Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-09-13

h,roll like on the day Of the croqust party
hui to-day there was no kind Gwen to do her
lair and no crowd Of admiring school-fellows
standing round her In fact Nellie had
been somewhat Stunned all day for though
an the girls were righteously indignant NJ
owens oiierse, not few Of them thought
that Nellie should not have been the one to
tell ugly tales about her cousin.
In this detected mood the little girl went
TO her jewel.box, and took thence the brown
lcathern case containing her mothers lockct
with the wonderful emerald stone What
were her horror and dismay when on opening
e. she found that the stone, her precious gem,
10 which she attached such supersttious
value, had become perfectly colorless Nell
jo turned pale with fright She trembled SO
that she could hardly stand and had to cling
to the table for support. Niyidly, as though
the words had only just been spoken She
heard her nurses voice saying, And # ever
you tell a lie or bear false witness against any
one, and no one else find You out this stone
will Nou can hide nothing from IT,.
The lockct dropped from Nolie's hands
and She sank hclple,,ly into a chair. Her
CONSERVATION and dismay were unhounded.
What, were her plan. which had succeeded 30
far, and hsd brought no unpleasant results
she forgot her uncomfortable thoughts OH
Jay not to be prosperous in the end Ev-
crything had gone we'll and was stone to
turn against her And not a common stone
tut her own beloved emerald
More and more clearly her behavior rose
before her contempt for her own action, then
repentance for it, stole into her soul, and one
BIZ one pcnitent tears rolled down her checks.
What was that-that sound that broke on
Nellie's ear? II never could be the factory
bell that called the workmen 10 their daily
abor, and sounded through the streets OF
Bentley lust half an hour before o similar but
less noisy peal summoned Mrs. Straytelace's
young ladies TO rise Was that the sun peep
ing in at the window, and filling the room with
golden light ginting upon Ovens little white
bed. and playing on her rosy seep-ilushed
face p? Had Nellie only been dreaming
dreadful dream2 Was this terrible accusa-
ton against her cousin no reality
Yes, surely it was a dream. She must have
fallen asleep when she sat down last night full
Of thought, of coming examination, else how
came it that she now found herself outside
the bed, instead of being comfortably en-
.eonced among the clothes
Quick as q shot Nellie jumped up aud rush
cd TO her jewe.box. There, just as she had
left it, lay her precious lockct, the emerald
shining in all its splendid green
Softly the little girl crept up to Ovens
bed to see if that hard suffering look were
of it,
At this moment Gwen moved, and showed
gus Of aWaking
Gwen said Nellie softly. dear Gwen,
want to say something to you. | have had
o bad dream--at least hope it was dream.
See how | have been crying lancied |
Ind been very wicked to you Gwen, about
the examination. Have 2'
Wicked to me ?" asked Gwen ,leepily.
Oh, no, Nellie, am sure you've not How
can you think such stupid things 2'
" Oh, then, it was only dream go cried
Nellie, joyfully. But dear Gwen, I've
thought very naughty thoughts, and so | want
to say to You that as the chance of the prize
seems to lie between US two, do hope we
shall neither Of us bear the other any ll-will,
however the matter may turn out and want
YOU to forgive me all my naughty thoughts,
Gwen. I'm sfad I've often been very un.
grateful and unkind'
" Indeed you've not :" cried dear little
Gwen, folding her in her arms and kissing her
-" indeed you've not" And Gwen when
She spoke, meant what she said, for her sweet
nature never brooded over the remembrance
Of any slight unkinducss you've always
been the best and dearest of cousins to me,
and | hope whoever wins the prize, it will
make no difference to the unsuccessful one
Indeed, Nellie, if you very much wish it,
am willing to tell Mrs. Strayteaco that | will
give up trying"
a." Oh no, no do not wish that Oh, IN
so glad it was all dream, Gwen, and that
you forgive me.
Gwen smiled.
do not know what have to forgive,
she said, and Nellie had not the courage t.
tell her her dreadful dream for as it wal
only a dream, she did hope most siucerel,
that she was not quite so wicked in bel
waking hours.
Gwen Owen carried of the prize, and Mel
lie had to content herself with taking a sec
ond place in the contest but she thought o
her dream and was so unutterably glad an,
happy to think it was not true, that her dis
appointment was completely submerged i
thank Illness