Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-08-10


I wife Lily, you love me ?'' III;
5 "Oh John,'' said, and clung tremohhg
| to his arm.
"Speak, lily" he said and told him All
90 can not let her die, John, =" | cried' l
| can not let her die
There. let us speak no more for time
| can yet be strong, and hold you Tor my
friend May not, LilyP'
" Until death, whispered, and said no
more. We were walking up the w0odiauu
path, the wind whistling through the great
gaunt trees. and the ground inches deep IN IN
fallen leaves; the night was growing wllu
and chill, and great black clouds hovered In
the cold sky We had scarcely reached home
when a tempest of storm swept over lhe
country.
At last went to bed. Dolph, dear
Dolph," said, creeping up to his warm II NJ
tie body, 4" love me, dear. won't you IN
SO lonely. Dolph, SO lonely and sad ~
Don't crowd so, sis, +" said the little lei
low, rubbing his eyes Z" | say, I'm gettins
too big to sleep with you, 1 think. /" u
Ny poor mother grew weaker day BY daN
and, strive as she might, she was unable 70
leave her bed, save for an hour or two in the
middle Of the day but the news of my en-
gagement had been industriously spread, and
my mother received the villagers congratu-
latioDs with naughty satisfaction. There
was also a very perceptible change in the re-
lations that had existed between mother and
the dress maker but Patience Clark insisted
upon her old freedom of speech.
! &" I'm powerful glad she said, one day,
" that Lily's set herself in butter-tub.
was afraid there one time she d throw herself
away"
Are you speaking of my daughter"
said my mother.
"Why, of course Who should / be
speskin' about, I'd like to know"
Please to speak respectfully, then said
my mother a. and don't cut those ruffes
straight. | see by the fashion-plates they're
all made bias"
thought Patience Clark would have burst
with indignation. She looked at my mother,
and her pale blue eyes grew almost blOodsOot-
Highly, tightly " she cried at last;
cut them for yourself - And she threw
scissors and silk on the floor. " And III
have you to know, Miss Ware. / am good
as you any day in the week, and a deal bet
ter on Sundays and III talk as please, and
work as please, and III not be ordered
about by any body, let alone skeleton like
you -
She hounced out of she house, leaving my
poor mother disconsclate with her flounccs
and furbelows.
No dress-makor could be found for a week
and whether it was that the excitement of
preparing the wedding hnery bad kept her
up, or the scOrn of the dress-maker had
preyed upon her mind-whatever might have
been the cause, at the end af a fortnight my
poor mother died.
Oh, mother" | cried, reproachfully
% you promised to live :"
" Haven't tried hard enough ?" she said,
catching my hands in hers. - Remember
your promise, Lily. You won't break it be-
cause 1 IN not here2 .
- No, no." | said And she replied,
quickly
"1t'H be a comfort to me TO know you and
Dolph are gentlefolks- As for me, never
did have things as l wanted them Then
she turned her face to the wall What dit
they not all gentlefolks there?
The night after the funeralsDolph went
home with Mr.. Williams, and | was alone
walking to and fro in the parlor. Suddenly
the door opened, and in walked John Bates, .
looking thin and gaunt a spectre.
" Tell me- he said, walking over to me, Z
and looking at me with great wistfulness in I
his eyes. " did she relent when she was dy /
ing? Did she leave happiness to you and to
me?"
mo, no, John; promised her again
when she was dying. | promised, and
must obey"
held up my hands to keep him of. but
be caught me in his arms and kissed me saw
agely.
." oh, why good-by? Where are you go
ing, John -
81 don't know be said '' to the devil,
think" And kissing me again, he went
away.
sat with my head in my hands for an
hour | never stirred when heard the
tramp of horse and knock at the door,
nor raised my head when Mr.. Williams en-
tered.
my poor darling he said, and endeav-
ored to take my hand. | drew it away
rudely.
You can not surely 1 said, raising my
head, "speak of love to me now, or think of
marriage so soon after my mothers death?"
''I do not think of marriage at all, my
dear be replied. a. That is all over now
between you and me, Lily" he said, sud |
denly, taking my hands in his. do you
love another as | would fain you had loved
me? Answer frankly, dear. and do not fear.
/ am too fond of you to cause you useless
pain"
A thrill shot through my heart. Then
remembered my promise to the dying, and
grew cold with fear and dread.
g Oh, must marry you, Sir L said, and
told him all.
"Well, my DEAR he said, mine was
foolish dream at the best, and will endeavor
to make up to you for the sorrow have un-
Willingly caused. You shall let the poor
rich man go, and marry the rich poor man"
"Oh no, SIR | said {" l dare not
:" But then, if not your true love, who will
you marry"
"You, Mr. Williams
g will not have you. Come, if you per-
sist, will cen run away TO be rid of you. l
will sail for Europe in a week"
- But my mother
." You have done all that daughter could.
say will not marry you, but will strive
and make you and DOlph gentlefolks."
Then the warm, happy tears drenched his
hands. threw my arms about his neck.
" My dear, dear friend - said
He grew little pale, and kissing my
brow, he went away.
Now, Johns strip of land joined mine,
and | could see the glimmer of light from
his kitchen window. | ran out the door,
into the damp earth, my shoes filling with
dirt and stones. At last [ reached the
kitchen door. For a moment my heart failed
me. John had no one but his old blind
father but | was afraid some of the work
men might be about. l opened the door
softly. Old Mr.. Bates sat fast asleep in his
chair, and John sat gazing into the smould-
ering embers on the hearth.
/ stole up behind him; but he OWNED
that was there, and starting up, he met me
half way.
- was afraid you were gone, JOHN |
said, with great sob in my voice.
- Gomez" he echoed.
Yes, gone somewhere; but don't
choke me, John
Speak, then, quickly My God what
brought you here?"
Why, Mr.. Williams says he won't mar
ry me; that nothing can induce him TO;
that he'll run away to Europe first VIII
you, John %
90 What's the matter, my lad ?" said MIR.
Bates, awaking. YPu'll break my heart
as well as your ownJ if you go on in that
way"