Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-04-26

L
arms, He looked up in my face and
smiled.
Courage came Ia me. ] clasped m,
treasure closer to me. | went dowS
again to Paul. Il told him that was 90
ing away, that her claim was first Wa
paramount to mine, His mead wss
| bowed and he did not raise il OF snaos
| placed Iittlc Paul in his arms And
went about preparations for my dep,,,
ure,
Some superhQman strength INNS,
have upheld me that day. Whena llWss
done, wrote note for him. FOR COMA
not trust myself 10 talk with him
told him was going 10 the old homa
stead in the litth' town by h, ~.
shore. asked only this Of him Hs,
he would 90 with Isabel where pd,t
er Of Us was known, that !, possible h.
would keep the whole a secret from tbs
gossip of the world.
went to him again. He was St.
holding little Paul His face was ye,y
pale and he was greatly agitated.
Oh, If could have thrown my arm,
around his neck and sOothed him. I'm
even had it been in my power to sootfr
and console, | knew 1t was no. INV
right.
The old homestead had been shut y,
for several months, for my father t,i
died since my marriage. 1t was y-,y
desOlate, only little Paul, a servant and
myself. But this desolation was "a,
more endurable than receiving the call,
Of old acquaintance and friends, aud
being subjected to their enquiries con.
corning my husbands health and wher4.
abOuts.
1t seemed to be the impression that
had come thither to spend the summer
and that his business detained him IN
the city. Summer and autumn ant
winter wore away, and people began 10
wonder that | stayed from him 50 long
Then there began to be suspicion that
we had parted, and everybody guessed
and surmired a great many things, a..
of which of course became rumors.
Little Paul had commenced to talk
| often showed him a portrait which I
kept where no one else should see it. /
told him it was his father and he mus,
love it. He would look at it for long
time and make many pretty childish Re.
marks about it.
One day | took him with me to cal.
on lady. A portrait of similar styr
was hanging in the room. He regarded
it very intently. At length he asked
Mama, whose father is that ?"
The lady noticed the question and I
| Ia
he had seen his fathers portrait and
thought every portrait must be Of some
ones father.
Poor child" she said thoughtlessly
have no doubt. "He does not remem.
Der his father l presume, it is so long
SINCE" she checked herself sud
denly.
One who has not been through tn
fiery trial cannot judge how such IT.
marks wound the heart.
Autumn came again. Early one even
ing a boy came with note. | saw il
was Pauls writing, although his hand
must have been very unsteady Hesaid
that he had come secretly, that he Nigh.
see his child. He entreated me to SEM
him with the bearer of the note. H
would keep him only an hour or two.
went to find little Paul. | told HIN
he was going to see his father, not TIL
portrait but his zeal father. There wa,
great deal of childish wonder in hi,
face. He asked if was not going witt
him. why not, Mamma ?" he persisted
when | told him he was to 90 without
me. | told him his father wished only
him to come.
l did not question him at all o.. hi,
visit. The next day, he said, "Mamma
my real father doesn't look like the pie
ture father"
"Why not darling2' I asked.
"Oh he doesn't look so happy, and
doesn't smile at all,
do not know how, but the rumOt b.
came rife in the little town that nv hu,
band had been there and seen the cbld
but had not seen me.
A neighbor with more curiosity than
dellcacy said to the child as he Wa;
playing on the street, "You have seeL
your father, dear, hayn't YOU 2"
And did your mamma see him she puc
sued, as she saw he answered readily
"No," he replied, naturally as chic
would, che didn't want to see mamma,
The gossip of the place at length be.
came so uncomfortable, that when sum.
mer came | resolved to spend it tTayel.
ing. 1t was late one evening | was sit.
ting in the parlor Of a hotel waiting 70,
a room. Little Paul had fallen asleep,
A gentleman and lady entered. knew
at a glance it was he and Isabel. But
on, he was so changed. There was ne
smile as little Paul had said, only when
he turned toward hsr, he seemed to try
to smile for her sake, but his face was
only the sadder for it. l could see that
she once must have been very beautiful
She seemed very delicate now. | took
up little Paul and left the room upper.
celved by either of them.
l was less happy after this for knew
that Paul was not happy. I knew he
felt himself in a maze as if he had com,
mltted great wrong ali unwittingly
yet reproaChing himself always az if the
sin were in his soul.
knew 1T was wrong, but sometimes
used to wonder, whether he loved lisa
DEL as he had once loved her, as knew
be had loved me.
returned home. | tried to be more
cOntented, believing that all WAS with