Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-12-29
ny WI. E. RYTHER.
GERTRUDE; OR THE FATAL PROPHECY

GERTRUDE; OR THE FATAL PROPHECY
ODD "A STORY or THE END or THE WORLD.
''' t'i By Joseph r. Chandler
a. Il was delightful morning, Sunday, the
I'd of May, 1912. Two young persons were
seen walking across the fields in the north
.ern part of Philadelphia, in that free inter
change Of thought, which 20 even distant
observer denoted something more than mere
acquaintance existing between the parties
especially If, as in the present case, they
were young man and young woman.
ro Where the young people were walking,
thousand flowers were springny up to
give redolence to the morning, and to add
variety to the already rich heritage OF the
fields; fence after fence was crossed, but
they pursued their way northwestwardly to-
wards Broad street, Indifferent to the obsta-
cles which the enclosure presented to their
progress, and seemed much more occupied
with the subject of conversation than with
the loyeliness of the scene around them.
lying in all the luxuriance of early vereta-
ton, bathed in the newly shed light of a
Sabbath sun. The scene was chanued
since that pair formed part of it. The
city has increased, and its oyerteeminr pop
nlation has laid out streets, erected houses
and forbidden a blade of grass where then
only farm house dotted the luxuriance of
the outspread meadows; and Broad street,
which the party soon reached, was dusty
road, in its whole length to aud across the
city. The few dwellings erected near its
line seemed to have been built without re-
gard to street regulation, but with reference
to those convenieDces which are looked for
in farm houses, or temporary residences.
The pair emerged from the fields near
the lane that once passed through Green
Hill farm, and standing beneath one of
those beautiful elms, they looked abroad
upon the distant city, undisturbed by the
hum of business, or the senseless clatter OF
dissipated amusements The morning sun
was shedding askant beams, and light col
'umns of smoke we're here and there strug-
Cling up through the atmosphere. Between
the city lay a broad expanse Of fields, whose
greenness added to the loneliness of the
scene, and invited the heart to a contempla-
ton OF that power, whose hand had gar
nished the heavens with its curtain of blue.
and notified the verdure of the field with
the beauties Of host of lowly and lovely
flowers. fJs sia al.ff-.'s -lf..r
"lf we have 10 return as you propose, -
said the young woman, "by the way of Cen
tire Square we would better move on, or we
shall be too late for church."
But before we go let us conclude upon
day." said the young man.
"There is no necessity; when you return
we will appoint the day."
''Let Us fix on it now. While am alb
sent--let me feel that there is an appointed
time--that only so many days can intervene :;
that these passed, and you will be mine"
"But consider" said the young woman,
thoughtfully, ''you may not arrive in season,
and postponement is ominous of evil i; you
know what bad sign is" m
81 do not know much about signs, but
we'll fix the day, so that if | arrive at all
] must arrive before the time, the Journey
never exceeds three weeks. This is the Sd
of May, and we will say the 4th of June"
But there was nc response. If any one
had been listening he might have heard
something like kiss. at is agreed then, +"
said William. a.
"Why," said the young woman, "the
whole morning you have been making prop
ostions TO me, and before | could get time
w ody HO, NOu nave tuIitn W kIcclHH DV
force, and said that that meant yes"
swell" said the youth, ''we'll make it the
4th Of June, since do not find that you
say no, when am done kissing"
Gertrude, for the first time, took the prof
fered arm of the young man, and they set
forward towards Centre Square The heart
of the youth beat stronger and his football
was firmer; there was an important ar
rangement made, and he felt easier in his
mind-happier, be it said.
And Gertrude trOd more lightly, and
swell Of pleasure rose towards her throat
as she felt the engagement for life of hap
piness was made
Blessings upon the pair that unite with a
parents consent, to their own arrangements.
But it is cold, worldly bargain that pa
rents drive and inform their children of its
results; prudence may make the union
comforable-but it will chill the flower of
happiness.
The hour of marriage is thought by some
TO be one Of pleasure-and the triumph of
affection-and it has its claims to such
consideration-but the heart is ightest at
the moment when it conquers the obstacles
to entire freedom of affection and triumphs
in an engagement. There is neither timidi-
ty nor rashness. Every thought is pure and
every desire is holy-the rapid gush OF
blood through the veins, is the result of
mental pleasure, and for once at least, the
heart owns that it is satisfied.
The name of Centre Square in those
days, was one Of those misnomers, with
which the highways and pleasure grounds OF
our city abounds. The place was a vast
circular piece of ground enclosed with neat