The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-04-20

WnetHtf tDcSc Olu dreams were true
or not SO dearly loved him now; so
dearly that sometimes l used to creep
up to my little room, and kuecling by
my bed, prayed that l might be tho
means ofreconciling those two, even If
my death should be the penalty
Yet, in spite Of all, | hoped that
something would soften my uncle be-
fore he died.
/ went TO rest hoping this one
night, aud awoke to find the whole
house in tumult--seryant were rum
ming up and down stairs, and some
were crying and some screaming
One called at my door, ooh, Miss
Rose, Miss Rose y and when, in am
swcr TO The summons, l wrapped my
self in my dressing-gow and went
out, J. found my uncle lying senseless
across the door of his apartment.
Perhaps he had fallen there on re-
firing, perhaps on arising no one ey-
er knew But he was dead, He had
becn very kind to me, and wopt bit
terlv.~ ,lor the time / could think Of
nothing but myself and my loss; but
when the first sad hustle was over,
heard thcn speak Of the will That it
was made in my favor no one doubted;
and !, who knew the truth, felt my
heart sink. When all was mine, /
could cheorfully have said to Harry:
"Tabe II from me lit is yours.
But he would never listen to such
an offer Besides, the sore thought
that he had forgotten me ranked still.
/ loved him; but he could not love
me, on he would have sent one mes
sage written me one line in all those
months.
Yet could not take the fortune
which he had been brought up to
think bis own; 1 would not creep
snahe-like into his place
I would not live in luxury I,
strong and well-while he, war-worn
aud crippled, toiled for bread
/ made a desperate resolve. In the
dead OF the night arose, dressed my
self, and crept down stairs | passed
the room where the watchers sat, and
entered nay uncle's study. l felt as
one about to commit murder might
have felt-my knee tremblcd beneath
me my blood curdled in my veins;
but | found the keys Of the desk,
opened it, and, searching in the pig
: c0l-ho.es, discovered the two wills.
Both were dated outside. | took the
latest from its hiding-place thrust it
into my bosom, and restored the ether
to She desk. Then, extnguishing The
light, fastened mp stairs / hardly
know what had suffered until | felt
myself sinking, deadly faint, upon my
couch, my hand cleRching the viii
close against my breast.
As soon as was able, l read it over
and then buelt down before the FIRE.
God forgive me il | am doing
wroug,H / said at is a dead man S
VIII, buf lie must repent Of Injustice
now lie must be glad to have me
do as / am doing
paused q moment, almost Us if
waiting for response, then threw the
parchment upon the blazing Goals. 1t
scolcheG and sLiyered, blazed mp and
was gone; and then ! crept back to
my bed, and, without undressing, Ind
my face in the pillow, and fell into a
deep and dreamless sleep.
The deed was done Harry was no
longer poor no longer stood be-
tween him and his heritage He came
next day to the funeral, but we barely
saw each other there and when at
last the will was to be read i'll the old
pallor, he slipped quietly away.
ut would seem as though hoped
for some remembrance should | stay"
he said to the old lawyer. Better
( that / should not be there"
So all thought until the certainty
that no later viii than that the law
yer had discovered could exist seemed
thoroughly retablished. Then, when
it was known that was penniless, and
Harry rich, they fell to condoling with
me and blaming my uncle. That /
could not bear.
"He was ever generous and kind TO
me-" 1 said. This is only Justice
And, as soon ms | could, shut my
self up alone
The next day | was going back to
c., to seek for my teachers place
once more and earn my bread as l
had earned it while / dwelt there. |
left others to tell Harry the truth, and
they were ready enough to do it..
And now when l had seen him, altered
as he was, it was so hard to go with
out q word-yet / nerved myself to do
it. With the dawn all was ready for
my departure. And | went down in
to my unce's study to bid it goodbye,
for the place was very dear to me.
poor room" said, 81 shall never
see you again -
And | was passing over its TIRES
hold, with my face in my kerchief,
when some one stood before me- 1t
was Harry. He had entered the
house without my knowledge; and
his hand caught mine, and his voice
was in my ear. Even had | willed
otherwise, | must have gone back in
to the room with hint must have
sat down beside him, with my hand
in his, and listened to him; and oh (!
it was not against my viii, l would
not have sought him, but now he had
/ sought me.
"Wc are almost strangers, Rose,
, he said; perhaps you feel rs though