Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-03-03

The shrek of the coming train sounded
through the blue purity Of the air, and the
last little faint sparkle Of hope in the lovers
breast died out.
Tina had not come-she had forgotten him
Well, 10 let il be-
And what was Tina Cady doing in the
fresh morning brightness?
She was very rosy and pretty in her trim
calico dress, with pink ribbons at her throat,
and pink yerbena hanging low in her gold
en- coils of hair-very picturesque as she
reached up her hand to break of spray Of
spicy honey-sucklc.
Il wonder if Mr.. Bruce Midway has come
to his senses yet r. thought she, with toss
by the rule and plummet Of his lordly will, |
can assure him. i'll want to airt with Pierce
Harbury | shall do it."
80 you're up, eh, Tina And as fresh
as a rose, declare :"
Tina put up her lips to kiss the bluff face
of her father in an distracted sort Of way
She hardly saw him as he stood there.
"Oh, by the way, Tina, ! forgot to give
you this note last night. 1t was left by the
hotel porter. Really, believe my memory
isn't quite as good as it used to be-
Tina caught the note from her fathers
hand and broke it open with fevered haste
" The train leaUss at Sepen :" She saw
the words as wildly as if they had been writ
ten in characters Of jagged fire, aud as she
read them the clock halfway up the wide,
old.fashioned staircase struck eight.
1t was too late too late
The sharp thrill of agony at her heart was
succeeded by passionate feeling Of resent
ment.
q Let him 60" she said to herself while
the red pennons futtered on her cheek. |
would not lift finger to keep him"
So, when Bruce Medway's earnest, appeal
ing letter came day or two afterwards, Err
nestine folded i, quietly within blank en-
veope, without breaking the seal, aud sent it
back.
Verify, women are strange euigmas, even
TO themselves Ernestine herself could
scarcely have told why she kept the broken
silver coin-but she kept it.
The short. threatening October day was
drawing to a close the frey belt across the
western sky was flaming sullenly athwart the
skeleton woods, aud shedding a sort Of aure-
ole around Ernestine Cady's slender figure as
she hurried through the yellow, rustling drifts
of fallen leaves, carrying the heavy basket on
her arm.
Just as pretty as the rosy Tina Of two
years since, but paler, graver, aud more Sc
date. Trouble had besieged the family since
their migration to the grand domains of the
far west Tina had learned the serious part
of life's lesson, and she had learned it we'll
She lifted the latch of a rudely constructed
Lighthouse, and entered with assumed cheerful
ness on her face.
How are you now, father
Better, think Come to the fire. Tina ;
you must be cold !"
mot a bit. Has mother come back yet?'
"No; it's very strange she stays so long
suppose Mrs Ebbetts has great deal to
say, though. don't wonder your mother is
glad to get away from a sick-room for while"
He spoke little bitterly, and Tina WINGED
as she listened, knowing that her mother had
made an excuse Of some neighborly errand to
dispose in the nearest village of such poor
little odds and ends of gold chains, pins and
rugs 40 1ct iCthalhtu W thNii e9-
tate. Was there anything wrong in this pious
fraud Dora almost felt as if there was.
1t was not pleasant to be poor.
"She will be home soon, father" said Tina
4" Only see what basket full of cranberries
| have gathered out in the swamps This
will make the barrelful, and Mr.. Signet has
promised to send it to New York with his
Don't they look like red jewels, tather2 And
the money will buy you new coat"
He smiled family.
81 think it had better buy my little girl a
new dress. Shall help to pick them over p
Il had rather do it myself, and you must
try and sleep awhile
Half an hour later Tina came through the
room with scarlet shawl thrown over head,
and wistful, scared look in her eyes.
"You are not going out again, my child p
Only up to the cranberry swamp, father,
it isn't dark yet IL have lost something.
A ribbon or collar, | suppose said Mr..
Cady to himself, as he lay watching the
crimson glare of the October sunset while
Tina, putting aside the low tangled bushes,
and searching bits of rank, swampy grass,
was repeating to herself, in quick nervous