The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-08-20

slOn' Mauue NolCO 1alterPu. Mr. NuHent
offered her his arm and led her 10 the gate;
a lady with an infant in her arms stood with
in the garden. Ilenrys wife and child,
Maude felt sure they were. The aged pos
Tor invhed her within she declined hisprof-
fered hospitality 60 indsiincly that he drew
her arm kindly through his, and would have
led her to the house. She burs, into pas
sion of tears.
:" Poor thing, poor thing" said the old
Rector, little dreaming that the Duchess
was that same Maude Greville who had
brought his son-in-law nearly fourteen years
ago to n sickness almost unto death "you
are sorely afllcted-i is Gods Wilt would
be awful not TO be touched by Gods hand
sometimes 1t has fallen heavily on you
now. But He can help you"
He walked home with her, promising 10
bring his daughter, Mrs Nusent, next day.
But Mary brought note from her moth
er, asking permission to visit the Duchess
and then Maude knew tha, Henry Nugent
had spoken Of her 10 his wife.
They met, and then Mr.. Nugent came
with his father-in>law-al was calm, fearless,
decorous. Maude schooled her heart to
meet her former lover with outward indf-
| ference but she resolved on leaving the
Lines, and then she took courage to usk il
Mary might 20 with her.
The request was readily granted. There
was certainly tenderness in Henry NJ
gents tone as he bid the Duchess sdieu nt
the door of her travelling equipage. He
piied her from his soul.
AS the carriage passed The green lane
leading 10 the Rectory, the old pastor stop
ped i, to give bcr his blessing. Henry Nu'
gent came up ere farewell was said to all
lie took his laughing baby from its mother
arms-it was SO merry he felt it would in
crease the sadness of the bereaved Duchess
The equipage moved on--a turn in the
road brought the travellers in sight of th'
Rectory lawn. Henry Nugent and his wifi
were standing side by side, the baby laugh
ing in its fathers arms.
The lime groves soon shut out the viey
from the travellers gaze. the position whis
tied his merry tune, the children shouIe,
with glec at the road side as they stopped a
the turnpike, the old chimes rang out thci
peal, and the Duchess leaning her achin
head against the silken lining Of the car
riage wept those tears of disappointment
which only the worldly shed.
Henry Nugcnt and his wife are occasion
ally guests OF the Duchess of Agincour
But for them the magnificent Duchess @
Agincourt would be alone in the world. Sh
is considered very exclusive-elegant-
recherchee-and people who sec her in he
opera box, or in her exquisite phmton, vii,
its Arabian ponies and stylish oulriders, liltl
think how joyless her heart is.
"Alas !" she would say, as her thought
,rould 90 wandering back, II have graspe
TIE shadow for the substance. All wha
are rank and influence and wealth withou
love or friendship! All, these gnawine jeal
ouscs, these hollow words, these unmeanin
smiles the associations they bring are as
bad dream. / try to shake off the evil in
nuence, and there is no help no sympath
at hand r'
And 10 she would gain relief by turnin
her thoughts 10 that little nook of old Eng
land where all hopes lay buried.
In alter years Henry Nugent became he
friend. They met again under the old yewi
The Duchess sat between the husband an
the wife She held hand of each.
The eyes no longer flashed with haught
pride, the brow was unruflled by fiowr
and sweet smile parted the once curle
lips as she said" 1t is good for me that
have been afflicted"