Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1895-12-13

INA4lN anu LuuOC hIlll 4uS1 lOA lllGlll
bigger boys simply ignored him.
Grown to manhood, there was but
little change in him. His juniors
snubbed him and voted him a fool;
his seniors for the most pant imposed
upon him. He submitted to it all
with the best possible grace, glad only
to be taken notice of in any way, and
apparently considering that il was the
only thing he could expect. Then, as
though life itself, rs it stood, did not
hold sufficient bitterness for him, he
fell in love.
He must have known from the very
first that it was all hopeless, and that
it could at the best only disturb his
peace of mind. But he went on,
nevertheless, in his own dull, stupid
fashion, content only to touch her
hand occasionally, to get sort of
second-rate smile from her. It is
probable that there was no thought OF
any future in his mind.
Hewould turn up quite unexpectedly
at any place to which he knew she
would be going. He would finger
about nervously and unhappily in
corners, so that he might have the OPP
portunity of looking at her. He
seemed to ask for nothing more.
He would carry parcels and run
messages for the pretty child she
was but little more-and considered
himself we'll paid if he received only a
smile in return.
Once she was i'll, and he scarcely
left the house in which she lay until
she was we'll again. He haunted it by
day; he fingered about ainlessly at
night. He ruined himself by his Law
ish purchases OF flowers and hot-house
fruit.
When at last one summer day he
was told that she was conyalescent,
and that she would see him, lie felt
that heaven was within sight.
He was shown out into a garden,
where she was seated in a great chair,
with all her delicate beauty thrown
into stronger relief by the white bear,
skin rug against which she leaned.
She looked so pale and weak that,
if anything could have increased his
love for her, her appearance alone
would have done it.
'You have been very kind, Mr.
Tucker" she said in low voice, land
I am very grateful. You have done
so much for me, and your flowers have
been with me every day."
There were tears in her brown eyes
as she finished speaking and held out
her hand to him. Then it was that
William Tucker made the one chief
mistake Of his life, and, in stammer-
ing utterances, tried to tell her of the
emotion which possessed him. But
she stayed him with light hand upon
his lips.
II am more grateful even than be-
fore," she said slowly, "but you offer
me gift which I cannot accept. I
cannot tell you how sorry 1 am or how
much 1 believe in all that you have
told me. But I love another man,
and l love him very dearly"
He was silent for a few moments,
standing there with his eyes cast upon
the ground like scolded schoolboy.
But he looked up at last, with some.
thing of smile breaking across the
whiteness of his face.
II might have known" he said
slowly; 81 might have known, above
all things, that it is not for such a man
as I am to snatch so great prize.
might have known that it was the best
and wisest thing for me to remain
only your friend-only your faithful
dog, who may try to be of service to
you sometimes. Can you forgive me
sufficiently to let me still hold that
place in your thouRhts?"
81 shall hope that you will be my
very good friend always, Mr.. Tucker ,
she said gently. 81 am to marry
Lieutenant Lacey. 1 should have told
you before"
believe me, I am very glad" he
replied. 81 am only dull dog, but
should be a poor sort of fellow in.
deed if I did not appreciate your kind
ness and your confidence"
Thereafter the dull, stupid, com.
monplace man showed SO delicate O
TACT and was also so cheerfuly gener'
GUS to the man who had taken the
place he had hoped to occupy, that
she grew to have regard for him that
was almost like that of a younger sis
Ter for brother in whom she implic
lily believed and trusted. For his
part, he was proud of the position
and would not have lost 1t for any
thing else that the world might offer