Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-03-16
rgriiulness impossible, and il hurts her

still.
I" All! If we could so recall our hasty
words, as to take away their power to dc
harm, what blessed ihingit would be-
But an impulse once given, cannot die.--
If it moves to good, happy are they who
set it in n.otion--if to evil, alas alas -
l set an evil impulse in motion, and it ia
hurting still But where is she mnt
bring her, il possible, into a better state Of
mind"
You have met Mrs. Arnold
Mrs. Arnold! Can it be possible =
Surely she is not the daughter Of my old
friend Mrs. Willis. She is no, the little
Emily have thought Of SO many times,
and always with troubled memory in my
heart"
I" The same," was answered.
& And in all these years she has not
forgotten nor forgiven my fault. must
have wounded her sorely."
You did. Hers seems to be one Of
those proudly sensitive natures, into which
all impressions 60 deeply. Iasked her
why she kept herself at such distance
from you. But she avoided direct ans
wer, at the same time iniimating state
of repulsion. l pressed for the reason,
and she gave il rather reluctantly, aver
ring at the same time, that she had never
opened her lips on the subject in all her
life before---not even to her mother"
"Extraordinary could not have be-
lieved that an impression, made on child's
mind, would remain in such distinctive-
ness and force through so many years.
What lesson it is r
l wish it were possible for you to get
near her, Mrs. Lincoln, and let her feel
how kind heart you have. She has adj
mirable qualities. And am sure that il
this barrier were removed, you would be
fast friends
/ s Oh, it must be removed said Mrs
Lincoln. Now that know OF its exist
ence will have no peace until it is leve
| with the earth. 1t was my hands thai
builded it, and my hands shall take dowr
every stone of separation
"There is lady in the parlor, said
servant, coming to the door OF Mrs Al
nold's room. q And here is her card
ma'mam."
/ Mrs. Arnold took the card and read th
name OF Mrs. Lincoln. She stood 70
some time, irressolnte. 1t vas on her Iii
TO say--"Ask her 10 excnse me. ] an
sf---o---i r.. she was MT enraoed -
And, moreover, since her communicates
TO the friend VINO had spoken so favorably
| Of Mrs. Lincoln, she fell lees satisfied with
herself, 1t did seem ike yindictive
spirit thus to cherish ill.will through SC
many years.
THAT ! will be down in a few minutes
Ii cost her an effort to utter this bu
il was said the meeting must take place
She sat in quite disturbed state for som'
time, before venturing to 60 down stairs
Then, with what selfpossession she coult
twent, years ago, wounded her SO deeply
that the pain had not yet died ont Of hel
consciousness.
The two ladies stood face to face, ant
hand in hand. The name of Mrs. Arnole
had been spoken warmly /; that Of Mrs
Lincoln with an almost repellant coldness
There were but few minutes silence
Mrs Lincoln said
Your mother was my best friend.
Iored her as a sister. Will younot for hel
sake. forgive the cruel words that hur
pride sent thoughtlessly from my lips
words repenied OF almost as coon as spok
en-, a.,d regretted many, many times =
The voice of Mrs. Lincoln tremblrt
with the deep feeling that was in hel
. heart.
"Oh, if had dreamed of their powel
to hurt so deeply, / would have sough
years ago. to repair the ~rong"
This was unexpected There was n
: time to reconstruct the barrier which Mrs
Lincoln had suddenly thrown down. N
time to gather up the broken chain OF i'll
will, and unite the links. The tender an
true in Mrs. Arnod's heart responded. :
She was softened 10 tears. Her mother
name had touched her like ta'isman.-
. Ny best friend; loved her as sister.
These words disarmed her.
: "Let the past be forgotten J" she ans
wered. resolutely, as she closed her han
tightly on the hand that was claspin
hers.
T 8. Forgotten, and forgiven both, m
q dear Mrs. Arnold, so that we may
friends in the true accepia,ion OF the wor,
e Aiy heart, even without recognizing in 70
', the child Of an old friend, has been draw
d ing towards you steadily. IL perceived
b You something eongenial. And, now ma
" ns,t raceiva from, vrnr fins a k,ao Of G.,