Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-02-02
THE VOICE IN THE PARLoR.

Since his fathers death Guy Britton, with
his old housekeeper, had lived alone at the
Films. A naturally retiring disposition had
combined with the circumstances Of his early
training to make him avoid society; and al
though still young, he seemed to the villagers
already midde-aged. A less healthlul ma
ture might have preyed upon itself, growing
morbid and morose with solitude, but Britton's
mind aud hand were alike too busy to drop
for lack of exercise. Indoors he had his
books for company; outside there were his
farm laborers to be directed, and a hundred
plans Of improvement to be arranged and ma
tured. Nature, whom he loved, opened for
him page of wonderful illuminations. His
lands stretched along u river valley unsur-
passed in quiet beauty; full of still places
where, shut in by the thick foliage of the
wood from all harmonious sights and sound,
one might sit as it were, between two heavens,
the one reaching far aud blue above, the other
mirrored in the smooth stream below.
1t was in these years of self-contained and
active restfuness to use seeming paradox,
that Britton gathered strength for very diff
ferent after-life. But it is not of that after
life--striking its roots deeply into the found
atons oil society, ana overarchlng so many
ourdened ana sorrowlul ones with Its beneh-
cent show--that my short story has to do.
ADJOINING the Elms was the summer resi-
oence OF tue UlosonS' iamil OF little edu-
cat'oh or native rennemeht' VINO having been
suddenly made rich by speculation, devoted
tneir oest enorts 10 the task OF maintaining
an appearance becoming thelr wealth, Sea-
sph py season a. Drl'ton dreaded the opening oi
.ne mouse Inc very presence OF his neigh
pors' WIN 'he.r 'raih oil company Their snowy
ureSs, ana oo's'erous mirth' seemed to hurt
'he s'npnoi'y OF MS own nome Mrs. Olb-
SON. confusing ner servants with contradictory
oruers' OF seolding them Tor real or iancled
remlssness' niue suspected that the tone in
whicn sue exercised her prlef authority was
i'sen a PROOF OF ner unGrness ior the circles
TO whlch she aspired. The familiar friend
snip Oh the master OF tue Elms was good
upon Which ner neart was set' and she plled
Poor "uy WIN her most transparent plandlsh-
men.s--he groaning IN SPIRIT meanwhile, TO
see no" ut'eriy they were wasted.
uolhs one day 70 speak with MIR. Gibson,
on sonie pusihess' uuy, as ne came near the
mousse heard voice singing. lie could not
distinguish q tue words but the melody seemed
iamlliar' lie thought he must have heard it
long ago. anu as ne listened the perplexed
Shaped itseli into vision OF his
motner rocking PACK and forth IN summer
.wnlsn' m ana '., singing nun to sleep; His eyes
grew moist with the rush of tender recollec-
IONS ana SUN the sweet, thrilling voice sang
on, VINO could 1t DO Could such voice
pe'ong 10 any inmate oil that house lmpos-
Sioie ana "hlle ne wondered the song
ceased ana lace appeared Tor a moment at
the WINDOW lie had Just time to take 1t in
~ az glance--lne delicate hlgh,ored features
iorn,eu throughout win SAD thoughtiulness
,he large piue eyes hall Veiled by their dark
lashes' the brown halr pushed back, in wayy
MASSES the clear SKIN Its hrmness bright
sneu py 'he eneet oil the mourning dress be-
low.
lne'glri VINO answered Guys ring showed
nun INTO the parlor' where Mr. and Mrs. Glib
son sat over tnelr lunch. Mrs, Gibson's face
giowea win pleasure.
my dear Mr. Brltton, we're so glad to see
you Just TO THINK with a reproachfu
smile, y" that you haven't been in before since
We came down why, twas no more than
Yesterday that was telling Mr.. Gibson that
didn't believe there was man living with