Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-10-23
CHAPTER V


seription-" Nevermore.
CHAPTER V.
I There came a new minister to Nav
field, worthy man, who dweltquietly in
( the parsonage with his wife and his six
children. He had not old Parson Blake's
place in their hearts, eonsecrated by the
memories of lifetime, nor had they
pride in his eloquence and tenderness for
his youth and enthusiasm, IS during
Walter Fairields brief sojou.a among
them still there was mutual good-feel-
ing between pastor ard people, and, save
in one quiet household, all thing went
on as before.
This autumn and the winter which
, followed were very trying time t, Eli
nor Trumbull. She had strong con-
sciousness of duty. Earnestly she stove
to be in all things the same to her grand
parents as before her brief, bright dream
+ of love but something was wanting-
The fuliness of the old content wodd
never come back again. For the secold
7 time in the red house in the hollow w.s
+. buried name. Walter Fairfield wS
+ never mentioned there. Mary Gran
had once commenced to say few words
? of comfort to her granddaughter, but tn,
II expression on EIinor's face stopped he
o it was so full of hopeless suffering
e After that she only silently pitied tht
' sorrow she had no power to soothe.
b Elinor never uttered a single con-
' plaint. She performed all the little
housewifely duties which had formrly
fallen to her share-she went regularly
rs to the church on the hill-top-listaed
h quietly to the new pastors preaching
But Mary Grants tears fell as she iav
re her silently taking in the few drese.
= which composed her simple ward-robe
,e that they might better fit the figure gov
n ing so very fragile and thin now. He
u step lost its accustomed lightness-hel
= voice never rang through the house Will
its old, gay melody. When her seven
teenth birthday was ushered in al th,
wings of storm and tempest, it found he
:. no longer a girl but woman, premature
= ly grave, and thoughtful, and silent. Th
delicate summer bloom was gone fron
the blossom, the subtle fragrance vanish
ed, and there was but a poor consolation
in thinking life's autumn might ripen
into fruit.
: One day Mary Grant called her hu:
- bands attention when they were alone I
- Elinor's languid step and wasting cheel
II An expression of sudden psin crosse
- the elders face for the momnt-a loo
- as if conscience were forcing upon hiI
~, an unwelcome truth, and thenhe answe
- ed with easy self-delusion-
-. Its not strange. It's bard winte
l., The girl viii be herself again when Il
spring opens
u And so the months passed on, al
- once more the slow reluctant feet of Il
,os New England spring stole over Il
y mountains, and the crocus and the viol
started up in her footprints. Once mo
-. the brooks, set free from their wint
= chains, began to babble-ths plow-b
whistIed at his task-the birGh hung 0
5 her tassels, and the lilacs in Elder Gran
II, yard burst into fragrant bloom; but Il
y; time there were no long, pleasant wal
"a over the hills. She had no strength
80 them-that pale. silent girl, whom t
=. spring had surprised as she sat nursi
her sorrow.
,a;r As the days grew longer and bright
r.+ the blue sky overhead more intens'
IVA clear and blue, Mary Grant watching
oan grandchild could see her fade. Ea
ba,, day she seemed to move more feel
o,a about the house, until at last she seld
mn moved any more, but lay all day o
H. lounge which, perhaps, with a secret C
L.. for her comfort, the elder had bought
ou an auction sale. She did not seem
nd happy, for the one hope mightier ii
lido earthly love, stronger than earthly gr
.rcb was gently guiding her tired feet
,ob early tired with the crooked paths
,ou. Iife-toward the distant hills" of b
ven. And Moses Grant saw it at las
bv the great fear struck to his heart that
y to pride would have a second vietim-t
in another young, fair face would lie bene
land the drifting leaves Of this years autui
face Did not conscience speak to him ther
cur He came home one day with stra
ring look on his face. He held in his har
fare large business-like epistle. He becl
her ed his wife into the kitchen. She
Elinor lying upon the lounge in the
forth room. and closed the door after her.