Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-10-06
THE OLD MIRACLE;
OK, TuE REWARD OF cOvsrANcY.

The children went laughing and singing
down towards the village, the clouds began
to pile up in the west for the coming sunset,
and the first flush Of spring beauty tinged
the hills aud woods with peculiar radiance.
As they stood in the groye-Annie Linn
and Charles Manson-the rush of the river
below and the voices Of the children from
the road, mingled together like the bass and
soprano Of some exquisite melody; but if
they heard it at all it was with that impa-
thence which comes over one when happy
sounds break in upon restlessness and trouble.
She had come down there to bid him fare
well--not from any girlsh desire for a quar-
rel which should end in pleasant reconcile
alton, but from a settled conviction Of the
necessity of the step, which, once taken, must
be irrevocable.
They were both young A year before
they had been, for short time, engaged
but all that had long since been broken off
and this last interview was great deal worst
than useless, though, perhaps, without il
neither could have brought their minds to re-
gard that book in their lives as completely
closed.
Charles Manson was the eldest son of a
widow He had been spoiled, handsome boy
1ear he was a wayward, reckless man.
Just one of those young fellows whom every
body likes, and whose agreeable qualities and
faculty of making friends prove their own
greatest snare and temptation
| should have made one exception when
| said everybody liked Charley, for old Mr.
Linn had detested him from his boyhood.-
He was close-fsted grim old chap, who al
ways prayed as if he meant to frighten the
angels into doing their duty, who had toiled
incessantly all his life and could not under
stand why anybody should expect an existence
at all different.
Now, as boy, Charley would not work
except to attain some special object. He
hated farmers's life, and was determined to
60 to college. He had accomplished that by
dint of sacrifice on his mothers part--those
few words tell the story of her life and con-
siderable labor on his own. He played tutor
during the vacations distant relative help
ed him, and so he went on
But, alas, during the last year of his course
everything changed. Charley made the ac-
quaintance of an entirely different set
young men of fortune and expensive habits,
whom he ought to have avoided-and his nat
ural disposition did the rest. lie left col.
lege very suddenly ---good-natured people
said he was expeled-and the next the viii
lage heard of him he was in London, but
whether in business nobody knew.
Before he came home, old Mr.. Linn dis
covered the engagement existing between him
and Annie, and, with his usual peremptori-
ness broke it off at once.
Charley wrote her scores of reproachlu
letters, which her father coolly burned be-
fore her eyes. Then a long sience-then
terrible stories of his bad habits and dissipa-
ton. Nobody ventured to question the wild
ow, for she was one of those women whom
even village gossip did not care to approach
with their affected sympathy and ll-conceaed
curiosity. As she sat in her place at church.
people noticed how, week after week, the
smooth hair gained an added tinge Of gray
and the patient lines around her mouth deepen
cd with hidden anxiety and trouble.
Annie met her but seldom, and then there
was but little conversation between them
never word concerning the subject which
filled both their hearts. Mr.. Linn had for
hidden any intercourse between the families
but the widow had known him too long not
to understand the truth, and exonerate Annie
from all blame in the matter.
Old Linn loved money. If Charley had
been as steady as a young Scion he would
not have given him his daughter 1t was
that the young man offered him
a reasonable excuse for the course he pur-
sued.
Annie held her father in great awe, She
had inherited the feeling from her mother,
who, ten years before, had faded into her
grave, perhaps glad that, for once, she could
10 something in peace and quiet. The neigh
bors talked still about her resignation the
Did minister often alluded to her dead-bed
rs the most edifying scene he had ever wit
messed.
suppose Mr.. Linn was sorry. Her health
lad been failing for long time, and she had
been obliged to neglect her dairy, aud that
act helped to support him in his bereaye-
nent
lie never married again, and Annie grew
lp under the shadow of her fathers presence,
md the tyranny Of two elder brothers, who 1
we're really prototypes Of their parent. One
# them was married now, and his bustliDg,
lctiye wife gave Annie a word of good adj
'ice, and set her face against Charles Man
on, and all belonging to him, with a praise
yorihy pertinacty.
There they stood in the maple grove, with
he sunset gathering about them, and the
,lack sorrow swooping down over their souls
ike the heavy clouds that lowered above the
adance of the west.
He had been pleading so earnestly. But
hough her heart trembed beneath his words
md swayed towards him with old affection,
lis passionate language beat yainly against