Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-11-04
An Episode in one woman's Life.

At last like withered leaves appear.
And sleep in darkness side hy side
An Episode in one W0man'S Life.
The year following the late civil war.
spent in one of the most beautiful cities Of
the late rebellious States-iu a city to which
nature had contributed most layishly. An
unusual amount of i'll health and lack of loyal
society were the causes of my forming
warm and intimate acquaintance with the
family Of the presiding physician Of the
Government hospital in that city. As the
location Of the hospital and the grounds about
were airy aud pleasant, it was not rare for
me to spend one or two days out of each week
in the Doctors family.
The systematic, admirably arranged and
conducted duties attendant upon the hospital
was owing chiefly to the efficient management
Of the hospital matron, but whose appear
ance and manners were anything but attrac-
tive to casual or even studious observers.
She was tall and gaunt in figure, with faded
blue eyes, and her gray hair falling about
her face when she stood still, but flying in
various directions when she moved (such was
the velocity of her pedestrianism,) gave her
peculiarly wild and haggard appearance.
She usually wore an od-iashioned straw hat
tipped back on her head, in order to be ready
for any emergency that might call her with
out. Usually a hat worn by woman on the
heavenward side Of fifty gives an impression
Of one trying to hide the SHOWS of winter
under the promise of spring-time that
blossomed years ago. But when the matron
,,,t. L.. N. Al
hair a.hying and voice pitched to the highest
hardest, and most piercing key, giving ac-
counts Of the unfaithfulness of sub-oihcials
and employees about the various wards, no
one had the disposition to insinuate that she
had any desire to ape youthfulness or deceive
one in regard to her amiability. She seemed
an embodiment Of endurance, and every wish
and aim Of her existence crystalized into the
one hard word-business. Early aud late
she toiled, as If driven by some remorseloss
task -master, so it was really tiresome to think
of her
Being in the Doctors room one day when
she came in explosive with wrath and indig.
nation, remarked after she went out
"What strange, hard, unieminne crea-
ture your matron is | wonder she does not
make you fairly nervous with her address and
peculiarities."
Oh, indeed !" he laughed that would i'll
beit me. couldn't manage the hospital at
all without her. She is fire, water, earth,
and air to the whole concern. Her bark is
worse than her bite and with all her repel-
liant ways she has the tender heart of wo-
man. have seen her cry over many poor
fellow but mind you, she never let's tears
blind her from seeing when something than
tears will better avail him. Moreover, thro'
her influence she obtains many valuable do
nations to the hospital" After moment
he added, " You know she belongs to one of
the first families of Baltimore-the famous
book publishers ~
was CONFESS, but never thought of associa-
ting her with those of Baltimore. But that
being so, how do you reconcile her ways and
manners with the refining and cultivating
influences that must have been her inheritance
by birth and surrounded her early days at
least ?"
All, as to that, she has histOry If
you can get her to tell you that you will have
the key to the whole | learned it by the
merest chance but you being a woman, ought
by some subtle. womanly tact or sympathy
to be enabled o get it honestly. But you
may be sure that that woman has heart
and rare one emphasizing his words as if
doubted the existence Of any save the ac-
tua pound of flesh doing organic duty under
her bodice.
That my curiosity was fully aroused, it
would not be wise to doubt The more
tl,u,.Lt ~ "a H.. I
know, and also the more delicate about ask
ing her any direct questions. But | found
out at last, and it happened in this WISE
Passing by her room one evening | found
the door wide open, and looking in saw Miss
Conness sitting by the window in such an at
mosphere of silence and reposo that ven
tured to ask if she were ill.,
q No." she said, slowly, "only thinking.
Win you come in und sit down ?"
Her voice was so changed from its wonted
pitch and harshness TO soltness and n tone Of
gentle sadness that | sat down wonderingy,
feeling that il was all an illusion, and She
would presently start up and assume her old
manner. | looked at her face, and that too
was soitened and relaxed, and the dim, faded
eyes were aglow with warmth and beauty
Ahu nNNti htcu III AhNhli anu DtEhu W
wonder il she had not once indeed been quite
beautiful. She sat looking out the window,
as il she were looking in fields and gardens
farther away than my eyes could see, rather
thanon the space of landscape that bounded
the vision from her window. At the same
time also observed that she held volume
Of poems in her hand, and in the opening of
the leaves was a miniature ON ivory Of what
looked like the face Of young man. / at
once recognized the poems as being those of
Philip Whitney, and fancied that the picture
might have connection with the poet, and
said, by way of saying something;
" / see you get time for some reading, Miss
Conness Is Whitney your favorte poet2"
She did not answer me at once, but after a
little said, softly, " Yes, he is my fayorite
poet indeed, TO me there is no other. You
would not dream that through all these hard,
working years, in which / have grown old
amidst suffering and care, aud become harsh
and apparently unieeling, that in my heart
blooms garden Of perpetual beauty and light
and love that no circumstances Of fate can
disturb, and to whose fragrance and freshness
am never weary Of turning | rarely talk
of it, but tonight it will do me good to talk
il all over and dream about il. 1t may be
equally difficult for you to believe that was
once called beautiful My friends---you know
Of them, at least-are wealthy and aristo-
cratic; and even so long ago Us when | was
young, girls we're educated aud accomplished,
and had every advantage that could be de-
sired. had suitors from the best and most