Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-08-30

lngi out ~ was the Annie OF last year, and
not Of this. She made no allusion to her
wedding, the day for which had now passed.
She did not ask for George. The whole year
had dropped out Of her memory; part Of her
brain was still diseased. No human touch
could venture to deal with il without the risk
)f the most terrible consequences.
Dr. Fearings face grew day by day more
and more anxious; he was bafiled he was
afraid. He consulted the most eminent
physicians who had had experience in diseases
Of the brain They all counseled patience,
and advised against any attempt to hasten her
recollections upon any point they all had
known similar cases, but never one so sharp
ly defined or so agonizing as this, Still they
were unanimous in advising that nothing
should be said to startle her that all must
be trusted 10 time
Through these terrible days George Ware
was braver than any one else. His faith 10
the absoluteness Of his relation with Annie
was too great to be disturbed. He was by
nature as patient as be was resolute. He had
not wooed his wife for eighteen years to lose
her in any way now except by death. He
comiorted US ALL
Do be brave, sweet mother Of Annie" be
used to say to my poor aunt Ann "all will
be well. 1t is not even hard for me to 60
without seeing her, if that is best"
For all that, his face grew thin and his
form bent, and his eye heavy, as week after
week passed. and he came daily TO the house,
only to be told that Annie had not asked for
him The physicians had said that it would
be better that she should not see him until
she had Of her own accord mentioned his
name. Her nerves were still in such a state
that any surprise threw her into palpitation
and alarm which did not pass off for hours.
No human being could tell how great might
be the shock of seeing his face; how much
it might recall to her and whether, if it re-
called all, she could bear it. From the out.
set George believed the physicians were
wrong in this; but he dared not urge his in
stinct against their knowledge and he was
patient of nature, and so the days wore on,
on, on and there was no change except that
Annie grew steadily better, and our hearts
grew steadily sicker and sicker until we al
most looked back with longing to the days
every single respect, except the memory Of
her lover, Annie was the same as before. The
closest scrutiny could discover no other change
in her, except perhaps that she seemed even
gayer than she used to seem, aud a shade less
tender but this also was as she mad been be-
fore she had promised to be George Wares
wife.
One morning George brought me small
bunch of lovely wild things from the pine
woods. Tiarella leaves just tipped with
caret color by the early frosts, sprays of Lin
nea, two or three tiny white maiden's hair
ferns, all tied by a knot of partridge-berry
vines thick-set with scarlet berries.
" Give these to Annie for me, will you,
dear Helen ~ he said, "and observe very
carefully how she is affected by them"
remembered that it was one year ago that
day, that he had asked her to be his wife
and | trembled to think of what hidden mean.
ings | might be messenger in carrying her
this silent token. But too felt as George
did, that she was drifting farther and farther
away from the memories we desired she
should regain; that no physicians knowledge
could be 80 true as loves instinct and ask.
ed no counsel Of any one, but went swiftly to
Annie with the leaves in my hand.
80 you darling How perfectly lovely,
she exclaimed with laugh of delight "Why,
these must have come from Georges woods.
Have you been up there ?"
"No, dear" | said, " George brought them
for you, this morning"
oh, the good darling! she exclaimed
" Is it decided about his going to India 2"
could not ropress little cry Of anguish
and terror. A year ago there had been 4
plan for his going out to India on mercap
tile venture, which promised great profit. II
had been given up, partly because his mother
felt that she could not live without him, part
ly because he felt that he could not Longer
live without Annie.
What is it, dear ?" she said in her ex
quisite sympathizng voice, with a little ausl
of alarm on her pale cheek " what hur
you are you i'll? Oh, my poor Helen, 20,
are all worn out with nursing me. | vii
nurse you presently"
" Only a little twinge Of my old neuralgia
sweet" | said family these autumn wind
are setting it at work again
She looked anxiously at me for few sec
onds, and then began to unite the bunch o
leaves, and spread out the long vines on tn
bed.
, Oh, if | only had some moss abe said
ran to the greenhouse and brought he
handfuls of beautiful dripping mosses iron
the rocks in the fernery. She filled sauce
with them, putting the Tiarela leaves al
round the rim, and winding the 'Linnea vine
in and out as they grow in the woods. The
she leaned back on her pillows and bega
breaking the partridge cherry vines into shor
. bits, each with a scarlet berry on it. Thes
she set upright in the moss, changing and re
: arranging them SO often that wondered whs
7 could be her purpose aud leaned forward
e see.
No, no." she said playfully, pushing m
back, "not till it is DONE
r Presently she said, "Now look! !"
e looked and saw a perfect, beautiful
formed G made BY the scarlet berries on II
{ green moss.
| There" she said, "I'll send that back I
g George to show him that found him 10 III
e berries or, no." she added, "we'll keep
till he comes to see me. The doctor said
p could be carried down stairs tomorrow, an
o then | shall begin to receive" and 81
d laughed gay little laugh, and sank baC
q tired.
@ This moment stands out in my memory I
the saddest, hardest one Of all. think
: that moment hope died in my heart
c When | told George of this, and shove
+ him the saucer of moss-for she had ordere
!. it to be set on the drawing-room table, sayin
: Ii is too pretty to stay up here with bottle
n and inyalids," ,"-he buried his face In b
. hands for many minutes. When be lifted !,
: he looked me steadily in the eye, aud said,
y She has utterly forgotten this whole yea
I But l will win her again"
Then he knelt down aud kissed every Ii
: tie leaf and berry which her hands had touch
cd, aud then he went away without speakin
9 another word.
1t was decided after this that il could d
I no harm for him to see her. Indeed, he mo-
demanded it. His resolution was taken.
a You need not fear" he said 10 DR.. Feal
' ing, that shall agitate her by approachin
. her as if she was my own. She is not IN
own. But she will be ~
! We all sat with trembling hands and besi
ing hearts as the hour approached at whic