Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-12-20

shirt
"Good afternoon, Jethro," replied Flors.
ard stop few minutes, if thought was
wanted, observed the stranger, biting of the
end of wisp of hay which he held in his
hand
Come in," she said 81 should like 10
have you stop"
"No," replied Jotbro 81 don't believe you
would"
Arthur Rolleston, thinking the last remark
aimed in his direction, closed his book, and
said he thought he would take stroll. Then
he removed his hand from Floras, which had
lain quietly in his own all this time. and
sauntered of towards the beach.
Handsome chap that" said Jethro.
"Spose he's nice company, amt he7"
Flora bit her lips, and made no reply. The
man was silent, and then continued I" He's
quite cut me out lately, ai'nt he | don't
spose you care anything about that, though.
He's better looking than be, and daresay
he knows a good deal more. | wish you JOY,
Miss Grant"
"Jethro," said Flora, "you are forgetting
yourself. What right have you to talk this
way to me ?"
Forgetting myself7 Good Lord Isn't
it enough to make a man forget himself when
you drive me mad ? Jest think Of it awhile.
Ii will do you good. When he first came
here, | cared about it. don't now, after
what I've seen this afternoon. Good.by ~
"Good-by, Jethro"
Singular, was it not That when he was
gone, Flora bent her head upon her hands and
cried. Singular too, that Jethro Butler, in.
stead Of returning at once to his work in the
field, strolled lazily along the cliff after ROLES
ton, and finally came upon him, Unexpectedly,
Of course, sitting upon great stone on the
beach below.
"Hallo!' he said, grimly, taking seat
near him.
llalo!" replied Arthur. "Jethro But.
Ter, isn't it? I've heard of you"
That's my name" said Jethro. Then,
as though his heart and head were both hot
with some feeling that was ranking there, he
added, "You seem to like your own company
better than you do Floras."
What Of it3" asked Arthur, sharply.
"Oh, nothinl I'm getting that way my.
self lately. didn't used TO be, though"
Rolleston regarded him for moment in
oiihNts lhSu bdlu, L Ou uO0 Z seem TO
like me very much 2"
NO" replied Jethro, dryly.
Why 2"
You'd better ask Flora why. She can
tell you as much as can about it. She
knows why | don't like you, and she knows
why hate you"
"Jethro," said Rolleston suddenly, as if
a new light had broken in upon him, "if
had ever known, or thought, that | was blot.
ting any hope of yours, even though knew
1t to be but delusion, should have left this
place long ago. have no reason to be other
than your friend, and have never had"
well saidl" replied Jethro 81 like
you for that, but it's too late-too late 7"
"How do you know Tell me that you
love Flora Grant assure me Of her love for
you,-and | am gone tomorrow"
It's too late" said Jethro, fercely.-
Z" Haven't | seen it2 Didn't | watch her
while ago drinkin' in your words with oil her
soul ? She might have thought of me once
but that's all over now"
" You may deceive yourself" said Arthur.
" Y on are not certain that she does not like
you still 2"
" | am," he replied. at has been sort
of fate. don't know much about such
things, but | am beginning to believe in des.
tiny"
He raised his arm, and pointed away over
the pulsing sea.
Look there !" he continued. I" It's cbb.
tide. All my life has been one great ebb-tide
everything going out nothing coming in.
Ii was ebb-tde when | was born. 1t was
ebb-tide when you were thrown on shore to
take away what was dearer to me than life.
I've watched every hope and ambition ever
had drift out to sea beyond my reach.
Nothing has ever been brought to me- and
nothing ever will be, except death. A food
tide may come in, and bring me that some
day."
He said this in tone OF such utter desola.
tion, like man whose life fate had rendered
one long, sad failure, that Roleston's heart
was touched in pity.
| would help you if | could, Jethro.
Can | say anything to her that would turn
the scale for you 2"
No | should hate you worse than do
now if you did. I've begun to feel better to.
wards you since I've sat here. Don't make
it worse"
This" thought Rolleston, is one of the
problems that try mems souls. Flora is dearer
than all the world to me yet, here is . man
who has loved her all his life. His claim to
her had grown old before mine was born"
A wild crash from the cliff above startled
him, and both men leaped aside for their lives
A great rock, loosened by the washing of the
rains around it, came tearing down upon them
like mass of solid iron. Quick as they had
been, they had miscalculated its direction.
Striking against smaller stone upon the
beach below it suddenly altered its course,
and hurling its victims into the sand beneath
it, stopped and lay with all its crushing weight
upon them.
"Jethro," said Arthur, as soon as he
could collect his stunned and scattered senses,
Are you killed ?"
He could not see him, but he heard his
voice rising family from the other side
No, not killed But, oh, my legs
They're gone, think"
Gone 2"
"Yes. Mashed | can't feel EN-. Are
you hurt ?"
No. don't feel SO but I'm fast.
What will become Of US Have we got
to die here ~
" God knows"
But there was help at hand. Old Silas, at
work at his nets far down the beach, had
heard the crash and seen the two figures dis
appear. He came running towards them
now, and in a few minutes was on the spot.
" Are ye both alive ?" he shouted. " An
swer, somebody"