The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-08-30
HIS FRIENDS DECEIT.

There was a ueIeCltu l'h VII 49,
Gardeners face as he seated himself al
his writing table, and, in spite OF him
self. a sigh escaped him He had
come to the parting of the ways IN ms
existence-w now confronting the
fact that the career of honor, ease and
usefulness which, three or four years
ago. he had mentally mapped out Tor
realization. was impossible of attain
mept His hopes were dead. Only one
thing remained for him TO do now
But that was surely the hardest OF
them all. That was the primal cause
of his detection and that was the
source Of his sigh. His lip quivcred,
and his fingers trcmhled as he stretch
ed forth his hand and took up pen
For a moment he toyed nervously with
it. as if unable to trace the necessary
words on the paper before him, Then
he wrote -
Dear Brenda My heart fails me as
begin this task. but honor compelS
the conviction that il is a necessary
one. BY the time this reaches you
shall be many miles upon nay journey
1t seems but yesterday since settee
here and opened my doors for the re
ception of patients. ! had some e. OOt
then. and | believed that, by iudicioui
management. il would suffice until
had made a start. In spite of energy
frugality. and, | believe, skill, m.
practice has yet to be begun. My wait
ing has been in vain. and my bras
plate insufficient to attract the pracn
cal attention of those requiring medl
cal aid Now | have come to the en-
of my resources aud | must leave yol
YOU whom love better than life,
have made up my mind to WOO Forum
in a foreign land. know you love me
and the recollection of the many happ
hours we have spent together will, i
the future. as in the past, toe cheer
fui incentive To me in my work Bu
| dare not ask you to wait my return
hone for success. but | had hope
for il at the outset, and the iutut
NAV possibly be as unpropitious, an
the hopes as visionary as those OF III
mast. No: however powerful my lncl
nations. Justice to yourself compels m
ia reliauish the claim | have hithert
had upon YOU. Consider yourself, thet
r Brenda. under no obligation to yol
old love. Pray for me and may Go
bless YOU Ever yours in heart.
Paul.
It was written at last He dare NJ
breathe good by-dare not utter one {
. those terms Of endearment he had bee
! accustomed TO use. His heart W.
: ouickly sinking within him. To pau'
for a moment would be fatal hesitation
He did not read the letter through
but placed it quickly in an envelop
and. hurriedly directing and sealir
il. deposited it on the mantelpiece OF
~ sipbt. as if he would fain forget i
existence. At that moment the do
opened. and Paul looked up as n
friend, Mark Trevor, entered.
Come in, Trevor, and don't NH
the confusion. " he said. I'm gil
to see you, as | was Just going to io'
you up. -.
BY Jove! Then you really inter
leaving us?" said Trevor, elevatlng h
eyebrows and attempting a smile.
) thought when you mentioned II la
week that it was the outcome OF II
pulse and disgust. But. my dear IL
low. why this haste: And Miss Heat
cote-Brenda You surely
Trevor, don't. At times, as TIM
of her, my resolution waivers, and YET
- know | am right in what | am ado
to do. " H.,
but is she not aware of your depal
ure?'
mo: neither can | tell her yer
ally. Her tears would make me wea
and | want to spare her, as well
myself. the pain of saying farewell.
Farewell! Nonsense. You II g
. an appointment out there, on landln
and in few months at most you'll,
, back again for your bride, and
L. cloud. evidently the outcome OF &C
templating such possibility, obsc'
ed Trevor's face.
A silence of some moments follow,
Then Trevor resumed his gayety,
face lit up with hope and his e!
scintillated with more than ordlni
- brilliancy.
: We'll. WELL" he said, you KIN
vour own affairs best, | suppose al