The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1868-04-24


eyes ~ he answered gruffiy, 'he has
taken cold the Lord only knows how
it will end but do as / have told you
and l viii be over again in the morning
perhaps it won, be "a bad as | fear"
The doctors heart sOftened as he no
ticed the expression on the girls face
it was dead white and she trembled viO-
| lently
"Darned old bear | am,n he growled
as he thrust his hand in his pocket for q
| powder, which he mixed, and almost
poured down Allies throat
He looked at her amoment, with arms
a-kimbo:
Feel better, don't you? Guess III
leave you some more, YOU mustn't get
sick-couldn't possibly spare YOU" and
throwing down package of powders,
\ he burst out of the door.
Allie returned to her father He had
| noted, during her absence, the arrang-
ment of the rOOm-'nObOdy but Allie
would have thought of that easy-chair,
and spectacles, too, just a. if was goin'
to be up tomorrow ~
] ANY pain, father2n
NO, not much but I'm so sleepy
| sing Rock Of Ages Allie.u and She
Obeyed till he fell calmly asleep.
! The necessity for eXertiOn quite over,
| she was again left to intrOspectiOn.
''Where was Wentworth nOw?' she
| thrOught, it was just about the time she
| had always watched Orhim-whO wait
| ed his coming now?n
| How sweetly her father slept She
| almost envied its utter quiet. Then she
| thought thegraveyard, with its silent
rows Of sleepers. What if her father
should die? The thought was agony,
and yet she would not feel so badly, if
he could take her with him. Poor child
so young to look for rest in death.
For weeks she hung over her fathers
bedside He was all she had on EARTH
She prayed. in bitter agony, that his
life might be spared, prayed as she had
never done but once before She watch
ed, untired, through dull days Of pain :;
through weary, feverish nights. She
wished, as never before, for a mother
her soul yearned for a mothers sympa-
thy. Benny was always welcomed, she
knew he could pity her. Often, aften,
after looking at her sad, hollow eyes,
and pale checks, had he gone out to
worry over Miss Allie :" He had a
dim perception that Huntingdon had
something to do with her sorrow.
The doctors attentions were unremit-
dav. Allie watched its variations with
the utmost sOlicitude. She knew there
could be no hope, and braved herself,
fearful lest her father might notice her
dependency; for his sake, she assumed
a cheerfulness that was far from real
He became weaker a. the days wore on.
The second week in February brought
portentOus clouds and sOughing winds;
dead vines ratified against the windows,
and trees waved their weird arms; it
seemed to Allie as though the spirits of
earth and air were calling for him, and
the solemn music filed her with unUt-
teTable gloom. At last there came day
when her feet no longer needed tomOve
responsive TO every look of her father,
when it was no longer necessary to
smooth his pillow, or sit beside him,
soothing his pain with murmured words
of tenderness; she sang to him no more
in the twilight, or read in subdued tones
the promises of Christ. She had held
him in her arms and caught his last
worms, his last kiss and blessing; now
she watched his shrOuded form lying
still and cold in the dim shadows OF the
room.
They carried him with bowed heads
and fearful faces to the grave. The poor
were there-he had loved and cared for
them, and bending over him they drop
ped fearful tributes or genuine sorrow,
thoughtless boys clustered round Il
mantle Of quiet fallen over them that
hushed boisterous laugh and jest; while
Allie, fearless, stood at the head Of the
grave leaning on crippled Benny, and
clasping Nellie's hand.
The clOds ratified on the coffin, and
though those rough men lowered each
spadeful of earth a softly as possible, at
each sound Allies face and lips grew
winter
Earth to earth-ashes to ashes-dust
to dusti-the words rang in her ears,
now like q waiIing voice, and again with
trumpet-tOngue calling her to lie beside
him. One after another the mOurners
dropped away, leaving Allie with Ben
ny and the child, yet still the words
words rang in her ears:
Earth to earth-ashes to ashes-dust
to dust.'
They led her to the carriage as they
would have led child, and took her
home. Then she tainted, andwas borne
to her room by kind friends.
A pleasant day in spring Earth's
MYRIAD voices woke. and beneath the
soft brown mould tiny roots stirred,
while above il tender blossoms fell in
showers of white and rose; in hidden
woOd-dells delicate flowers swayed; the
dOgwoOd trees We're white, and crocuses
peeped up here and there, nsunny steps.
Allie reused, to see DIR. Lewis standing
beside her. Bridget and sam weeping at
the foot of the bed. and Benny sitting
apart with Allie gathered in his arms.
The doctors care-seamed face broke
into a smile.
THANK Godl thank God! she's saved"
he cried.
''What beautiful fowersl Why, doc
tor, what's the matter with me? can't
get upI"
mo! but you will, soon; you've been
sick, Allie" and he bent down to stroke
her hair; ''little pale-face must gather
some blooms now"
Allie smiled. She felt very tired, and
soon fell asleep, to awake again to new
freshness-new life. And now some one
sent her flowers and fruits every day;
and as she grew stronger, hooks. She
marveled whoit could be- One day she
asked Bridget.
can shure it's the same jintleman as
wus here askin' VERY day about We;
shure / can't ricollict his name jist
nowp
'eWas he here before | was sick ~
Eyes, miss, the day the doctor brought
-r and she hid her face in her apron.
Allie felt something rising in her throat
as she thought of that fearful day.
"Mr. Lowerre?' she suggested.
eyes, missl an shure that's the name.
I'd elaine forgot it intirely"
A little hope had dawned in Allies
mind She Thrust it down.
After Allie had fully recovered, while
the air was vet balmy and sweet, invit-
ing to holy thought and living, she re-
membered her promise to Benny, and
they sought the lost one through dark
some alleys and ricketty dwellings;
through noisome places and haunts,
splendOr-coated-ye none the less evil
and at last they found her. Allies ten
der words melted her, and when they
told her of the home waiting for her, she
clasped Allies hands and followed her.
Nine years of unutterable misery!
could the future store any peace for her?
AS they passed through the streets peo-
pie gazed at her, questioningly, loath-
ingiy: men stared and women gather
ed their dresses closer, while the shrink
ing creature chung to her prOteetress.-
Allies heart ached. She at last took re-
fuge in a drug store, and sent Benny for
a carriage.
Sophie should not be insulted ~ she
said, with flashing eyes.
All, Allie! your first lessons in the