Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-04-05

from hor wrist as by a jagged knife with a
blaokoned edge The flesh was like flame
Pauls teeth shut tight and quick together
Something spraug into his eyes-uot tears
alone
Then Nesey began to tremble and, con.
scious at last Of the cruel pain that bit aud
tore her hand, she sobbod like hurt child.
4" Don't mind, she tried to say. " Don't
look at me. It's only only ----." The
sobs swept all her words away
Paul bathed her hand. She remembered
afterwards how tenderer than any woman's
had been his touch
4" Let her cry" said the doctor, in voice
that must have been given by mistake to the
grim face And now she'd better 60 home"
He rose from the bed He took the unharm-
ed hand in his She's brave girl" He
looked away from her to Paul but still he
held her hand tight in his. God bless you,
child. Now 60 home and 60 to bed
Paul lifted her into the sleigh and wrap
ped the robes about her
Shall 90 with you ~
If can take you home.
Oh no | must 60 in here again
Then you need not
1t seemed suddenly as if they had known
each other a liiotime--she aud Paul as if
they could never be strangers to each other
again
She held out her hand II was the one he
had bound up. lie took it tenderly in both
his own. The brave, strong hand 90 he
said, bending over it in the darkness --" the
hand that saved a life tonight"
There was to be bazar, TO raise money for
the poor. 1t opened the next evening. The
winter had been hard and cruel, and charity
somewhat exhausted--needed a spur.
Vosey had promised to tend booth
You must not think Of going her father
exclaimed. Darrell,-too, who foresaw a
quiet hour with her alone if she remained at
home. He had something to tel--something
to ask for and a ring to give. Alas for him
II had kept his words too long. A year ago
they would have been mama to her heart
But | am quite well, she pleaded. ex
cept my hand and that has ceased to pain
me-" Indeed her face was radiant.
SO she dressed herself with quaint simple
ity in something soft and gray that wrapped
her like cloud, with only the braids of her
heavy hair for ornaments only her shining
eyes for gems, Then she went and took her
place.
The maidens from the Chinese pagodas were
all there. Before them, in their gay attire,
the Queen Of sheba, and even Solomon the
magnificent, would have shrunk away abashed
their glory dimmed.
Vesey's nun-likc dress was worse than dia-
monds IN their enyious eyes. More gay gal.
lants than one paused to stare-to buy.
" 1t cools your eyes, you see, and rests you
some way vouchsaied one man by way of
explanation.
The evening was half over. Darrell had
been her shadow. She was tired tired of
his eyes that followed her whichever way she
turned tired of his fattering words; tired
of him. lie moved away at last. Then, and
not until then, she saw Paul. All the maid.
ems plumed their gay feathers as he walked
down the hall. But he came straight to her.
Are you well enough to be hero2 with.
out word of greeting, as though they had
not parted. 4" You frightened me with your
white face Just now"
was tired. | wanted to 20 home"
"Will you 60 now ?" he asked quickly
Are you strong enough to walk ?"
"Oh yes"
1t was strangely pleasant to be hidden !;
to follow meekly.
They had reached the stairs descending to