The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-09-13

What exquisite grace; what tiny
lily.white hand-.he sprang forward,
knelt. as others had done, on the mos
sy footstool, and raised that pretty
hand to his lips. Madge's black, lus
trous eyes met his, they both smiled,
then ne turned away abruptly, and
joined Eugenia.
The hour arrived for Madge to Sc
lect partner to share her honors; all
the company ranged themselves in
double circles around the charming
queen. eager to hear the name her
charming and bird-like voice would
syllable She bad fully intended to
choose Edward Raleigh, one of her
most devoted admirers, and whose
name she fancied to be the one CON
cealed in Mr. Morton's letter, which
she was to open one year from that
day. Robert hoped she would select
him, but she did not in the design con-
ferring such favor.
Madge had resolved to choose Ed
ward, but thought it would be proper
graciously to glance around the cir
Gle, as if not fully decided; SO her
beautiful bright eyes roamed along
the ranks of grace and manhood =
they met those of Delereux. His lips
were parted, his hair thrown back
earelessly from his proud brow
Madge's eyes paused to admire; it
was an irresistible impulse should
she choose him ? No he might scorn
her choice. She looked again; there
WIS something eloquent in his eyes
Emanuel Delereux |" she pronounced
/ clearly
/ Emanuel gracefully advanced, knelt
to receive the twain crown which
Madge, trembling placed upon his
head; then taking it himself, kissed
it, as the custom was, and attached it
to his left shoulder Immediately the
musicians, in the little gallery erected
for them, struck up lively air;
Emanuel drew Madges arm thro' his
own, and led her to the dance. In II
/ few minutes the lawn was covered by
merry dancers, glad voices filed the
air, and every one seemed very happy,
excepting Edward Raleigh. He lean
ed thoughtfully against the elm-tree,
and wished, as Madge had done the
evening previous, that Emanuel Dele
reux had been drowned in the Black
/ Sea, or some sea, that he might not
have re-crossed the Atlantic
In the afternoon, the sky became
suddenly clouded; the girls searched
I for their bonnets and baskets, and the
young gentlemen ran in every direc-
ton, endeayoring to make themselves
useful The thunder gTowled among
the hills, the big drops began to fall,
and every one laughingly fastened to
the nearest homes.
A few loyal followers gathered about
the May queen Her face was bright
with Smiles, as she merrily returned
the gay jests Of her courtiers. Eman-
uel carefully folded the shawl around
the little Hebe form, and as the rain
fell faster, drew her under a tall tree,
whose shadowing branches somewhat
protected them.
do not 80 there" said Edward
Raleigh. 1T is dangerous to stand
beneath tree in a thunder-shower
Madge looked up inquiringly.
1T will 90 only where it IS sent, F"
said Emanuel with smile, as a blaze
of lightning illumined the blackened
sky
Madge blushed her recognition of
his quotation and Edward insisted on
their endeayoring to reach the village
so they started off on a gay race,
Madges little hand firmly but care
fully held in the close grasp of Eman-
uel, while Edward urged them with
hurried sentences How near that
was For Heavens sake, make
haste p
They reached a shelter, and looked
back across the wide lawn they
had Just traversed A flash of light
ming, intensely bright, was accompa-
MED by an instantaneous burst of
thunder. 1t cleft the proud tree, be-
meath which, few moments previous,
they had been standing. Madge grasp
ed Emanuels hand; he folded her
suddenly to his heart, and as quickly
released her. Thank Heaven" he
murmured, earnestly, and his face re-
NAMED as pale as death
Again and again Emanuel led her
to the dance; he walked with her
through the dreamy avenues, and con
verseG in floral language in the con-
servatory. Sometimes AIadge left him
for a while, when others claimed her
hand in gay quadrille, or implored
the favor of her company in a stroll
through the mystic groves, or a sail
upon the artificial pond at the foot OF
the lawn; but Emanuel, by some
chance, would again meet her, and
again their eyes would talk in spite OF
them, just the reverse of what THEN
lips had oftentimes said.
Still Madge was very gracious to
Edward Raleigh, the old-time fayorite
of the kind friend she had called faith.
er, whose tall white tombstone, form Q
grove of weeping willows, overlooked
the silyery pond. She quite fanciet
the thought of proving her devotion
to her father 10y marrying one whom
, she did not love. Two o'clock sound
, ed, the old hall was silent, the wax
= lights had died in their sockets, th,
lamps in the groves We're extinguisheC
and the moon itself had set. All wa
) silence and darkness. Madpe dream