Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-06-09

word Of explanation to mother, and carri-
ed me off between them.
Iwent quite silently, feeling as if not a
word would come till that bitter bit of con-
fession should be over.
A little bluff rose near the margin of the
larger Of our two "muckshaws' and in its
side father had built our lime kiln. 1t was
fully alight tonight. Bright flames quivor-
ed and leaped from the glowing, red-hot
blocks of marble that heapod 1t; and as wo
drew near we heard the iron door of the
furnace open with clang, and black fig
ure, outlined on its intolerabe glow, threw
in great logs to feed the roaring monster
Graded there. VIII hurried on, to an
nounce his coming and dismiss the work
man who was tending it, and Mfr. Ram
some and sat down on a log just far G.
nough Off to give us good view of the
great torch that lighted up the surrounding
shadows so picturesquely. The moon was
just rising, and her pure silver light min
glod and yet contrasted With the red earth
~ glow of the kiln With wonderful eff
feet.
"That fierce furnace glow reminds one of
schilers ballad of Fridoen; does it not,
Miss Frank ?" said my companion present
ly. My reply wds not to the point.
"Mr. Ransome," bolted out with un-
gracious bluntness, 81 told you an un-
truth the other day. There was no poor
relation concerned in youraccident but my
self. 1t was that ran out and frightened
your horse and nearly killed you"
There it was done now; no taking the
words back again. l sat looking of at the
moenit waters of the lakelet, with my
heart beating fast and heavily. Silence
continued, till at last l looked up at my
companion, wishing he would make some
kind of an answer, be it what it might.
lie was looking full at me and smiling too,
but the light in his eyes looked like kind
ness, not scorn.
ado you think 1 did not know that be-
fore p he said quietly then.
"You knew all the timo / was a--2'
"Stop," he interposed. ~ don't call my
friends names, if you please. 1 did not
feel sure at first that it was you, though
you soon fitted into the likeness of :he in
stantaneous photograph my brain took of
you as l fell 1t did not need this"-he
touched lightly the scarf wound round my
head-"to complete the likeness, though it
is the exact frame my picture was set in,
little bright curls at the edge and all.
Why'-he hesitated, and broke into n
brighter smile; "why you creature of fire
and air, who else could it be?''
l felt half choked with conflicting emo
tions. The more he put aside the consd-
Grafton of that falsehood, the meaner it
looked to me by the very Knowledge of its
uselessness.
"I told that precious lie for nothing,
them" muttered bitterly.
"Miss Frank, don't be morbid" said Mr..
Ransome looking at me attentively. "Do
not charge your candid soul with lie, be-
cause of hastily uttered, quickly repent
ed word. How often in these few days
have seen this confession springing to your
lips, your face spoke for you so plainly |!
And l see now," he continued, smiling a.
gain, "that it is bitter enough to you, to
expiate greater fault than that. Now for
get it,"
Wills Jolly call sounded just then sum-
moning us, and we gathered round the
]
through the increasing chill of the autumn
nal evening. felt that confession and alb
solution had proved what our good Penn
sylvania friend called the water cure, "a
powerful potential remedial agency" New
er, since Ewes time were apples so nectar
| Gus as those we roasted that night never
did sweet potatoes and sugar corn compose
so Paradisiacal picnic feast We talked
and jested till Wills laugh startled the
echoes, and II Robert Ransome's eyes spark
led with such bright gayety as 1 had new
er seen in them yet. And when ii grew
late, and turned my steps homeward un-
der his guidance, and silence fell between
us as we passed slowly through alternate
moonlight and shadow, never had earth
and sky worn such glory; never had life
seemed so sweet dream and yet so tangi-
BILE reality.
Robert Ransome was to leave us soon.
That thought loomed before me, growing
larger and darker with every one Of the
short days succeeding this, and was the on
ly shadow on their brightness. 1t embit-
tered the pleasantness of the last evening
of all, when veal sat talking together in
such free comfort as family knit together
by love often feel, but which Il strangers
presence is so apt to mar. II pressed upon
me so that "when household affairs did
call me thence" did not return again
To the rest, but sat down on the broad low
step on the western side of the house, look
ing out on n crimson sunset. Its glory
faded away into quiet twilight tints, and |
Al. l. N l.. n
sauntering round the house with a book
in his hand, and sat down on the step, too,
quietly remarking that it was growing too
dark to read.
al was interested too" he went on pres
emily, "in the place happened to open up
on in this book Just now Bruce's Travels,
you see. There IL an account here of a
savage tribe, in which u gallant recon-
mends himself TO his chosen one by lying
in wait for her with club with which he
fells and carries her oil, happy but sense
less to her future home. rather like that
plan. Knocking down and dragging in
was the luckiest thing that ever happened
to me know. II there were only chance
of the same kind of result now r.
lie leaned forward and shot n laughing
kindling glance into my eyes.
"Mr. Ransomer | cried reproachfully
and covered my face, hurt that he should
taunt me with the old painful subject, that
had never been alluded to since our con
versation by the lake. And now, in this
last evening too!'
Frank, Frank !" he murmured close tc
my ear, in voice all changed from its gay
tones" will you keep what you have woni
love you Frank. Speak to me dearest"
"Speak to him, indeed oh, | did no
know loved him 1t was new as thnl
that moment born, yet old enough to EN-
brace all of life had or ever could have
Was that to be brought to words all in