Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-04-16

" Because my dear simple creature,
don't you know everybody drinks Don't |
the minister, and deacons, your father,
Mr.. HowGen and Uncle Jerry all drink"
They do a little, but they don't get
drunk and lie ell night in Claydown Val
ley or on the tavern stoop."
"Who does, any one ?" Ruth's face
was very white.
Freeman Winlay has"
"No-who told you?"
Seth Phillips"
Ruth drew long breath as though
relieved Of great burden.
90, only Seth, you know Geranna as
well as l do that it would not trouble him
TO invent such story, l wonder that you
believe it, certainly would not"
Neither would from him alone, but
others have seen and know too truly how
Freeman has grown to love rum better
than he should; and because I love you.
and wish you all the good l could wish a
sister, 1 entreat you not to marry him"
Pshaw! l was just going to ask you
to my wedding two weeks from to night. :"
- Are you in earnest" asked Geranna
in a choaking voice.
" Certainly, so no more words about
it; shall marry him, what else can l
do? have no right here with Mr. and
Mrs. Howden, they were to care for me
only till l was eighteen. Oh, Geranna
you who have parents and brothers to
love you, can never tell how lonely | am
without father or mother and without q
brother since Johnny died. The NOR.
ming sending its light over our valleys
like a great blessing, don't talk to youl
soul of loneliness. The purple sunset
drops its glory smiling into your heart
and in the midnight you don't wake Il
listen to the wind coming over the rock.
trailing ard tremping with invisible feet
bringing you dreams of how Johnny died.
Ruth spoke rapidly and with such
weary sarrow in her tones. that Gerann.
could not answer. And so they sat il
the stiffness watching the falling embers
To Geranr they seemed to form brigh
t colored wine and drunken reeling figure
that at last fell buried under torrents c
burning liquor.
: For Ruth they built shining air castle
filled with pleasant things for her future
II But as the flames died out and the Goa
dropped lower and lower, she began t
see the foods of wine and drunken di.
: torted faces which Geranna beheId.
e With shudder she could not suppres
q she glanced again at the prophetic shat
n ows which, as the fre-shine went out. ha
e deepned and darkened till they SCENE
y almost to touch her; and rising hastil
she threw shower of light wood upo
p the Goals.
g Geranna rose also and wrapped h,
shawl around her.
Don't 90 now," pleaded Ruth.
st Yes, must; but you'll put on yol
bonnet and 90 down through the orc
W ard with me won't you?"
Id To this she assented and the two we
IL out in silence. Good nights" were sa
to at the end of the orchard path, al
Cd Ruth returned with quick step iowa
home.
or 1t was a dark night, and the win
hi came crying up through the apple boug
twisting them wrathfulIy to and fro.-
ut Far down at the right Ruth could rt
he ceive long dark lines which she knt
up were the pine trees bordering Claydoy
Valley. If one could have seen h
ed face then they would have known the
ed was sorrow in her heart notwithstandi
wv the song that came suddenly and ga
ne from her lips. She stood for nome
IN at the door, wishing that Geranna h
pc never whispered that foolish story
in her, not that she believed it no, indee
ch but then it troubled her, it tore away
h's the soft MOSES which time had WOW
over the " memory pictures" and brou.
is them so close to her again pressing up
EN- her at once all their baroness and lo
DO illness. And as she went in and lock
the door, she tried to lock out from
ed, mind all unpleasant reflection, and tr
as she ever had one with whom she
MT chosen to walk through the future, 9
better or worse"
It In the tomb of the past, time bur
! two short weeks and then there wa
darker night and fercer winds that DR.,
our the wiihered orchard leaves cold ;
tile quivering against the window-par
.itb where the rain driped and driped ab