The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-07-26

itself, but at the time my panorama o
memory begins to unfold, new inmate
came seeking admission, and the porta
by which he entered was our Maggie
heart. The face that ,may have lacke,
the full perfection of beauty, was yet on,
TO creep into heart and cling there abid
ingly face to love tenderly, and tn,
clear sweet voice, the bright, half woman
ly half-childlike manner, the mixture o.
gravity and merriment Of pathos and hu
NOR, in our darling, had won her strong
mans love, ard an honorable place in d
heart that held her love its highest earth.
ly blessing. She loved him too, truly and
fervently, and the wooing progressed fav-
orably; though how she could leave Hor-
ace, or how any of us could live without
her, were family spcculations of grave I'M
port.
Walter Harding, her lover, was a
Young lawyer, who had a handsome in
come Independent of his profession, and
there was Il home preparing for Maggie,
where every comfort and many luxurics
would be ut her command. We all liked
Walter, yet we all echoed father when
he said he did wish young men would
look somewhere else for wives, and let
his girls alone :" Yet we all agreed that
if Maggie must 90, her woucr was one
whom we all could welcome and love us
a brother.
1t was in early summer fifteen years
ago, that we began to make the wedding
outfit for Maggie Every needle was
busy, even the wee twins stabbed their
fingers with cruel thrusts irving to make
something for Maggie Piles of snowy
linen and muslin, dainty dresses, pretty
ribbchs, and soft laccs, filled the drawers
set apart for the brides wardrobe, until
at last all was ready but the dress, the
white wedding garment, and that WIS
to come from New York. Father lad
bushcss that called him there, and it was
agreed in solemn family concavc that |
was to 90 with him, and aid in the sccc-
tion of the al-important garment.
We had Il merry journey tn the great
metropolis, and spent three happy days
there, father giving me every hour he
could spare from business TO escort me to
concerts, picture galleries and lionizng
generally. Those three days live vividlv
in my memory, every detail drawn with
an inlcliblr pencil. OF course, the dress
WAS our first care, and the soft whte lace
over silk that was our final selection was
lovely enough even for our Maggie.
On the afternoon of the third day we
started for home More than half our
journey was over, when plllowing my
head or my fathers shoulder | sank of
into sort OF half sleep, a'dreamy rcverie,
undisturbcl by the monotonous rumble
and rattle of the cars. suddenly there
was shock. Il binding rush and deafen-
ing roar; something came crashing through
the car One moment of intense agony
followed as this something seemed 20
crush me to n manglcd mass then comes
Il long blank.
My next recollection is awakening from
II deep sleep, with Il confused conscious
ness Of past pain, and acute realization of
agonlzlng torture, that gave itself express
sion in cries and grolns. Tendel hands
touched me, Il loving voice soothcd me,
and again Il dim memory of the same
touch AM words came TO M. but nv
mind was rousing from lis stupor, ami
struggled for more light. could sec the
plying face. and as the pain yielded to
the remedies, | threw off the numblina
stupor that came creeping over me again,
TO whisper Maggie !"
"1on know me you know me again. -
she sold, while her tears ralncd down up-
on my face.
"ies. What is it all, Maggie My
head feels strange, and thee is dull
memory ofsomething dreadful-and-you
are in mourning, Maggie ?"
She bent over me, stroking my hair,
kissing ne iondIy, but answering nothing.
My senses, however, were rousing to
keen life again, and began to recall the
journey and its abrupt termination.
"Maggie," | persisted, "tcll me all.
We were away-somcthing happened"
"There was collision. ON the railway.
We were tclcgraphed, and Horace and
Walter went instantly to bring You home.
"But father | cried, half diyining the
truth
Can you bear it p she said.
'Nes-tcll me all-now-quickly =
sEntbpr ,v,,s [ iIlnJ ;n,t,rtI,,
] tried to rise to give some vent to the
choking agony of the tears struggling in
my throat, but iron weights seemed To
press on every limb, and there was no
power left me TO stir.
Maggie saw the effort, and taking my
head in her embrace said softly:
do not try to move, darling, you are
too weak. You have been badly hurt,
but Kind Providence has spared your
life
Mother | gasped, Il want mother =
'She is too ill now, to come to you, but
better than she has been, out of danger
though very weak. She is in the next
room, you know, so after you are both
better you can be near each other.
And you, Maggie, have you nursed us
both, bearing your own sorrow too 2
HIush! What is my sorrow to moth
er's widowhood, to your suffering! Oh,
my darling she said, again kissing me,
would | could bear your cross for YOU
Then with no word of murmur Tor bcr
L.. i 4