Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-02-20

was W uine aiOne-sat down TO nnlsh MS letter
to Maggie, the conclusion of which contrasted
strangely with the gayety OF the opening sen
tences.
hile John was writing, his mother was
driving rapidly in q hackney-coach from Greys-
ley to Hawkshead. The good ladg was in a state
of sad perturbation. She knew perfectly well
that Miss Kate would not send for her unless
she was sore bested, and she was prepared to
expect the worst on arrival. She loved her
sister sincerely, and grieyed that illness
had overtaken her; but with the natural sorrow
there was mingled certain feeling of bewii-
derment- She had known hardshlps and mis-
fortune herself, she had wept over dead face,
sorrow and she had been year-long companions
and personal catastrophe would have seemed
the most ordinary thing in the world. But that
ything should 20 wrong with Miss Kate, with
whom she had assocIat ted every idea of stable
prosperity, of invGriabe success, seemed to her
wonderful, unaccouutable something like a
suspension OF the laws OF nature, and the un-
hinging of all things.
Mrs. Hagart lay back In the carriage, while
- LII "a "a - .--vI -l4e e~ iiv~d = nd .iO
shadowy trees, like the DARK plumes of funeral
hearses, hitted rapidly past either side of the
road Her mind went back 10 the old times );
to her father house; to her marriage and the
enstrangements consequent thereupon to NJ lss
Kate kindness to her children to the one that
remained to the far dearer taken away,
up the family breach and thinking of all this,
and how the entire wrong thing had become
right again, and OF the duty which she
at the time engaged, The poor lady threw her
self back IN corner OF the vehicle, and wept
outright; and 1t not till the cold stars, and
the dark fitting ghosts of trees, anc he silence
OF the country road, were exchanged for the
lat-radiating lines Of lamps of Hlwkshead, the
blaze OF shop windows, the rattle OF wheels,
and the dIn and movements Of intent crowds,
that she regalned comparative composure ; and
even then, glancing out of the window of the
vehicle Oh the glare Cf light, and the hustle and
pressure Of passengers, she maryeled how many
death-beds there Were that night ii the NOISY,
brilliant city. and how many Of the dusky cases,
that hurried ast for a moment 10 the shop
lights bore hearts as sore as hers. - hundreds
hundreds. she said to herself hundreds
on hundreds could take by the hand to-
night.
Mrs la art had no sooner reaehed Mortimer
Street than John was out On her io the lobby
III moment. lie gave her what Information
ne could cOucerning the cond ton OF the invalid.
He carri her into tie room which had been
pre par, d for her, and he had barely laid aside
her bonnet and shawl when Ann appeared az the
door.
Please, ma am, said Ann, Miss McQuarrle
Is awake now. She heard the door-bell and is
auxIyus to know II you have arrived VIII you
cJme this way, ma am? -
Mrs II lgart followed Ann 81 once and when
she entered he sIck apartment, there Miss
Kate propped up on pillows IN bed, looking
gaunt aud pale, her hands lynn lax on the bed
clothes. At the step she turned halt round,
and a look OF pleasure visited the dim eyes.
'' thought II you, Margaret. 1t was very
kind OF you to come 80 soon. Place the candle
Oh the table near my bedside Ann, and then
you leave the room You VIII be called If
you are auted.
Ann did a. she was directed a. left the
room
Hiss me- sister" said the old lady when
they alone - | am going long jour
ny. You have been crying, Margaret" she
continued, quickly, she caught sight of Mrs.
Hagaris face as she bent forward IN the candl,
light. e" Is 1t worth crying tor
= Don speak in that way SAID Mrs. Ha-
CART, she placed her round Miss Kate,
ana kissed her. Don't speak in that way; you
will break my heart If you do You must not
speak OF dying, kate.
Miss Kate lay back on her pillow for a few
moments Do you remember the day OF ha-
" : funeral, Margaret -
" Ah, yes
" DO you remember nv telling you of the
man L loved, and still love -
= Yes, SAID Mrs. Hagart IN woncerment.
. lie called me last night. heard his voice
calling my distinctly as | heard HIM
iong ago calling 1t from be red sunset cliffs be-
hind the house, OF from the boats Ia the bay In
the years when was happy. ADQ ! knew his
voice, and awoke, crying, Yes, AN coming;
and III going, Margaret and it's best. We
have been separated for years and years; he
one rueful shore, on another and Death, :he
ierryman, Is coming across to take me to him.
We will understand each other now. If We
have both sInned III pride, we have suffered, and
God has accepted IN expi itlon. Youth has
been omitted Ia my life, and | am gong back to
1t. That which was sown corruption shall
rise in interruption, andlthe mortal body shall
put on Immortality. Before week is out the
coffin lad Will press upon my face; but shall
feel younger them far younger
TO all this Mrs. Hagart could only reply by
Cas- esses and tears, and after little while Miss
Kate went on,-
. Dont cry, Margaret, what's the use? I
have had ninety years OF II, and have No right
to grumble. | am sure. Now, then, attend TO
me, for | have many things to say to you.
am going away, and must set my house in OF
der before | go. Are you paying attention,
Margaret?"
- Yes, sister, yes
- Then in the lower drawer, yonder, you will
fod all the things L need when it's over L
made them years go"
80 Kate, Kate, don't speak in that way"
9 But l must, my dear. What do you think
| brought you here for | did mt expect to
give you pleasure, you know. You must listen
to me, and you must remember what tell you
also"
Here Mrs. Hagart wiped eyes that were next
moment we. again, and Miss Kate went
- don't wish many people to be here when
they take me away. wish my brother Hector,
and my lawyer, Mr.. Hook hell have some
thing to do III any case when the company comes
back and John, of course. and Mr.. otavert."
Here the old lady lay stIll for little while.
- ltii be fine play for Staverr,' she went
on. - He was always grand hand at d fune-
raj. He's "a liking fot the cakes and The wine.
| should almos like 10 cay good by TO him, for
all that has come and gone between US and
Hagart, yes, you must have Hagart Alfred
Hagart has been prosperous man OF late
years.
- God has been very good to US; Alfred has
been very prosperous ever since he came to know
you, Kate. lt almost seems as II a special bles-
sing had come with the reconciliation"
Here for moment there was q flicker Of a
DR. oil smile ON Mss kate's face. Yes, indeed,
Margaret, it almost seems 50. Do you think
the reconciliation had anything to do with 1t?
But never mind that now. You discuss the
matter with Alfred when l am gone away out
of earshot. Now, l have much to Say to you