Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1902-08-01

neare1 TO lie AFRAID nat leii"u "a
banishment was not to be 50 dreadful
after all.
In the meantime Uncle Charles had
nobly undertaken the duty OF calling
upon Nancicbers elder brother In order
10 explain TO him the position OF ar
fairs and what were their plans foI
the future. Ii was n most delicate ana
inyidious task, for when two young
people become engaged their friends
and acquaintances and even the world
at large charitably and amiably as
sumo that the young lady has had
nothing whatever TO do with bringing
about this result; it is the young man
who is solely and wholly responsible
Accordingly the question remained as
TO how Nanciebel's brother would re-
gard this spiriting away of his sister
Doubtless he would assume that she
was innocent OF any preliminary hirta'
tion. She had not replied TO stolen
glances or let her hand part reluctant
ly from his or INDUCED in any sort of
sly and innocent coquetry. No, no
She had been pursued with attentions
dattered. coaxed; finally out of her
generous good nature she had given
consent TO the young man who was
now answerable for the whole affair
As the good clergyman made his way
10 the shop of Emmett & MARROW,
watchmakers and silversmiths, he he
came a little anxious. II young Mar
low had taken that stationer's business
chiefly as means OF providing EN-
ployment for his sisters, he might be
willing enough to have the mainte
nance OF one of the girls taken of his
hands. If, on the contrary, he had
embarked in the enterprise as spec.
ulation on his own account, he might
object to have his manageress carried
of in this peremptory fashion. Much
wouii depend on his personal dispose
ton, and Mr.. Henningham, who was a
| peaccable and timid little man, hoped
ut least that young NARROW would not
| turn out to be fierce and angry Rad
| ical. indignant at the thought of his
sister being borne away into captivity
| in order to become the bride of a scion
of the SO called upper classes.
Mr. Henningham was speedily reas,
| sured. Nanciebers brother he found
to be n respectable, quiet hammered,
sensible young man who spoke with
equal intelligence and frankness.
"No, sir" he said respectfully to the
clergyman, Il did not like your neph-
ew coming about the place at all. |
would have stopped ii if | had known
in time. think Nancy ought to marry
in her own circle. However, suppose
it is no use talking about that now.
Well, | think your proposal is very
generous, and see good reasons for
it. The only thing is that you must
allow me to pay for my sisters board. y
"My dear SIR" said the clergyman
blandly, Il hope you will not raise the
question. | think both Mrs. Kingston
and myself would prefer TO regard your
sister as already one of the family
The young man flushed.
ooh, can't have Nancy go anywhere
as beggar," said he. but without
rudeness. "Once she is married it will
be different"
1--WE will waive the point at present
then" said Mr.. Henningham, who was
extremely pleased to have got over
this awkward interview so easily, and
as he was going away he was good
enough to say, And of course you un
derstand that while we consider this
period of separation wholesome thing
as between those young people We
have no wish to restrict Miss Marlow's
full and free Intercourse with her owl
relatives, and il her sister or yourself
were at any time anywhere near Bris
tol | should be only too pleased to SEE
you at Holivell vicarage."
Uncle Charles went away down agail
into Somersetshire to tell his daugh
tiers whom they were to expect. Thel
!; week or two went by, during which
, Nanciebel was preparing for her de
parture. Then came the night Of fare
well, for she was going off by trail
: next morning. and Nancy and her 10y
} er were, as on many a previous occa
: sion, strolling arm in arm up and dow
the little tiled courtyard.
Life is so much harder in reality,
Nanciebel was saying in a rather sa,
, way, than it is in things you read o
In books. thought it was kind of you
| mother to give me Tennyson's poem
3 yesterday, Richard. She told me no,
! it was you asked for her consent an
, how she couldn't refuse, and when
came home | read the poem all Owe
again. But everything went so easil
' for the millers daughter-a single il
- tcrview with the young mans mother
;. that was all There was no talk q
| sending her away from her friends t
] live with strangers perhaps for Who'll
2 year You say they are not stranger
: Richard, dear, and of course they ar
S not to you, but they are to me. An
e the life will be strange. know sha
f feel dreadfully lonely. shall spen
e half the night crying
+ "No, no, no, Nanciebelw he sal,
t "You don't know what you are talki
about. 1t will be far pleasanter lii
: for you than your present one
S without you, Richard" she said r
l. proachfully.
:, 81 am talking of the average circun
l. Stances" said he, perhaps consciol
s that he was an exceptional one. "YC
/, will have all the fun that my cousin
o have, with nothing of their hard dri
S While they are grinding away at Lat
t and French and German you will hay
nothing but English literature to g
|, up, and while they are hammering ;