Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-07-10

much uclcn'N 1t would bC roper Tor me
to come in person.
"Fur me, MIR. Bhodes-the attachment
for me?'
"As l was saying, Miss Morgan, the at
tachment l nave, and | felt it "A matter Of
dclicacy to come in person, thinking that
my own means might be considered if
there was any deficiency in the value Of
this property"
Mr.. Rhodes, you seem to be rather
enismatical. So
Il nevertheless" said Mir. r., "mean
to speak very plainly when | say that with
reference to this attachment, Miss Nor
gan, should you honor me SO far as to ac-
Cept my procession my %pccuniary means
would be devoted to the-to the attach
ment. "
81 was" said Miss Morgan, wholly
unprcparcd for this"
81 was afraid that was the case, " said
Mr.. Rhodes, land therefore | thought it
nore delicate to make the offer in person"
"You are very considcrate, Mr.. Rhodes"
Gam |, then, to understand, Miss Nor
gan, that my proposition is agreeable to
you-in other words, that it is accepted
Mr.. Rhodes, 3" said the lady, with much
hesitation, ~ must claim a little time to
think of it."
Il will call, then, on my return from
the village beyond"
Let me ask a little more time,'' said
she. Say next week"
Miss Morgan said Mr.. Rhodes, "the
matter requires immediate answer. Thu
attachment is of an old date, and time
now is everything. My feelings are deeply
Interested, and may | not hope that, while
you are using SO short a time to consider a
subject which you are pleased to view as
Of such great delicacy with regard to your
self, you will allow my feelings to weigh
with you in deciding in favor of my prop
%osition, which, l assure you, is made after
due dclibcration upon my ability to per-
form my part of the contract.
Mr.. Rhodes then took his leave, astonish-
ed at his own volubility, which, indeed,
nothing could have induced but his desire
to relieve one SO much esteemed rs Miss
Morgan from present embarrassment.
Mr.. Rhodes drove to a n%eighboring place
deeply occupied with his good purposes to-
ward Miss Morgan, satisfying himself that
the pccuniary sacrifice he had proposed was
due to his untold and unknown affection
for her and not beyond his means.
Miss Morgan felt a renewal of all those
feelings which had rather been dormant
than quenchcd in her bosom and desired
the advice of her married sister, who was
unfortunately absent. That Mr.. Rhodes
had once felt n strong attachment to her
she could not doubt. That he had continued
to cherish, as she had done, the reciprocal
feeling she had not ventured to hope. But
rs it was evident that the proposition of
Mr.. Rhodes was not from any sudden i'm
pulse, Miss Morgan resolved to signify her
assent to n proposition so worthy of con-
sideration on all accounts.
In less than W hours Mr.. Rhodes drove
up to the door again, fastened his horse
and was rcadmittcd to the little back par
lor which he had occupied in an earlier
part Of the day.
"Miss Morgan said Mr.. Rhodes, "be-
fore receiving your answer, which / trust
you are prepared to give in favor of accept
ing my proposals, l wish TO state to you
that l have considered all the circum-
stances of my situation and yours and find
myself better able, from some previously
unconsidercd matters. to keep my part of
the arrangement than l thought myself
when l venturod to make the offer; so that
the kindrc>-, il You will have that word
used in this matter, is all on your side. "
"Undcr present circumstances mean
those of our long acquaintance and our
ltllllAAN AA4NhAANAh AlAfAAEh VI ANAAN ItlbllNl
interrupted, ~ slid Miss Morgan, land my
right. by years, " she added, casting a
glance ut a looking glass that showed only
matured womanhood, Ito speak for my
self, l have Concluded to consider your pro-
posal favorahly.
Consider, Miss Morgan, consider favor
ably! May l not hope you mean that you
will accept it,
Miss Morgan cave no answer.
"Nay, then, it is accepted, " said Mr..
Rhodes with II vivacitythat Miss Morgan
thought would have brought him to her
lips-her hand at Least.
Glow happy you nave made me, - said
Mr.. Rhodes. Having now disposed Of
this matter, there are ten days allowed"
"That's very short, ~ said Miss Morgan,
"only ten days. You seem to be in a haste
unusual to you at least.
alt j. the attachment, and not l, that is
imperative"
"You speak rather abstractedly, Mr..
Rhodes"
"But truly, very truly, Miss Morgan"
"But why limit lis to ten days."
"Ihc attachment REQUIRES it,"
81 thought, " said she, smiling, the at
tachment would hc ior lhe.'
Mr. Rhodes looked exceedingly con-
fused. At length he started suddenly to-
ward the lady.
MY dear Miss Morgan, is it possible
that for once in my life l have blundered
into the right path: Can 1 have been so
fortunately misconceiycd?"
eff there is any mistake" said Miss
Morgan, Il hope it will be cleared up i'm
mediately. l can scarcely think that Mr..
Rhodes would Intentionally offend IN I'M
protected orphan, the daughter of his for
mer friends.
Mr.. Rhodes hastily pulled from his
pocket his writ of attachment and showed
it to Miss Morgan.
"This is certainly your name, and this
property
is the disputed possession, " said Miss
Morgan, "of my sister-in-law of the same
name, Mrs. Susan Morgan"
Mr.. Rhodes stood COMPOUNDED. He was
Gfraid of the course which the matter was
likely IN take