St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-03-24
UhHf CUH'c Of HY JrniDHSy &.

1t WAS Il misty, yet sweet, September
night. | can see the sky as it hung
over Swans Nest, our seaside home.
starry blue, with here and there Il patch
of white floating go>samcr anl the har-
vest moon coming up and ilpoling all the
world with Golden spIcn,lur. remember
how the crimson roses hun. about the
door, LcaNy with their own sweetness ::
and what suggestive ulurs flo lied up
from the flower beds in the dim, old
garden. | can even remember the drcs,
| worc-purr white, because that was
the dress in which my husband loved
me best. Did lac 1--we me at all Or
WAS ii my yellow gold that won lam
Immediately y after our marriage We
went ON the Continent. where we ramblcd
about for Il year or two, wintcrn% in
Rome, and spending our >umm-r amid
the Alps. ThcE we returned home
But the romantic spirit was still upon
Us, and We took what our country al-
iordtd IN the way OF @ypScy life. In the
midst OF this wandering, in Il country
town amid the Lakes, my iil~t trouble
came. On the second day of our >ujourn
at the hotel III Ills place, to which we
had come in accordance with my huS-
hanI'> wish. | missed hini lie wa-
fishing for trout, one OF our patty SUI
Tcstcl aud, IN the aitcInuor, we S;rllled
down towards the stream. l'a>>inE Il
small cottage, we heard voices, and some
thin" familiar made me glance that way
There they stood, side 10y side, my LuS
band and Il woman-;i youIIg woman,
with glossy, raven hair. | passed ON in
silence but that night, wEcn my hu>-
band returned and sought me, | was re-
served and cold | refused To dance, and
would not sin" for him. lie followed
me ircm place to place, his eyes full Of
solicitudc. The instant we were in our
own room, lac caught my hands in his.
''My darling" hc Sai |, what troubles
you! !''
For my life | could not tell him. |
was afraid To let him know that doubt
ed his integrity.
"IIorace, | questioned, timidIy, '.Lo
you love me =
His fine eyes opened wide with aston
ishmcnt. Iiut he answered pa>Sionatcly,
"Lovc y"u! Aye. better than yon will
ever know, Violet
did you-haNe yuu ever loved any
one else !'' lalicrcd.
"Ncvcr, Violet, on my honor
| was happy, yet not entirely satisfied
was woman. Eve ate the forbidden
fruit with Paradise all around her
''Ihrn WHO was it," faltcrcd, Chat
woman-I saw you with, after
noon ~
lie started, and flushed very red for Il
moment, then he laughed.
"Oh," lie said, ':calous, are you
Then am sure you love me. But, scri-
ously, dear, | ought to apologizc for my
long absence. That woman was a
friend, an old friend of mine-she's in
distress, and | had 10 help her. Are you
satisfied! ~
l nodded my lead in assent yet my
heart was not quite at rest. Alter that
we went down TO Swans Nest, our sea-
side home, and settled into sober married
lie; and for months our bliss was per-
iect and tLcn that dreadful night came
Horace had been gone all day. lie
did not come home 10 dinner, us was his
custom 50, after having ordered tea, |
dressed myself, and sat down in the rose
shaded porch to await him. Sunset.
dusk, evening; the moon soaring up
above the sea Still he did not come.
Dinner and supper had both got spoiled
the flowers in my hair were fading, ard
| was sick and weary with waiting and
suspense. Horace had never remained
away so long since our marriage. Whs t
could dctain him SO? Very slowly the
cyeaing went by Twelve O'Clock cam,
the moon dropped out of sight, leaving
me III darkness. An owl hoo;cd from
the top OF the old willow, and the surf
beat with weary, sobbing sound.
L worked myself into perfect lrcmor
of alarm ard nervous excitement: and, |
by degrees, the old doubt. or fear. or
ii was, stole back 10 my mind
My husband was cruel TO keep me in
suspense lie did not love me 1t ncv-
pr uccurr, d 10 me that he might lie de |
lained against his will. When, at last,
the clock was Oh the stroke OF three,
caught the quick tramp of his horses !