Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-02-20
you think | can notice what is going on under

l
SUMMER the old lady went on, taking no notice
| Of the young man 5 exclamation. There will
| be changes before then. L very glad of 1t,
| however. | always liked Oona much better
than Maggie, although, dare say you are OF
q d iferent opinion And here Miss Kate fell
into sort OF Il muse and again stared intently
| nt0 the fire
| John Hogart was silent He thought at the
moment that silence was his best policy.
| John" Miss Kate said, after two or three
mi0utes' pause, - | wish you would write Oona
in my name, telling her how highly | approve
| OF her conduct, and with how much sincerity |
wish her every happiness. | would write to her
myself tonight were | able. You'll do IT for
me. Just put my wishes IN your words. VIII
you, John 2"
John said he would have very great pleasure,
and he brought over his writing desk from a
side-table.
And while you are writing, John, think |
shall have 4 little snooze. feel very tired and
weak tonight, and you will be well pleased
10 be undisturoed. Just bring my footsrool a
te bearer fhank A ud 7oFh he R4a IS s' very cry nice
Thank you again. John, you are very good''
And so Miss Kate, with her shawl carefully
wrapped round ner shoulders, sank back in to
| the warmth and s3ftness Of her easy-chllr and
closed Eer eyes. John watched her. and did
not begin his letter till lie knew she was asleep
BY The position OF her hands and the sound Of
Ter breathing. lie then wrote to Miss Oona az
directed. Inc letter not long and as
soon sealed and addressed. As It was too early
u wake ms aunt, who was sleeping comfortably,
II struck HIM that he could employ bis half
hour better team by writing TO Maggie. 50 he
-Or hold Ol another sheet of paper, and while
his pen vas swiftly travelling down the second
page, he heard his aunt suddenly call Out, - Yes
/ coming ~
/ John looked up on the instant, j there was
Aunt Ia stuog 5ols upright in her chair.
and looking towards him, her shawl fallen off
Ter shoulders her hands reLnbIng and
+ alarmed look her eyes.
Nv ho called my name, John? W as Il you =?
DID you hear any hing p
- No one called you, aunt. | have not
spoken since you went to sleep no ene has
been here.
Bat I heard my name called distinctly
The sound Is ringing III my ears YET, SAID Miss
kate, slowly becoming mistress OF her hands,
AMI the hgnt OF alarm dying out OF her eyes
she became conscious OF surrounding OuJects.
Il was called BY name IS II from . great dis
Janee and the voice was voice | know, or
have known. " hat can It have been?"
"1lu have been dreaming, perhaps" said
John, .and only ianeIed it -
Mss ha.e mad again lain back IN the cush
I0ned chair, ami instead OF the look Of alarm
which had been there moment two before
wes the strangest smile On her face that John
n1d ever seen. An Iuscrutable smile OF infinite
content, inch lay ike j hight; and 10 the light
plal's and creases o. care, the lurking lines OF
worldly wisdom and shreWd humor, the furrows
Vi sorrow and the dTIed-up courses Of ancient
IeaIs were smOOthed out, and their places
had come Al aImOsl IutantIIe re ose, Won Ger
iui yOutAfGIness. which we're beautiful to see
but which scared J 1hn by their irrelsvaucy ami
inapFOsiteu,s- The eyes were closed, but on
the i4ce lay taag -leain of alien beauty.
- knew your voice, Richard, across the
= q
dI-gIncl enough tOr John To catch. ''LOnely
have you been there Ienely have been here
| coming, Richard And she passed her
hands across her face, shutting olt tne strange
expression, a1d then IN Z httle while, John,
who was looking on, awe-strIcken saw the tears
tIIckIns down between The withered fingers.
But this emotion On the part OF Aunt Kate
was but OF short duration, and when she re-
moved her ha nds, but for a certain unusual
tranquility, ner face had regained the ordinary
look.
Have you written the letter to Unayohr p
she asked.
:. Yes.' said John.
That's right. Be sure and post it to-mor-
row. III wear my grave-clothes, John, before
Oona wea1s her welding dress.
.'Don'l sag that, aunt" cried John, who came
to her side. Don't let that dream frighten
you 20. You are very nervous, and good
nights sleep viii put you right"
on my windpipe, John,-and then believe in
dreams and oInens BuG there's no use IN talk
ing Of these things at present. | have a great
deal to do, and but little time to do 1t In. You
can 20 to UanvOhr in summer If you like, john
its perhaps the best thing you could do. And
now, John. you will 90 TO DR.. Watkins to-mor-
row and tell him to come here. He do
nothing tor me, but ms presence will satisfy you
and my other friends, and save all Teproaches.
You need nc 70 tonight, TO morrow morning
will TO quite we'll. And John, ] should like
you TO wrIte to your mother at once, and tell
her | wish her here. Write the letter, and
ma ke it as little alarming as possible. Just say
[ am rather unwel, and that | wish to see her.
Now | thin6 that's all | have TO say tonight.
ring the bell ior Ann, and she will assist me to
NY room You'll be sure and write 10 Greysley
before you 20 to bed. and have 1t posted early
Good night, John, ODD night" And by the
time that the old lady mad played for moment
with John Hagart's brown hair and kissed him
on the forehead Ann was in the room.
John, when his aunt had gone, strove to
make himself believe that the voice merely
q nervous deiusion, and that when nee the bit
ter spring winds were over, the Invalid would
be well again and before he went 10 bed he
wrote TO his mother, summonIng her to Miss
Hates bedside. Next morning, after hearing
that bis aunt mad spent rather restless night,
he went TO the office, calling on Dr. atkins
and posting his letters On the way. The Doc
tor was TO q to Mortimer Street at once, and
John was to call on his way home to hear his
report.
John called on DR.. Watkins in the afternoon
on his way home, and was shown into the libra
ry. The Doctor came in almost instantly.
How Gid you find my aunt?" John IN
qu red, anxiOusly.
- She is very weak said the Doctor, - very
weak indeed"
But Is her illness dangerous?
i" Well, for q young and strong person 1t
would not be dangerous. But, Mr.. Hagart,
YOU must remember your aunt is very old, and
That the rope is SO frayed and worn that II can
nos endure much strain now.
Do you think she will die, Doctor? ~ asked
the young map, with a sort of gu1p.
- To tell you the truth" said the Doctor. -
expect she will down some morning IKE
waich,-will stop from sheer exhaustion. But
we will do everything do for her, you
may depend upon that. She has had a won
deriui constitution, you know, and that may
hold out for yet little"
Johu die not ask any more questions; he was
anxious to see how matters stood, and so be
~