Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-02-14
Mlisfellanp.
From " Ailieford.
EIUIH AIII0lUIu'
NV First and Last Love.

Deep in the second summer of my charmed
life in Bavaria, there came young English
man to Wurtzburg Use and want had broken
down his English reserve far more completely
than my deeper shade of Scottish sobriety could
be broken. He did not interfere with my es
tablished place and position. He took up, in
deed, quite different one, nor ever came in my
way butts very short residence among us gave
him great popularity. His name was Morton,
and understood he came of an old English
family in one of the Border counties gentry
of long establishment and comfortable means
Himself was his fathers heir; and Greta
heard now of an English chateau something
different from the dream castle her own fancy
had builded, on the site of my humble Allie
ford.
He was hands. 'ae, young, gay, rich, and had
all the freedom and unconscious selfpossession
which l, who wanted it completely, attributed
to the station he had been born in, and his own
entire exemption from the subduing cares of
cannon life Perhaps temper and disposition
gave still more easy solution to the problem
but with all his superior advantages, was not
Jealous of my compatriot. I never saw myself
thrust aside to make room for him-never dis
covered that his presence was more sought than
mine, or that Madame Kleine found place for
me less frequently by Greta's side. l. do not
believe she did do not think Greta herself
gave ear to my stories whit less kindly-and
my eyes were never opened to the clear sight of
envy. saw young Arthur come and 60 about
my treasure-house without pang, or fear.
The autumn came again with its harvest
flush, its brilliant colors; the slow grapes
ripened on the Steinberg the yellow vine leaves
Auttered down the streets of the quiet city; a
red glow came to the slanting sunbeams as they
streamed upon the quiet evening roads, the
peasants journey home.
The little arbor in Madame Kleine's garden
was covered with flush of glossy scarlet leaves,
spot of rich color among the surrounding
green. The Maine was ripping close at hand'
the slopes of the Steinberg rose softly before
me, rich with their files of regimented vines.-
Leaves upon the garden ways and flowers in its
trim enclosures futtered before the wind, and
all the brightness of the sunset poured along
the path streaming past the arbor door, with
here and there broken ray fretting the golden
line, as if the light would fain break its own
glorious laws to turn aside and see my lady IN
her enchanted bower.
Greta sat alone within, leaning her head upon
her hand, and looking forward with an air Of
soft abstraction into the verdure and the light
without. Her arm was under the long, beauti
full curls, and cleaned through their sunny net
work; and as she looked up hastily to meet me
the pressure of her fingers had left tint on hel
cheek, thought, as if some rose-leaves hat
been blown upon it by favor of the merry wind
I took my place beside her upon a low, rusti
seat, and Greta looked down upon me with half
veiled eyes why were they SO shy of lifting
those pale lids to look at newly that fail
vouug head itself bent further forward ever ant
anon with little start and blush, as if SOM
secret cause of embarrassment returned again
and again upon the heart II could not tell
We were very silent for little time, and Gret'
told me faltering, that they were all gone
upon some little expedition up the river. l di'
not ask who they all were, or why she alon
was left behind. l was but too glad to hav
monopoly of her company, if only for an hour
And began to tell her of my home letter
and its sad intelligence shade came over he
face-she gave me pity, sweet, gentle, half-ex
pressed-the sympathy l loved-and then
slight tremble came upon Greta, and she aske'
me of Sybil-would Sybil be alone, quite alone
in the strange country if her husband died
Quite alone-only God and her little helples
child to fortify her woman's heart; and Gret
looked away again, away from me into the QUITE
air, and said to herself how sad it was-hoN
very sad.
Then-she did not look at me, but going or
as I thought, in unconscious self-communior
Greta asked me once again, who Sybil had Q
home Father, mother--all the tender frent
whom her own girls heart clung to so dearly
did she leave them all for her husbands sak
this sad young Scottish wife?
mo, Sybil had no family-no friends-sf
was an orphan, and stranger | said in answe
and had none in the world but those she carrie
with her-her husband and her child
'Ah that was why she went away, sa
Greta, sighing family into the quiet air; al
first burning blush and then a paleness can
over her moving face.
Her thoughts were far away from me-awa
from my sad story and personal heaviness, wal
dering after some fancies of her own. Imyse
grew chill, | know not why, and felt myse
shut out under the shadow Of these leaves {
from some light longed for perhaps it WI
because was looking out. vacantly and in I
reverie, upon the sunshine streaming full oy
the garden path
No friends-no home-no mother, sa
Greta, at last, in her low musing tone VIII
wonder, then that she went away
Nay, my child said the voice of MADAM
Kleine, suddenly coming upon us out of tt
light. Nay, Grota, my child-but bccau
she was his wife, and the good God bade h
follow him to strange land.
With violent start and blush, Greta ros
flung off her curs with her arm, and as eudde
denly shook them back, half covering her lns
ed face. He has been with you--he has se'
you,' she exclaimed in rapid whisper, wi
but one quick inquiring glance before her hei
dropped under her mothers eye, and she stot
like one in an attitude for flight, suddenly a
rested, with her curls hanging like veil oy
her averted cheek and her deprecatlng lift
hand.