Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-12-30


before do. As soon as she comes, be off to
Wyndham We shall be sure to reach 1t by
the next night
And thonT said the artist, taking her hand
TO say goodbye.
why, come and see US, of course. Lord
bloss the man, hope he does not want me to
tell him what TO say
And pushing him out of the way, she ran
up the stairs to apposse the young Moloch,
before whose shrine f mothers life and love
was forever offered up
For once Mrs. Byrne reckoned without her
host. Leonora, arriving at the end of tho
week, could not well travel on Sunday, and
after her first appearance in public she was
besieged with the five hundred friends who
mad also heard Of her success in London, and
came to see what in the world could have been
the reason of it Consequently, Mr.. Francis
had the pleasure Of waiting more than seven
days before he saw a carriage draw up in
front of the old farmhouse, and deposit two
ladies, a nurse, and a child that suualled and
kicked very vigorously because the sudden
stoppage had reused him out Of sound sleep.
The anxious mother followed her darling, as
a matter Of course; the other, taller figure,
land how his heart beat as he watched its
movements from his covert in the maple grove
opposite went straight towards the kennel
and whistlcd There was a low growl, and
fine, powerful Newfoundland stretched him
self, and then came eisurely out to chastise
the intruder on his siesta.
'Brave--dear old Brave-don't you know
meS said the familiar voice. The dog stared,
gave cry almost human in its Joy, and
sprang upon his mistress little water span
el leaped up in the air, and followed and
/ 81 I.4l
their silky coats with kisses, and letting them
4 lick her cheek and hand and fly around her,
and bark and whine till they were out of
breath, Leonora sat upon the grass and cried
/ Yes-she whose greatest boast it was that
she never shed tear--she who would have
| let her heart break with calm face and dry
eyes, sat there crying like a child because
her dogs had remem bered her The artist
1 might have seen her in more dignifed or
graceful position. but not in one that he would
have liked better. He felt his own eyes grow
dim, and something rose chockingly in his
throat.
Proud and haughty?' he murmered, as he
hurried away, Spoiled by lattery--grown
ambitious. did l say She is as frank and
warm as ever; God bless her, and will have
her yet !!
He slept more soundly that night than he
had done for months and his dreams wero
all of her
As he lifted the latch of the garden gate the
next evening, he saw Leonora standing by the
bed of mourning violots, leaning back against
the tamarac tree, with the two dogs living at
her feet. She looked a little older; moro
thoughtful, too, and perhaps a little sad
But her smile was as glad as ever when he
came up beside her and held out his hand.
WELCOME home Miss Grant
4 am glad to see you she said, cordially.
Laura told me you were here. 1t is strange
that we should all meet again in the same
place.
But very pleasant, said the artist And
have you come back free of heart as ever =
Quite, though was sorely tempted now
and then. DO you think coronet would be-
come me, Mr.. Francis "
AT all events you had a chance to try, he
said, drily.
She laughed mischioyously.
so people said. But then the glory of
being Amercan-ah, that is the best title
after all. | would not change it for any
other | left my heart in this violet bed
number of years ago
so did L.
slight flush tinged her cheek, and she
would not look at him.
Il propose a mutual search for them, Miss
Grant
'oh, my dear sir; yours must be too small
to find by this time
And yoursi
Turned into a violet, dare say
Il hope, then, it is tho one you gave me so
long ago he said, quietly; and taking lit
tie embroidered case from his pocket-book, he
gave it TO her. She opened it. A faded
violet fell into the palm of her hand, and she
stood looking at it very steadily.
Have you kept it all these years.
Il have And not in memory of Bunker
Hill either, Ieonora
Her lips trembed a little. She sighed.
Il had not thought there was so much truth
in the world she said, brokenly, except
here, and she pointed to tho dogs at her feet.
: 'Here-take the flower back again
She raised it to her lips, as she had dcne
when she first gave it, and held il towards
r him. He took it, laid it carefully away, and
drew ifttte to her side
You see how well have loved you, though
never spoke the word before. l loved you
as deeply then
When we we're here togetherF
Yes
She unused a long while, bending down
, over the vioets and then, and patting the
heads of the two dogs.
And shall always love YOU, said the
deep voice at her side II has been, and it
will be, the dream Of my life to call yon mine
She gathered another flower, and held it
out TO him
Put It with the other, and show them both
TO me fifty years hence
lie did so. She leaned against the tama
| rae tree. with her arms folded, watching
the moon, just rising over the edge of tho
r hill
.Wcll, Leonorap he said at last,
well Arthur she said, turning round
) towards him with glorious smile, and hold
ing out her hand, He olasped it eagerly I;
: the proud head dropped and rested on his
q shouller
and so they watched the rising of the hsr-
y vest moon
r.