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


here where light and hope and love
came to my life-where they viii 60 out
and leave me alone in the darkness. God
forgive me Walter, but death were bet
ter"
She had spoken with wild energy. She
sank back exhausted now in her chair.
Walter Fairfield stood, struck dumb for
the moment with sheer wonder. At
length he faltered;
You can not mean it you do not
know what you are saying, Elinor.-
Your grandfather may object to our
marrying while you are still so young,
but he can not mean that you must never
be my wife"
The door had been open all this time
between the parlor and the kitchen, and
now Moses Grant himself came forward.
The anger had passed away from his face,
leaving look of pity blent with stern
resolve. He said, grayely:
Il like you, Mr.. Fairfield. I had not
thought any one else could so fill Parson
Blake's place in my love as you have
/ filled it. If I could, Heaven knows !
would gladly give you this girl, but ii
can not be. In all truthfulness, you must
not marry her-you must never marry
her. l, her grandfather, forbid it before
the God whose servant you are. You
will not dare to disobey me. 1t will &C
hard with you both but if you knew the
reason, you would thank me. 1t is my
fault. 1 should not have put you in eacI
others way, but I thought she was only
a child"
Elder Grant" the young man said
respectfully, will you come out of door
with me? I would like to speak witt
you for few moments quite alone"
/ The particulars of that interview wer
never known, but the result was decisive
I In q little while the young man cam
alone into the room where EEnor stil
sat by the open window. He closed th
door. He went up to her ard took hel
for the last time in his arms.
) THE hand of God is in ii, Elmer, a
it is in every earthly thing, though W
cannot see it now. We must submit
Thank God, my beloved, that after lit
comes death, and after death heaven
And yet, how canI give you up, my poo
innocent darliag-my one love ?? An
his voice broke down into low, agonize
: sobs-a strong mans sobs, very pitiful /
hear.
That last half hour of love and tortul
. and deSpair-that parting which the
both felt was eternal-I may not dive
on ii. When Walter Fairfield passe
z out of the wicket gate and walked up ii
: hill, along the winding road, ,Elinor Trun
bull watched him with eyes in whit
there were no tears, with pale face c
7 which shone hope purer than earth
: love, holier than earthly happiness /;
hope born in tears, in anguish, in desol
+ ton, Of a meeting where all that remain
! of sorrow is the wings by which it h
t borne the soul upward-in the city wit
: out foundation, eternal in the heavens.
They parted on Saturday, and the ne
'e day more than one strong heart in Ma
d field was moved to tears as their You
minister read his mysterious, unexplain
Il resignation of the PASTORAL charge.
/ had become strangely dear to them, Il
OF young man, whose coming had seem
~ such a doubtful experiment. He "
lg not their father in the Lord as Pars
Blake had been, but they cherished h
g equally in another way. He was th
rs very own. He had come to them fiji
K They were to him almost ike a first 10
Pc the parish in whose services he had be
to first installed into the ministry. Tt
ne had hoped he would live and die amc
ed them, and now they must give him
P There was scarcely dry eye among
ed many which rested upon his face this
en- Sunday. Moses Grant sat with sorrC
On ful, yet composed mien, in his accuston
tie seat, with his quiet old wife by his 81
ne bat Elinor's voice did not food the cbul
'se with its melody; Walter T airfeld prea
on ed his last sermon in Mayield with
he the silent encouragement Of her eyes.
The next morning, when be rode
he the red house in the hollow, On his way
nd take the stage at Cornwall, be gazed
vain at the windows. No small b
'ou futtered among the roses, no gentle /
lbt looked out from between the muslin {
no tains. L cost him much then not to spl
ron from the wagon and seek one last Fl
an well, one more blessing; but, for
yer sake, he rode on and made no sign.
-,va Al ,rbc.. .,yoi- E7f;ror> 7 o,Lfnr, e