Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1902-07-11

klttD NhlhiAN ~
Tennyson-why should that cause the
boy any perturbation? However she
took away the book with her. and he
shut the door after her and returned to
the fireplace to stand there and ponder
over what he had done and its possible
consequences.
For the page which Mrs. Kingston
had been besought to read and consider
In this especial manner contained three
verses. and the verses were these:
And slowly was my mother brought
To yield consent to my desire;
She wished me happy. but she thought
might have look'd a little higher.
And | was young. too young to wed,
yet must | love her for your sake.
Go fetch your Alice here" she said;
Her eyelld quiver'd as she spake.
And down | went TO fetch my bride;
But, Alice, you were III at ease.
This dress and that by turns you tried.
Too fearful that you should not please.
I loved you better for your fears.
l | knew you could not look but well.
And dews that would have falln in tears
| kiss'd away before they fell
The doubt my mother would not see:
She spoke at large OF many things,
And at the last she spoke of me
And turning look d upon your face
As near this door you sat apart
And rose and. with a silent grace,
Approaching, press d you heart TO heart.
Would the gentle eyed and gentle
voiced little widow In the next room
understand? Surely the message. the
entreaty, was clear enough! Yet he
was afraid Of his own temerity. and
likewise he was afraid that when the
time came for explanation he could not
tell her all that NanCiebcl was To him.
When ought he TO 70 ana see what i'm.
preston had been made? Perhaps ii
would be more prudent TO wait until
the first surprise was oyer-until she
| had had time to see that ii was but
natural her son should choose for him
self mate.
As he stood considering the door was
opened. and his mother appeared
, with a sudden sinking Of the heart he
noticed that her lips were pale and her
eyes anxious and concerned. She shut
! the door behind her and came quickly
| forward. her gaze fixed intently on his
| face.
"Richard." she said in an undertone,
"who is sheT
He was startled and frightened.
AT all events" he said hastily. "you
may be sure Of thisthat she is worthy
to be brought into this house and TO be
received by you as your daughter"
II was little speech he had prepar.
ed beforehand, but now it did not seem
to have any effect.
"Who is she, Richard?" the widow
again demanded.
He told her.
"A shopgirl!' she said family.
mo mother: not at allr' he eXclaim-
ed eagerly. 1.-THE place belongs to her
brother, and she merely looks after II
for him. He is very well off you know
Emmett & Marlow-he is a watchmak.
er himself and, suppose. started this
other business for the benefit of his
two sisters. But what has that got Ia
do with 1t, mother? She will cease tu
have any connection with the shop the
moment you say the word, and, as for
herself, there is not Il dearer or better
girl in the whole country. | am Ger.
tain you will be the first to say as
much when you get to know her
Surely, Richard" the little woman
! said in kind of wistful way. "you
might have chosen some one whose
family was known to us, who was
known to your own friends and rela
tives. | do not say anything against
the girl; it would not be just, but she
must herself be aware how strange
how unusual the whole situation is. A
clandestine engagement-how came sh,
to consent to thatl"
Mother" said he, taking both hel
hands in his. that was all my fault.
ought to have told you long ago. bu
Nancy was afraid. Can you not under
stand-isn't it clear in the poem ask &C
you to read? Indeed, she was quite il
despair. She does not know how gen
tie and kind and considerable you are
she is terrified at the thought of meet
Ing you; indeed, again and again she
: has told me that what | wished wa.
an impossibility and that she would
never be the means of bringing abou
any dissension between you and me
: Well, hope that will never arise. Sh,
couldn't bear it. She says she would
rather give me up hundred time,
over"
The mother looked at her handsom,
boy.
Richard" she said, "you know
wish for nothing but your happiness
: There Is no sacrifice of my own feel
ings or my own prejudices | wouldn'
make If | was sure 1t would make 70,
happy. But consider. Young men o
your age are apt to form such fances
The girl may be everything you say
and yet-and yet it might prove to b.
only misery for both her and you il
the long rum
Mother, want you to see herr h
cried, confident that Nanciebel's sof
dark eyes would be sufficient to resolv
away all these doubts and fears.
The widow was silent for momen
or two.
MAY bring her to see you, moth
err" he entreated
Would it be wise. Richard?" sh
said in reply. "Would not that b
making family compact--woud j
: not be recognizing as serious en-
gagement what may after all be mer
passing infatuation? Have patience
my dear child; take time. Think wha
terrible thing it might be to pledg
your whole future and to find out tina