Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-10-21

life to May Talbot, my heart shrank
from the only way in which l could
offer ii. Common sense spoke very
plainly. Only as my wife could | give
TO May the tender care, the love, that
might throw some gladness into her
life. And /, like coward, thought of
tne long misery of my own life tied to
Q deformed woman that did not love.
So came home, slave in my own idea
10 my duty, and resolved to wear my
chains bravely. 1t was summer wealth
er again when / went to Owls Nest,
and, to my surprise, the house was full
of guests, most of them young people.
/ think that May must have gathered
something of my intention from my
letters, for she was no longer child,
and suffering had made her womanly
even beyond her years. only guessed
this from her manner. j had expected
TO meet frank, cousinly welcome, for
our correspondence had been like that
of an affectionate brother and sister,
but May was dignified and even chill
ing in her greeting. 1t was soon evil
dent TO me that she was trying to thrust
other ladies who were her guests upon
my care, and to avoid me as far as pos
sible."
"But was she repulsive, BobY
"Repulsiyel She was far from it, my
poor darling. Feeling her deformity,
as such sensitive natures do feel any
personal defect, she had a morbid idea
that she was hideous and yet cray
ing to be loved, if she could not be sd-
mired. Governed by this wish, she had
cultivated a naturally fine intellect by
constant study, porting over books
when other girls of her age would have
been seeking pleasure in flrtations or
amusements. With a sweet, pleasant
voice and a good ear for music, she
had cultivated musical taste till she
was wonderfully proficient, and her
singing was a pure delight to her
friends. But for me she never sang;
she never played; never ehatted as she
did with her other friends, and avoided
me so persistently that at last horri-
BILE fear took possession of me. In spite
of her natural sweetness of disposition,
her affectionate letters, | feared she
lad never really forgiven me, but was
too generous TO let me know the truth"
HIN! Not an unnatural fear. But,
my dear fellow, when you found your
self SO persistently snubbed, why did
YOU not leave herr You had done all
YOUR conscience required"
"But not all my heart desired! One
day, when she was not more gracious
than usual, / made her a downright Of
fer Of marriage. She was furious! She
said insulted herl Nothing could con-
vince her that was not trying to make
amends for the past, at the price OF
my own happiness. From hot indig-
nation she became pathetic, asking me
how could so wound her, finally leav-
ing me in tears. To say that felt like
brute gives but a faint idea OF my
sensations. | left Owls Nest the same
day, trying TO comfort myself By my
own virtuous intentions. But, Roy,
love her! | love her with all the
strength of my heart Her deformity
TO me is but a touching "reminiscences
Of the tenderness / owe her, and which
/ long, unutterably, to pour out upon
her. To me she is the one woman in
the world, and | cannot imagine a
deeper, purer happiness than mine
would be could call her my wife. How
to convince her of this, how to over
come her morbid horror that am un-
willingly deyoting myself TO her serv-
ice, | do not yet know. But am re-
solved to try. Surely such deep, sincere
love as mine must at last win its way
and force her TO believe in its TRUTH"
"You have my best wishes. Come,
shall we ride?"
So they strolled away to order their
horses, and May Talbot threw off the
afghan, to stand before her mirror, and
once more compare her little, crooked
figure with the thought of other wom-
ems symmetry.
But into the blue eyes had come a
radiance that made the whole face joy
Gus. Over the sweet, sensitive lips
lowered a smile born of love and such
happiness as her life had never known
before. For she loved her knight well,
this fair maiden who would not accept
his pity. To have been his wife, doubt
ing his motive in seeking her, to have
thought every tender word duty
wrung from his remorse, would have
eeen torture To be his wife because he
loved her, had won her love, was such
happiness that the truth made her
dizzy, and she sank into deep arm
chair, sobbing for pure joy.
"My DEAR" said matronly lady, pres
emily entering the room, who do you
think is here? Robert Blakel | met
him as we drove up to the porch steps
Tell me, darling, will it be painful to
you to see him? We can go away if
it is"
"No, mamma. want to see him"
But she made no explanation. She
met him in the evening promenade,
when, leaning upon her stepfather's
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