Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1866-12-26
ards the heavens, or the hills, they fas.


rooted cottage in sight, and this object
explains her shiver. AS long as Betty
could remember the house had had an i'll
name. Children used to run past it in
twilight. Grave seniors poohed down
their fears, but, somehow. as the years
passed the reputation of the house did
not improve ..ta.
Goody Wakeman was dressed in black,
and. never full Of chat, she yet made a
visible effort to entertain her visitor Her
sentences we're jerked out with an abrupt
ness which sometimes disconnected Betty,
and she had an uncomfortable look al
ways in her eyes. Like the inscrutable
gaze Of portraits, the DANES seemed ever
cognizant Of the least mention without a
full lifting of their lids.
"Spose you think me queer like all
the rest. A WITCH hey? Hum cant
differ from the human herd nowadays
without gettin bad name. don't care;
d as lief my biscuits be riz with sulphur
as sody! Come seeing that Betty sat
silent. 'want me to tell you someth'n? ?
Want t look n my stun %
She rose, and went to an oll-fashioncd
chest of drawers and took from thence a
parcel Of pink soiled tissue paper. This
she united carefully. smoothing out the
wrappings in her palms, and held up
shining black pebble. Common 'nough
looking isr't it? Oh. know you think
Saint worth any more than any street
stone. Answer me one question =! Wilt
see past. present, or future?"
"The past" said Miss Betty, solemnly.
"I.ook there y
Betty gazei, and behold: the scenes
around retrogated thirty years. 1t was
the old farm house on the hill 1t was
midsummer. She smclt the sweet scent
from the meadows where the hay makers
were at work She saw the cloudess
blue Of the sky; the naples vigorous
foliage shading the doorway the well
sweep around the corner ducks. turkeys,
and chickens. in the barn yard, her moth.
er feeding them. throwing masses Of dough
from an iron basin her father issues
from the celiar-way with brawny bare
AIMS, and straw hat awry and ragged,
bearing yellow earthern pitcher Of cider
to his mowers. Little Alice sat in the
tansy bed. as it was her delight, and pul.
led the blossoms to pieces with her club.
by fingers.
Suddeuly. over the voices and sounds ot
life and labor, stole the hush Of evening
A great golden moon Illuminated the TO-
liage. and it sparkled with dewy dia
monds. The brook. in the "Wct Meadow
Just buck of the house. flowed more musi
cally than in the day time. or was it that
ears were reader to hear its warble? Oh,
the lonely cry of The poor mhippoor-wills.
They ring still through the grove in cease.
iteration. Aud Betty | erself is there in
girlish GRACE, walking by the rushing
brook!et; but not alone.
Betty utterly forgo's that it is not real
ity. Her thin lips part in happy smiles.
aud she renews the vows of that evening
over aud over again, until the short. dry
laugh Of Goody Wukenan startled her.
when the scene faded away. .'''''
"Oh how cruel !" mui INJURED the poor
soul. .Why not let me have fanccd the
old time back awhile longer? A thanks
giving It would have been indeed !"
"No. Illusions ouly are cruel Take
another peep now-quick for the time
wasteth, aud the crew cometh." And
Betty. thus addressed, again looked
Only moment ); then lying down the
pebble. she simply said; $50 be it," with
pale.lips. But she never told what she
saw.
Betty was confused that day. Time
seemed to stand still. She looked from
the windows Of the cottage, aud the sun
seemed veiled with vapor SO thick that il
crested the heavens with daikDess. Yet
she noteo Hlckers Of brilliant sunshine on
the pspered walls Of the room. on the al
cien, panuelled doors, on the quaint pat
termed carpet. What could it mean |?
The New England holiday was % sol
EMMY kept as any s.ndayiy yet Betty
heard yoices---bot angry but colloquisl
The very sir she breu,hed seemed alive
with sruugs Influences. Her knitting lay
neglected il ber lap, while she pondersd
all this aud as she pondered she seemed
to lose volitiou. aud be borne outward in'
, 10 region unknown, bus not quite UNA
milliar.
She did not know when Goody Wake
a man left the room 70 see to househoiu
| matters; she did not smell the savor u
! turkey and mince. pies steam in from th'