The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-11-02


hand. and his own peculiar smile Oh his
lips in doubtful attitude.
Are camp-mseting introductions good
for anything ?" he asked. MAY come
i'll and sit down.
And | answered,
"Certainly. Mr.. Redesdale.''
My heart never beat when Epllraim
Tucker entered my door, but it did then.
| never felt the blood rush to my cheeks
when he spoke to me, but they flushed at
the voice of .Johh Relesdale. All in a
moment the room seemed bri ighter, and
life happier, and | wondered why.
He made short call and went away,
and | had no wish to work any more |
sent Maggie to bed and sat down by the
window i'll the moonlight.
The church clock struck the hours one
after the other. After eleven the cid
watchman began to call them still | sat
there looking at the stars. And when, in
the gray dawn, | crept up stairs, | hid
my face, o> though by doing so, | could
hide my heart from my own soul
Ephram came TO see me the next Sun
day. We went to church together, and
he, rid OF his pet, was very pleasant and
roaxlng | felt like one in dream, but
| suppose he thought me vcxed, for he
took no notice OF my manner. When we
parted lie told me he was going to New
York for a fortnight. There were drugs
to be bought and other business to be at
tended to. and the doctor. old and stout.
loved his ease and had sent him. 81
shall like the trip" he said Il enjoy
New York If am ever in business Tor
myself Gas | shall be. of courSe) | will live
there DO YOU like the city ~
Then he stopped, and took my hand
and looked into my eyes. | thought he
was going to ask me to be hi, wife on the
spot. but he said nothing. He was very
prudent | believe he waS waiting 10
have certain sum laid bv before he COM
mitted himself.
The one feeling in my heart as | went
into my little workroom, swept and IL
died for the Sabbath, was JOY that he had
not spoken.
There are years that seem TO have no
event in them. and days SO full Of changes
that they are like years.
That fortnight during which Ephr;lim
was absent was little life TO me. tor cv-
cry cvenin. brought John Redcslale with
ii. Sometimes we walked out together
sometimes We only sat while and chat
ted. But every day he grew de;lrer to
me, and Ephraim Tucker was only some
one lonye,l to forget,
/ Whether | WAS right or wrong could
not Judge then There had been no actu-
al engagement between Ephraim and nv
self. vet he. knew. thought me bound
/ to him. and my conscience Stung me on
/ that score. On the other side, under
stood now that did not love him, and
that to marry one, caring for another rs |
did, would be wicked
John RcdcSdale cave me little time to
think even had tried to do 50. He
woocd with eyes and lIp>. The great
! love in his hear. .(or at least thought So)
would have won me. had | been twice
pledged to any other living man.
So before the fortnight came to an end
we were walkin" one day in the woods
where We had first met, like the lovers we
were, and at fallen log, hear Il little
stream that ran laughing through the
woods, he made ne stop.
sit down. Clara" said he, Il want to
speak to you
And | knowing we'll what he was 90
inc TO say. sat down aS he badc.
Then, taking my hands iii his. hc told
me of his hopes and pects-only ly those
Of poor methodist minister when he had
gained his end. \ wandering life for i'll
that church there i no lifelong dwelling in
one pleasant parsonage, but changed III
stated times, from one flock to another
And then he asked NE if | were Willing
to share 50 poor a lot until death should
part Us. And !, out Of my full heart
answered, Yes" And u great flood o
happiness broke over my heart, and
thought earth, heaven and men, angels.
That was on Saturday. On Sunday
dreamed Of my new found joy. On Mon
day Ephralm returned.
He came in the evening. 1t had been ;
stormy day and was raining sill, and h'
was wet from head to foot The rail
drippcd from the brim of his hat and from
his curly hair lie did not sit down, bu
stood with one hand on Il chair back
clutching the wood as though it Were
; thing he hated.
Il want to speak to you alone, Clar;
Speer," he said. And | sent Maggie away
When we We're alone. he said, in a voic
not like his own. "What is this hea
, about YOU, Clara ~ made no answer.
Look at me. Clara Speer," he SAID. al
ter pause. Don't hide your head lik
guilty thing. If they have lied, who sa
, You have been taking lovers walks, an
! giving lovers kisses to John RedesdalC
I'll make them swallow their words.
, they tell the truth, God keep me iror
committing murder,,'
7 He WAS furious as mailman: but
, found courage at last to speak
I "We have never exchanged promise,
said. I'VE are not engaged. | ain nc
: bound to you, and you know it."
i Il know he said in Il sort of his
!, that it was all the same. Every one
town knows It. You know it, Ciar
q Spcer You are bound to Inc in honor.