The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-06-22

loved the sen too well to leave it
while the pleasant weather lasted.
We entertained them as well rs we
could, and ], grows subdued and
timid, was much carossed and no
ticed by our guests. Among them was
a young invalid gentleman, who with
his mother and sisters, was lingering
for the benefit afforded him by the
sea air. ] mover knew how or when
[ discovered that Gerald Horton loved
me; but, after time, | seemed to
know it, and to feel that his friends
encouraged me near him, Just as we
give the dying any Injuries they re-
quirc, however hurtful they might be
deemed if there were hope of life.
Bnt. even so, | was pleased to Give
him pleasure and | read to him, and
rowed him over the soft waves, placid
rs if no winter storms were approach
ing. l thought l was but smoothing
his short path to the grave.
] lived in sort of letbaigy that
was not to last. Then asws came.one
day that John Lowry was about to be
made partner in This cousins bust
ness and marry his cousins daughter
] believed it, for old Robert Lowry
had trudged over to tell it to my faith
en- There was that in these tidings
that reused me almost to the pitch of
fury. One firm resolve came out of
the dreadful tumult and conflict | en-
dured If John was about to marry,
| would not be left to pine in lonely
singlehood. l knew now that | had
always cherished a hope that we
should be reunited, but / now deter
mined that my marriage should pre-
cede his.
/ did not love Gerald Horton.
though / felt for him the deepest
compassion and kindness l knew he
would propose to me on the slightest
encouragement, and | resolved to ac-
cept him. His death could not long
be delayed, | thought, and then l
should be free once more, having
shown John that he was naught to
me, while | should share the position
of the Horton family much above
I that with which he was about to con
meet himself.
Iresolvcd and / triumphed know
the Horizons were ill-pleased, but they
could deny nothing to the diving.
When they left the Cove / went with
them as the wife of Gerald
Forty years later he was still with
me, in hale old age. Contrary to all
expectation, his health had expert
enced favorable change the winter
following our marriage. We spent
I several years in Europe, mostly upon
the shores Of the Mediterranean BY
that time he was fully restored, and
we returned to our native country.
The Horton family who had come to
/ look upon me rs Gerald's savior, well
cOmed me with open arms. Travel,
reading, association with refined
minds, had removed from me all
traces of my homely origin, and there
was nothing to shame them. And |
was calmly happy. In quiet way |
loved my husband | strove honestly
to do right, and had my reward. |
no longer desired to triumph over my
former lover. l felt only regret and
self-condemnation when [ thought of
the past, and | was glad when /
/ learned he had removed to a distant
city, and that there was little proba-
biity that we should meet again.
The shadows that had passed
athwart my early life had saddened
me. My husband was grave and reti-
cent; and we lived quiet, serene life.
His love for me never waned. 1t was
tender, and grateful Undemonstra-
tive himself, he did not expect effusion
from me, and do not leiieve an un-
satisfied doubt ever crossed his mind.
He knew my early love, but l believe
he thought | had forgotten and out
lived 1t, as | did strive to do, and rs
|, too, believed | had. Few married
pairs are more serenely happy than
we were, and few survivors mourn
more sincerely than / mourned, when,
i'll the forty-hrst year of our marriage,
Gerald was suddenly removed from
my side.
When he was gone | nude no
change in my mode of lie. An un-
married sister of his-one who had
been with him at the Cove resided
with me, quietly advancing, MS l was
to a serene old age Fifteen calm
and peaceful years passed, and then
she, too, died, and l was left alone.
My parents had departed years be-
fore. knew not that my blood red
dened the veins of any creature. The
desolation of age fell upon me had
reached my allotted three score and
ten, and passed it by five years. re-
Elected that very brief time must
close the scene, and though my calm
life had left me with almost unim-
paired vigor, l found my chief solace
IN the thought that death could not
be far away
think | must have fallen into n
morbid condition of mind in my lone
liness. How long | remained thus |
can hardly say, but some tidings came
to me one day that reused me TO life,
and left me no longer anxious for the
coming of death
heard from John He was living,
was well; and lately meeting one who
knew me well, had cordially inquired
"