St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-08-04

-"D ffN'O"ht - a. - fotfs
She was comIrI tu make us II visit
- said the letter that my husband, Wal
ter lthcrid.c, of the law firm of Mason:
and EtheIlgc, tossed carclrs~ly into my
lap, after rapid Glance at the laintily
written pages.
SHE was Miriam Dclamatcr
Aud Miriam Dclamatcr was my hns
bands first love.
Now Walter and had never ialLc,
about the matter. How could talL
about 1t woahi not More than
once, when We wrrc first married, h,
had spoken tn me of his fathers ward
with wil"n hr had grown up from boy
hood, and who had been almost ~ Il SIS
ter 10 him. But my lips, even durim.
our bll>~tul honey had ruilrd in
crrlululI~ly ;l~ he SAID this, and In,
speedily turned the conversation intn :;
different channel
l;ut knew all about ii, never thrlr>S
| had learned that long before hc knew
me his love had bowed ut the -hrinr o
this stately maiden, this peerless blond,
beauty. | knew that | had not ben Iii.
first love, and that this "irl, this Miriam
D,.lamatcr, had been
And now she WAS COMING To see Us
wonder if Walter did not prrcciy,
that was troubled, and if hr did moi
share in some decree, as a mans natur,
might, my own unrest But no IL,
at sippin" his coffee and running hi,
ry,S over the latest dispatches from til,
seat of war, as l.lacidIy a~ ever. Pres
emily lac r"-.',
"Mctz holds out we'll" lac SAID, "hu
the ~irgc cannot lat much longer When
did Mairlam say she was comm. -
;nd h. took up the letter.
-morrow-no, to-day" | answer
eel, rs wc Glanced down the pace To-
%cthrr. ''Thi. i the 18th. She will
he here on the Evening Express"
''Ihat suit OF En%lcsby's comes on IA
one "'cluck," Lc said, taking up his hat.
ami fear We shall not br through al
five. But never mind ! will manag,
To meet her at the depot somehow.
am glad she is coming, l;,rbara. You
are 80 lonely sometimes, and -hc Is {;
very superior woman. am .urr ynl
viii like her
lie kissed me hastily, and hurric,
away to the Office.
Heaven ~avc the mark If there wn
anything on earth that did not Like, i
WAS :, ''-upcri"r' woman
I;ut there WAS little time iuI thinLin.
or rc"rcttin". \ wall from the nurecr,
summoned me up stairs 10 the relief q
my good Hannah, who was trying t,
quiet the baby while her thoughts wcr,
IN the kitchen.
'Im clad you've come, Miss Bari.a
ra,' she said. | shall be only Mis- Bar
Iara To hrr-thc child she had loved an,
tendrd--as long as we both live. "Ihi
boys ;I-tccthin' just as sure rs prrarlin'
He'd never worry So il he want I;u
take hlm, child, ior the bread is riz, an,
It's time II was III the oven"
1t was Il hot, brcallIlcS~ morning Sit
ting down by the window with little AL
lie on my lap. rc-rrad Miss Dclamaicr'
letter, lingering longest over this pas
sage -
'Do give my love to your wife re
mc mbcr hearing tie young men rav,
about Barbara Wilson's grace and beau
ty long ago. Now that you have crown
ed her queen of hearts, am doubly anx
ious to know her."
doubted whether the fair writer hac
even 80 much ~ heard of me until tn,
day when, standing beneath the shadow
of st. Peters, with the blue skies o
Rome above her head, and its stnricC
hills around her, news had come To lcl
that her old friend and companion had
taken unto himself wife. As for tn,
raving about my grace and beauty" il
the quiet country home where Walter
had found ne, that mode of procc,lur,
was not the fashion. Perhaps | did my
coming guest great injustice, but fell
as il the pretty speech was made simply
for effect: and | fear it hardened my
heart against her.
tried to feel that there was a specie.
of imlelicacy, Il Lack of true womanIy
feeling indicated hy the approaching Wis.
ii. How could She thrust her unwel.
come presence unwelcomc at least &c
mc-into our home But "A moment OF
reflection showed me the absurlily o.
that idea. Walters father had been hel
guardian. AS boy and girl they haC
played tugelhcr, sung together, studied
together. Whether or no any warmer
feeling had ever found lodging in hcl
heart, there could be little doubt tina
she cherished for him something closely
akin to sistcrly affection. 1t was riah
that, after her five years Of travel, sht
should, if she wished, Come 10 his hom,
us To II mothers, and find welcome there
And rs for my good, noble, true
hearted husband, could not trust him
SO | thrust the demon of icalou-Iy in
to my hearts darkest closet, and turned
the key upon him. No ray of ligh
should visit him no breath of air shoul,
strengthen or ,ivify him no voice shcul,
break the silence To which | committe,
him. He sholld die there, unshrinc,
and unancled.
Allie bctook himself 10 his nap ut last
and then, son hospitable thoughts intent
| went in pursuit of Hannah. The darl
mood of the early morning had passed
and l flew about my small house onl,
intent upon making it fair and presenta
bic TO the eyes that had seen so much
and a pleasant resting place for feet tha