Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-10-12
THE STEP UPON THE PATH.

/. Elsie was reading aloud to us from a
quaint old book, full of dwarfs and gi-
ants, enchanted ladies and valiant knights;
and every now and then, as she paused
to turn leaf, or made some merry CON-
ment, the murmur of the wind among the
branches of the old elms around the
house came family to our ears and
made the inner comfort more intense
could not see the cheerful room, OF
the shining of the freight, or the bright
young face Of Elsie Russell, or my moth,
er's smooth, white forehead, and clear
thoughtful eyes, although | could re-
member them well, o! low well, of old
/ might never hope to gaze on any o.
these things again. Yet, I was happy
with that clear voice falling on my ears
and that tiny hand resting on the table
so close that / could touch it with my
hand, as / did now and then by accident
I was often then very miserable; but
Just then l could have said, had l beer
called upon to do SO, that sight was moth
when compaI ed with such a home and
a mother, and that it was better to be
led about by Elsie Russell, than to be in
dependant of aid and unblessed by such
a sweet friend and comforter. In word
/ had forgotten past and future, and liv'
ing only in the present, when step that
had never heard before, broke upon
the quiet Of the little room, dispensing
it utterly-so it seemed to me at least
The others scarcely noticed it.
There is strange footstep upon the
garden path l said, and spoke sudden
Iy, with an unquiet futtering of the
heart, and an undefned prescience of sor-
row, for which I could give no reason, OIL
rather for which was ashamed to give
one myself.
st is Tom, my dear; sent him ou
upon a message before dark, said my
mother kindly.
FIt is not Tom, mother. / have new
heard that step before
1T is Tom in new boots. What strang
er would grope his way through the
woods, to this out of the way place after
nightfall?' laughed Elsie. Be quiet
Paul Blair, and listen to the story, a
you value my appobatiou. The knigh
is about to deliver the enchanted LADY
from her thraldom. Attention ALL
Ere she could resume her book, how
ever, loud peal of the bell announced
the fact, that the step of which we hac
been speaking and to which had beer
listening all the while, had assembled th'
porch and in another moment Elsi'
read from a card which servant handet
her, the name and title of DR.. Claymore
Whom i met at Irving's last week
IL believe / mentioned, said Elsie, il
a somewhat confused tone. Show th'
gentleman in, Dinah.'
The strange step fell upon my ca
once more. Across the hall, up th'
stairs to the parlor door it came thenc'
smothered by the velvet softness of tb
carpet, into the room itself, and ther
paused, very near me. heard tina
alone of all other sounds; words of wei
come and instruction which accompanied
it. Only when all was quiet again am
all were seated, could l bring myself t
listen to the voice of its owner, and tr.
20 discover, in my own way what he wa
like. A handsome, gentlemanly man
which captivates all women and men, an
a voice clear and firm enough to mate
his step-this was what ] made of him
That he was in possession of intellect an
refinement, and that he could, at leas
express excellent sentiments, was eviden
from his conversation. The man of a
others to charm Elsie Russell, though
and following this, came a long train
other thoughts, wrong and selfish beyon
measure. knew them to be so, an
vet couldn ot drive them off. My hea
ached and burned intolerably beneat
their weight, and / fingered for my or
portuniry to slip out unperceived. A
last heard their voices recede to th
cool open air. / knew the path by hear
and feeling for the little paling fence
turned my steps towards small buildin
spoken of rarely, and then in whisper
by the members of our family, as th
burnt summer-house.
/ will tell you the story of that bun
summer-house. II is momentous on
to me, at least.
Elsie Russell was an orphan. In OIL
richer and happier days, my mother ha
adopted her. j was many years old'
than the child, and she had been my p
and plaything from the frst hour OF ht
;..,l 7 waa not hind then. and man