Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-02-13
Giterarp Selections.
ALICE WOOD.
A TALE FOR THE NEW YEAR
BIZ VIRGINIA F. TOWNSEND.

said building bat this seemed altosether
TOO respectable an appellation for such a
rickety, nnpicsuresque, tumble-down af-
fair as the one in question.
II stood all alone, sheltered from the
bleak winds Of the common by the little
wood on the right. 1t was early IN De-
cember, and the first snow fall had cover
ed the roof and the small front yard with
athin white frosting, that gave the whole
a colder. gIoomier aspect than ever.
The wind was battling up and down
the commons the moon, large, clear and
cold, vas topling over the distant noun
tains, and glittering on the snow that
covered the roof of the reddish-brown
house on the night of which I write.
IfyOu could put aside the breadth OF
white muslin which covers the solitary
window on the east side Of the house,
Won could see at one glance all its oecu-
pants.
IL tzEE 8AC bL@ tafN. eAAAG ---N 80
by the fire Of driftwood, which snaps and
craekles noisiIy up the great lips of the
chimney, and fills the whole room with a
ruddy, wine-hke glow, deepening and
sofening the old corners, and giving the
few chairs, the large bureau, and the mar
row table 3 quaint picturesqueness OF
outline and position which in broad day
light you would never dream oftheir pos
eessing-
But the twain who sit by the fire
You see at once they are mother and
daughter; for the delicate casting of the
younger face, the large, blue, shadowy
ewes, ike lakes sleeping under mountain
rnists. the sweet, hslf-sad mouth, are but
q second edition, improved and intensified
il may be, Of what the elder one must
have been. But this latter face It would
have made your heart ache to look on it.
it was 90 thin, and pale, and sorrowful,
You felt t could not be long above the
grave mould, and that the heart beneatt
ii must have 3 history written with tears
So.it had Mrs. Wood was the daugh
Ger of a proud family, and a rich one, bu
IN her youth she had loved the son OF he
fathers gardener. It was not very strang
for they had grown up together, an
passed haIftheir time among the flower
and trees Of the large, old garden of tn
girls home
Alice vas motherless, and she enteret
her girIhood xith her strong self-will de
veIoped and fostered by her father an
brother, who petted and spoiled her. Bu
enc night q scene occurred in the draw
sng-roouo Of the grey old mansion whic
changed the hearts of all three, and sepal
aaed them forever. Alice's father ha
learned that day Of her engagement
bis gardeners SON.
4If you ever speak to Harold Woo
again, said the old man, briefly and bi
teFiy, zyou shall go out from yonder doc
no Iongera child of mine"
4F1l knock him down for his audacit-
the dog, Il he ever dares to cross my pai
again. mastered her fiery brother, h
dark syes aashing their defiance into b
sisters white face, as she stood speec
less and seemingly frozen into statue /
the mantle.
They were the first harsh words h
father and brother had ever spoken
her they we're the last. The next d
she was gone, and week later the Y
Iage paper published the marriage
Alice Mellen and Harold Wood. fifth
had dealt gently and kindly with her !;
thev had told her it would well-niI
break their hearts to give up thus t
Jog and the brightness of their home, s
would not, in pride and bitterness, ha
done this thing.
But Alice had the proud viii of t
Aellens. She went south with her hl
band. her name was never spoken
hone. Her father and brother kn
net whether she were among the Iiyi
or The dead
Aliees darling" said the moth
breaking the long silence that had fall
upon Ehe sKo, "it is very late had
not better take our supperF
! do not feel hungry this event
dear mamma," the girl answered, in
auick, half embarrassed manner, turn
her face from the fre-shine. But
get some toast and tea for you."
TIE lady shook her head sadly.
could Dot eat it, dear, if you did; I sp
oaly for yourself. Come and sit Dc
hsrE Alice" and she moved outtae s.
- which her feet had rested.