The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-03-16

erty their lives through. If | refused
and yexed the Squire, Heaven only
knew what might happen.
Shell never ruin her poor Grand
father, sobbed grandmamma.
All !! it was hard to hear--bitter
hard; but now there was no help for
1t. | took the ring from my bosom
and laid it on my palm, and told them
1t was Evan Lockes and that had
phghted my troth to him.
And grandmamma called rae de-
celtful wench, and grandfather looked
as though his heart would break.
Oh, would have done anything
Tor them-anything but give up my
true love.
That night 1 kissed his ring and
prayed God that he might love me al
ways. In the morning 1t was gone,
ribbon and all, from my neck.
looked for it high and low, but found
no sign of it. And | began to think
that the loss of that dear ring was a
sign that l would never marry Evan
Locke.
The days passed on, and he never
came near me. ooh, il was cruel in
him, | thought, "to hold such anger
for hasty word he had provoked,
when / spoke it that he must know /
loved him So And grandma would
scarcely look at me, q know why
now and grandpa sighed and groaned
and talked of the poor house. And
thought should die of grief amongst
them.
One day grandma said to me: at
seems that your sweetheart is not over
fond of you, nor over anxious to see
you"
"Why not?" said I.
"Where has he been this month
back ?"
BUSY, doubtless" said I, with a
smile, though / thought my heart
would burst.
Perhaps you know all about it, :"
said grandmamma. you're going
with him, maybe"
"Where?" said l.
She went to the kitchen door and
beckoned in woman who sat there
Dame Combs, who had come over
with eggs and chickens.
Il heard you rightly ?" she said.
You told me Evan Locke and his
mother were making ready for q
voyage"
They're going to America. My
son, q carpenter-and q good one.
though | say it-made the doctor a
box for his things. The old lady
breads the new country, but she goes
for the doctors sake. There's money
to be made there, they say That's
what takes him. He sails in the
Golden George"
81 told you SO" said grandmother
Il don't believe it, said l.
They've sold the house and gone
up to Liverpool to take the ship; and
you may find the truth fer yourself if
you chose to take the trouble" said
Dame Coombs. I'm no chatterbox
TO tell lies about my neghbors." And
she went away in wrath.
And still | would not believe it, I'M
til had walked across the moor and
had seen the shutters fast closed, and
the door barred, and not sign of life
about the place. Then l gave up
hope. l went home all pale and
trembling, and sat down at grand
knee.
Its true, said l.
"And for the sake of so false lad
you'll see your grandfather ruined and
break his heart, and leave me, that
have nursed you from babe, Wild
ow."
I looked at her as she sobbed, and
l found strength to say: Give me to
whom you will, then, since my own
love doesn't want me.
And then | crept up stairs and sat
down on my bedside, weak as though
| had tainted. Id have thanked
heaven for forgetfulness just then, but
it wouldn't come.
The next day Squire Turner was in
the parlor as my accepted lover.
How pleased he was, and how the
color came back into grandfather's old
face. And grannie grew so proud and
kind, and all the house was aglow,
and only sad. But | couldn't forget
Evan Evan, whom 1 had loved So
sailing away form me without word.
l suppose they all saw l looked sad.
The Squire ia liked of my health, and
would make me ride with him over
the moors for strength.
The old folks said nothing. They
knew what allied me; only our little
Scotch maid seemed to think there
was aught wrong.
Once she said to me;
"What ails ye, Miss? Your eyes is
dull, and your cheek is pale, and your
Draw grand lover Gamma make we smile;
We are no that i'll, either"
"No-rm we'll enough" said l.
She looked at me wistfully.
Gin ye'd tell me your all, | might
tell cure she said But there was
no cure for me in this world, and
couldn't open my heart to simple
Jennie so the days rolled by, and |
was close on my marriage eve, and
grannie and Dorothy Plume We're busy
with my wedding robes. | wished it
was my shroud they were working at,
instead.
And one night the pain in my heart