Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-06-24

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leaving his errand undone. He resorted
again to the convenient common-places of
conversation, a little nearer the mark this
time.
They say your doing well down
there"
William briefly stated the wages he
already received, with the promised in
crease if be remained another year.
" Better than farming, good DEAL"
replied Thomas. Well, Tn sure I'm
glad of 1t. always wished you good
luck, though you may have thought it
different"
" l never blamed you," answered Will
liam, coldly relapsing into silence, as he
felt the force of this indirect aIlusion.
Nothing but dogged determination
to accomplish his object could have bro't
Thomas Warren out. He had been eau
tiously trying his ground until he saw
that William was unapproachable. If
be could understand his feelings, he must
betray his own, and he came up to the
work like hero.
eff you go back without seeing our
Ann, she won't live year longer. Her
hearts bound up in you. might as
well own it as look on and see her,
but great sob, which would not be choked
down, stopped him.
"And you blame me?" William began,
but the bitter emphasis changed to tone
tremulous with feeling as he grasped
his friends hand to ask, VIII Ann see
me? VIII your father?"
" Father" interrupted Thomas vehe-
mently, he just begins to see what be
has done. He wouldn't have you 90
back to Lowell for any money, ifh he want
afraid to say so. You call round tonight
and talk with him won't you Z"
And Thomas hurried away in earnest
this time. 1t was well for both that they
were alone with their emotions.
-
What we all know of AIMS history
will account fer her recovery, and ex-
plain as far as words may, her happiness,
as letters, neither few nor brief, kept her
faithfully informed of Williams success
IL the machine shops, and of other mat
tiers, more intesting to Ann no doubt,
which do not especially concern Us. La
tent faculties which he had never dreamed
of possessing, had been developed while
employed about the machinery of the
mills, for in this last letter, he had
spoken of successful invention, which
promised to make his fortune.
AIMS heart overhowed with joy. AL
though she had always understood Viii
liam better than anybody else could, 1t
was pleasant to see him thus winning his
deserts. If her fathers hearty apprecia-
tons of his worth equaIled their entire
forgetfulness of their opinions, Ann was
too unworldly to suspect them, too happy
in the present to be haunted by the past.
Alas that single cloud should dim such
prospects; true it was but speck at
first that darkened the smiling heavens,
yet it grew like a summer tempest. At
first, William wrote, but not desponding-
ly, of slight weakness, trifing infam-
nation of the eyes, which would hinder
him from study or experiments for a lit
tie time, and delay the bringing out of his
invention. A less cheerful letter had for.
hidden all labor or study for little time.
An ominous silence ensued and then came
a letter-Ann's heart sank when she
glanced at it-in strange hand-wri-
ting.
An intimate friend had written what
William dictated. He was going to con.
suit distinguished oculist in New York.
" We shall not meet again, Ann, if his
opinion is unfavorable," said he in closing,
" but keep up good courage-I hope much
from his skill"
Eagerly did Ann obey him, hoping un-
til the death blow of hope came, in one
last, cold, stern epistle, oh how unlike
William in Its severity.
1t is all over, Annie-I srn blind
bt''ad Not another ray of hope to mock
me. You are free. / shall never see
you again, never and may God grant
that your eyes may never see me in my
humiliation. Forget me. We must not
meet again. ] have done with hope,done
with life. God bless you even as be has
cursed me. Farewell"
We cannot speculate upon the tears
which fell upon these words, wrung from
desolaie despairing heart. The frail
child whose heart had been well nigh
broken IN her early trial, rose up from
this terrible afiiction, woman strong
in f,grrsaca 81 L.. \