The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1867-10-08

Even then, with my mournsng vel
down, he might not know me, and
could hardly be the same at thirty / wa,
ut eighteen.
looked and looked great tears swelling
into my eyes. l WAS not conscious of any.
thing going on about me. only knew
saw Andrew.
Suddenly there was the sound of u crash
"A rumbing, sinking of the church and
screams from female voices. The whole
congregation started to their feet at once
pushed doorward, the clerk trying his
best To stop them.
eft there IS any danger at ALL" he made
thea. hear at last, ''its just by the door.
The hoor has given away. I've said
it would these twenty years"
AT that the crowd huddled back and
formed themselves at stand still.
Just then hand touched my shoulder.
a voice said:
"Dont be alarmed. The church will
not tumble about our ears yet. The only
danger is "a rush over the weak spot of the
floor"
1t wns Andrews voice and did not
dare to look at him.
stood quite still. Some of the boller
souls had lsaped the chasm Others had
clambered through the windows. The
ladies we're being handed over by means
OF an extemporaneous bridge, and the
place was almost empty.
The new clerk and Deacon Bauyelt
peered into the aperture.
"Ihe beams have been dry-rotting
long time,' said the latter. Zone of
them is in two, and the other-I say,
here's a letter !"
lie interrupted himself by knee'ing
down and thrusiing his hand into the
chasm. There on the ledge, formed by
the cellar wall, rested leiter-dirtv cob
web covered, but with the seal unbroken.
"Mss-Sophy-Narroway," he said
slowly, "why Sophy, that's yours !"
saw Andrew Hudson start violently
AMI turn his eyes upon me with new
look in them, and stretched out my hand
How 1t trembed
"An old letter." l said. 81 lod one
before | read it ten years ago. 1t must
have slipped through that crack in the
floor we all knew Of" And | spoke
calmly, though my heart was beating 50
that | coull hear it.
l crossed the bridge with a laugh the
next moment, chatted while with the
clergyman's wife, and botook myself home.
Halfway ! heard "A step following me-a
step | knew so well. tried to 90 on and
could not. paused. lie gained upon
me. The soft brown hand, with its
rounded finger tips, caught mine.
Miss Norroway-Sophy," he almost
gasped. ''Stop-listen to mel beseech
you. Sit down-here, under these
naples, and read that note-read and
answer il, not as it asks you but with a
word-a smilc-a look Life seems
within my grasp once more!"
lie sank upon the grass under the
naples, and drew me down beside him.
In a sort Of dream | broke the seal and
glanced over the first words of the page
before ME. 1t bore the date of eleven
years before and read thus;
'DEAR SoPmr-"
tried to read on but the letters Ian.
'ed before my eyes glanced at the
ngna;ure and saw his name. The letter
uttered into my lap.
'Sophy" he pleaded, "read all, and
Inswer me-"
But there was no need. The truth
lad flashed upon me. The lost letter
'ad been from hlm asking me to be his
wife, and he had taken silence for reiec-
ion OF his suit. Oh the ten long years
i hidden sorrow-years that had chang.
d me from girl TO a woman, that had
prinkled silver in his ebon locks ! What
liter payment for one careless act. He
rev closer to me.
My eyes met his, nv hand was strech.
d toward him. ''Oh Andrew :" I
ried.
'rou never could have been 80 dear
me had you not loved me all the time" S
And the next moment was clasped l
his breast. and our lips met in their /.
rst kiss. ]
liave ! told you enough 7 will not !,
'dden the story now by going back into
lose weary years of separation | will c
,t weary you " lh the chain of events Il
tch brought him that day to New d
orhelle and to the church porch, But c
VIII tell you how, on one sunny morn D
'een Annes bells in that old church a
'eple rang a wedding chime, and so end y
y story with the hour that made me An "
ew's wife. q
MEN ONE Would RATHER NOT MEET.