Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-08-02

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fault that she was fairer, camer, stronger, and
more selfpoised than |. She was not TO
blame that the wondrous charm Of her voice,
her face her manner was so potent or that her
grace, her quiet self-possession, her rare con.
yersational powers oppressed me with vague
yet painful sense Of inferiority, and made me
silent and constrained in her presence. II
was only that | was weak and childish, inca
pable Of sustaining myself, and Of command
ing my husbands admiration. Thus rea-
soned with myself in the night.wstohes and
stroye to be generous if not content.
But my heart rebeed. This guest Of ours,
whether wilfully or no, did come between my
husband and myself There we're no more
long confidential talks for us in the still twi.
lights there we're no sweet, familiar words
at MONDAY; there were no brisk rides or
walks in the breezy mornings. For wherever
we were, there was Miss Delamater and she
was born diplomat and believed in mo.
nopoies.
Then, too, was physically worn and tired.
The addition Of this one member TO my house
hold added wonderfully to my domestic cares
and labors Miriam Delamater had the art
Of appearing exceedingly helrful-even off,
ciously So | do not doubt ip the least that
Walter thought her great assistance TO me,
and blessed her for her sisterly aid and coun-
sci. But the truth was she was utterly help
less and inefficient when IL came TO the prac.
iical, daily recurring needs Of life. To make
bad matter worse, she did not know this
and was always volunteering lin Walters
presence, mind YOU to do some stupendous
decd in the household or culinary line which,
when once begun, Hannah or | were forced
to finish. For my lady was sure to become
| exhausted before she had made an end to her
beginnings, while she claimed credit for hav-
ing done whatever she had undertaken.
/ During all these dreary weeks Walter was
, never unkind or inpatient with me. But he
could not comprehend my whims aud hu.
mors" as he called them and I kept my
mouth closely scaled. | doubt if | made
q myself very charming in those days and |
/ suspect, now, that he was as thoroughly puf-
! zled as ever man was by his wife's demcanor.
. He would come in fresh and vigorous from
d his earnest eager work, to find Miss Della.
f mater in the parlor ready to talk to him--or
with him-of books, Of art, Of noted men
e whom she had met, of famous places she had
t seen. She kept his whole intellectual being
d in healthy action. By-and-by little pale,
is spirtless woman would come stealing in, and
8. sit silently in the shade.
Sometimes it was the little womans own
!, fault that she was not brighter Sometimes
/. spirit Of dumb submission that was yet far
is from being patience took possession Of her,
Is and she would not now strive TO make herself
charming as she could, and as she had through
IT all welded life till now. Sometimes she was
er silent when she might have talked well and
" wisely-as well perhaps as the more brilliant
woman whom she allowed to eclipse her
lie Somestimes she wilfully threw her husband
of in the way Of temptation by being still, and
| cold and passive herself, when this old friend
of his was most attractive and winning.
tn see all this now, but did not see Il then.
he only felt | was wretched, and l believed
e, Miriam Delamater was the cause.
ed One morning at breakfast table allusion was
Id made to Bryant's poem to the Fringed Gen
he tian and Miss Delamater remarked that she
r did not know the flower
nd What not know the Fringed Gentian3"
he said Walter, turning round quickly, /" Well,
| advise you to make its acquaintance before
tie you 20 flower hunting again on the Alps or
10. the Appenines.' | will bring you a blossom
ed to night if can find one. II must be in
an bloom by this time"
ry No, thank you," she said carelessly. II
l.' see the flower at all want to see 1t in its
Ter native haunts. No single blossom for me, il
cit you please
| Then what say you, Barbara Let us
ay 70 up to the head Of the lake this afternoon
me towards sunset and we can reap harvest o.
to gentians. Meldon's woods must be filled with
them"
tpr | ftn.,la rtxy 20 hutI
re, had still enough common sense remaining {,
rts know that walk, and the sweet fresh even
ost ing air would do me good. So we went, all
three Of u.s.
to am not going to describe our walk on tn
rl- shores of that lovely lake, the glorious sun
an set sky, the opaline goams the tints Of purple
an and rose, amethyst and amber, that glorife'
lct. cloud, and wavelet and mountain. Even m.
- perturbed spirit felt that at was good to b
tu- there We fingered so long that when W
entered the woods the sun was slowly sinkin
the "a globe of fire behind Mount Victory.
al The frosts had come, and the leaves wer
ere beginning to fall. But bright with heaven
mt own blue the gentian looked through il
up fringes to the sky" from every damp an
IN shady nook. We found them on every sid
re- of US, and wandered on, lured by seemingl
INST richer specimens just beyond, until we wei
III checked by the gathering darkness. l locke
now up and single star shone down upon u
sue through the trees but even as looked,
but dense cloud swept over it.
ace Walter and Miss Delamater we're at . litt
distance. He was showing her spot whel
lear the May-Aowers were largest and sweetest
ith- the spring. | called to them.
hill "Walter Miriam =" said, 1t is &c
ori- ting late and believe it is going TO raj
ast, We must hurry home"
d as They came back TO me hastily. But befo
be- we had taken dozen steps the wind sway
the tops of the pine trees sullen, angry ro
r of came from the deeper woods into which '
With had not penetrated. and it became evide
hey that one Of the sudden, violent tempests
res autumn were upon u.s.
ings We hurried on, while it grew darker AZ
hly, darker every moment, and the soughing Al
shrieking of the wind, and the creaking
cur. the tossing boughs raised bewildering +
life mutt about US. Taking hand Of eac
,en Walter tried to urge US forward. But o
lnce feet became entangled in the brakes and u
nice, derbrush, and we made slow progress.
aris Hark, is that thunder 7" said Miriam u
He'd der her breath.
she ." 1t is too cold for thunder storm" W.
ties ter answered. 1t is ouly the wind"
'een Even as he spoke fearful gust tore o
rob- hands apart. Denser darkness---darkne
had that could be felt,--fell about US; we cou
died not see an inch before our faces--we cou
not see each other
> as Suddenly the air was filled with flying pa
j; | ticles, and crash after crash resoundsd frc
hurt the forest. We were in the very track Of I
tornado. Great trees fell PROSTATE TO =
airs right aud to the left of US, and huge branch
in were borne like straws on the wings Of Il
Iael. tempest. Stricken to the ground, crouchir
lrge there in dire extremity, we waited for VII
bile. might come.
1psy But high above the roar Of the element
,. | the fierce beating of tho storm, ! hard a
tain husbands voice. hf faa