va. ollowcd by many others, until
at last ne dined with us nearly every day
and spent most evenings in listening to
my performances upon the pianOforte or
in conversing with me.
saw the effect of my charms. knew
that l was beautiful, and the world de-
L
art that had learned to lure this silent
grave youth to my feet. 1t was a triumph
to bend his intellect to girls WILL and
liked him too But 1 am sure no thought
of the future or of the consequences of my
act ever intruded upon me.
And yet l suffered too, for was not
destitute Of sympathy and my heart not
wholly untouched, either, by the profound
devotion of the silent, grave man, when 1
listened to his declaration of love and
spoke the words that separated us forever.
went up to my room half angry with
myself. But 1 stiflcd the silent monitor,
and ordered my maid to prepare for the
journey was about to undertake to join
my friends at Newport.
The morning l left home my father
mentioned casually, that he had heard
that Mr.. Fletcher was very i'll. 1 felt my
self grow pale and cold, but 1 stined my
emotions and in a constrained voice ex-
pressed my regret and begged my father to
inform me in his letters of his state.
Two years later was. in Italy with my
husband-the husband of my Aunt st.
Glars choice. l had made grand match,
but l was not happy.
One night l saw my husband making
his way toward me through a crowded sa-
loon. pressed forward, for felt the need
of his protection from advances that were
insults, though perhaps not intended as
such. He drew my arm in his, but did
not speak until we reached the anteroom.
Then he told me that he had been sum
moned to the bedside of a dying country
man and that he had come from this mel
ancholy visit to conduct me thither. He
would tell me no more, and when l re-
fused to- go he compelled me, almost by
force, to accompany him.
1t was to Mr.. Fletcher we were going
We found him in humble lodgings, for he
had spent his last dollar. and was reduced
to die in the midst of poverty and depriva-
ton. He had heard of lis, had seen us
when he crawled forth upon the piazza and
had ventured to send for us in his extrem-
ity. He uttered no reproaches, though he
told me, in hollow accents, that my rejec-
ton had been his doom, and now that he
was dying, he desired only to look upon
my face.
l knew then how 1 had loved John
Fletcher, and if the sacrifice of my life
would have saved his, most gladly would l
have died that hour.
But God willed otherwise.
told my husband all as we returned in
the purple Italian twilight from the flu
neral. We had hated each other before,
but now new antagonism had arisen.
We felt that the false and hollow bonds
that bound us must be snapped asunder.
1 left him in Naples and returned alone to
America, thus voluntarily renouncing the
station of wifehood and compelling myself
20 seclusion and solitude.
Years have passed since that hour. Ny
father has long been dead, and l should
live quite alone at Verdhill but for the
sweet presence of a fair young girl-Johr
Fletcher's sister. found her-a mere in.
fant-On nv return abandoned to poverty