The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-04-12

lcauS, anu cnuDDy nanuS, wand
ering and pattering over the clcai
glass pancs in exuberant glcc
could even hear the gurging of sweet bab,
laughter at times, so near was | to thi,
fairer side Of life, OH which gazed so joy
ously.
A whim seized me. Thought should
like to see contrast TO all this brilliancC
and gladness, and looked eagerly up and
down the street for bcggar, or even some
poor, miserable animal that might claim a
throb Of sympathy from human heart
None could be seen there. Nothing ven
turod into such pleasant quarters at such
an hour, so | went across the room, passed
through a long hall and came to window
overlooking the rear of the building-a
drcary stretch Of land, containing few
miserable houses, anda park at distance,
whose leafess branches were strongly
defined against a cadcn winters sky.
| knew that it was bitterly cod with
out the snow was cruste1 over and the
pavcmcnts icy, while the old pump by the
little thatched cottage beneath the window
from which [ was looking, was literally
covcrved with Il shining dress Of crystal.
AS it to grant fuIiilmcnt Of my wishes
the fatcs sent an object Of interest TO the
spot. With slow, weary steps woman,
thinly clad and wrctched, walked up TO
the old pump and stood STILL looking at it
with IA wan, helpless, dcspairing look, that
went 10 my heart. could almost fancy
that heard the sigh that must have pass
ed through her lips, then the sob, as she
dropped her face for one moment in her
two wan, trembling hands. | could sec
that she trembled from head TO foot with
cold as well as with feeling, and the latter
was plainly expressed in her attitude. My
heart ached as she stood there, iorlorn and
dcsolate, grieving over things hidden from
my sight, but which yet had power to
touch me even more than | was conscious
Of at the time.
Many minutes passed away; then she
turned sadly toward the cottage, and APP
preaching it cautiously, seemed to be
striving to catch glimpse of the interior
without being seen. Finally, after a
number Of unsatisfactory attempts, she
staggered away to little place where
she could sit screened from sight of any
one coming from the cottage, and sinking
upon little pile Of boards buried her face
in fer lap, completely screening her head
by drawing the tattcred remnant Of shawl
she wore over it.
There she SAT for a long time, seeming
ly stupilicd by wretchcdness and despair.
AT length, after multitude OF conicc-
tures, | could rest no longer, and going
back TO my room, rang the bell for the
maid, to whom | gave the order to 90 to
the woman and find out the cause of her
distress The girl obeyed me readily,
and ! watched from the window with
brcathess interest as she approached her.
Evidently the first words startled her,
for she sprang to her feet like Il startled
fawn, and looked wildly at the intruder.
Seeing Il stranger, however, she sank
back once more aud concealed her face.
Once she shook her head to some propo-
siilon made by my messengers but, to all
appearances, it was all the heed she paid
to her remarks.
"Och sure an l can't do anything
wild the varmit," exclaimed Mary, as she
drew near me on her return. "She's
one of the stubborn ones. an yez bether
let her alone, Miss. Aithcr ALL she's not
worth the thought Of the likes of ycz.r
"Mary!" l responded, rcproaclluly.
''Shc Is a woman, and evidently in deep
distress. What can you know of her
that you can speak 50 ! will 20 to her
myself, for cannot sleep this night with
that sal face haunting me-"
| threw a shawl over my head and
went down stairs, crossing the little space
between my home and the cottage with
eager, ha,ty steps, till came close TO the
object sought. | spoke TO her very gently,
and my voice must have been full ofpty.
for when she lifted her face hopeiul
light struggled through lbe wonderment
in her eyes.
"llave you no pluce to go this bitter
night, that you sit down here SO iorlorn-
ly," | asked
''No place on earth," she answered,
with II dreary pathos that brought the
tears to my eyes.
''Then come with me. | will give
food and shelter tonight, and if | can
help YOU further | will. Night shadows |
are falling, and it will soon be dark
Come with me-"
She looked at me a moment blanklv.
till satisfied by my face that | was in
earnest. Then the tears gathered in her
large black eyes and uickled over the
wan cheeks. Without "a word she rose
aud followed me across the court and up
stairs to my own room, where, to Mary's
astonishment, 1 conducted her that |
might talk at case | badc her wheel
my large chair nearer to the fire, and
then invited the wanderer TO sit in il.
Which she did after a moments hesita-
tion
Snow, Mary, bring cup of hot tea,
some toast and an egg" | said TO the
wondering girl. "You can get them
quickly and bring them up here.
As she disappeared drew seat near
10 the CRATE and sat down by her. Be-
lore could speak the stranger had drop
ped her head upon the arm of the chair
she occupied, and burst into tears, her
ow plaintive sobs filling the room.
| Ipf bar ot.u ,,,tI Il. |