Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-04-29
Peach Stones.
BY CLEPHANE RITCHIE.

with wistful look, and quiet tone and
movement. His name was Phillip and
| hers Jessie.
They sat together on rough bench,
| outside the door of her fathers house,
| eating peaches, and merry were the words
ana iaugnoe-- -hA+ nassed between them.
'.Wilt kill thyself eating pv.--L-aI
Phillip" asked the girl. 1.-The basket
is nearly empty, shall 1 fn7it again - :
"Nay,, no more now, Jessie. These
may be the last peaches shall eat for
many day. There's no fruit like these,
for richness and flavor, and no maiden
in the world so fair as she who brings
them to me-
"No fattery, Phillip
'Sober truth, darling; don't forget the
promise made so little time ago. Can
any peach be sweeter to me than these?"
with playful kiss on the red lips.
"Who knows what may happen before
the time comes to redeem it? The cruel
seal dread it. Stay at home with me-
Phillip
Little prophecies of evil :! what is
there to fear? The sea is my mistress,
next to you. My ship is stout and new;
only one more voyage is needful; then
I shall come home to be with you al
ways"
But dread it, Phillip"
'No more, my darling. See, here are
two peaches remaining. have tho't;
we will eat them to my sure return"
handing her one as he spoke.
Pretty Jessie's lip quivered, slightly,
as she swallowed the golden fruit in ST.
lence, but as she raised her hand to cast
away the stone, Phillip stopped her.
"Wait moment, Jessie I have not
told you all my thought. will make a
basket out of each stone ; you shall wear
one, the other. They will be little me-
mentoes of to-day, and seal of my prom
ise to return soon. What say you, Mig
nomie %
off it pleases you, Phillip, it will
please me.
$50 be it. thon, and tomorrow. when
| come to say goodbye | will bring
them
ITO sail so soon? o, Phillip, Phillip! !"
81 thought you were brave girl, Jes-
sic; what does this mean? You have
never moaned about my voyage before;
and now this, my last,-my darling,
should think smiles would be more plen.
tiful than tears. Come, cheer up. Think
of what is coming in the future. Lei
everything be bright and joyous agains
I come home; and let the thought b.
with you that it is my last voyage. See
the sun is going down, and I must leav,
you. 1 will come tomorrow, early, ant
: bring the baskets. Good night, swee
# one"
b He kissed her as he spoke, and arose
e Keeping bravely back her tears, Jessi,
). returned his caress, and stood watching
d him over the hill, until he was out o
IL sight Then she turned and entered he
= home, full of the sorrow and dread of
d coming separation.
lie Phillip and Jessie were fishermen
'f children. They had played together il
n childhood, and as they grew older, shar
TO ed mutual confidence, until the friend
* ship had ripened into love.
IN Phillip was successful and prosper
re Gus young coaster, and part owner of tn
he vessel in which he sailed; but the pros
IN pect of still more advantageous employ
OF ment ON shore, coupled with Jessie
In dread of the sea, decided him to abando
en- seafaring life.
w Only one more voyage was necessar,
lg ere he could take up his new employmer
De in earnest; and he was surprised at Je
sie's expressed feeling in regard to it,
: she, who had hitherto seen him depar
without word.
= Somewhat vexed at her superstition
folly, as he termed it, but not VIII
:. daunted by her forebodings, he compile
ed his arrangements, and then set to wol
on the peach stones he had brought aw;
with him. Using knife and file wi
dextrous fingers, he soon had the fai
: baskets fashioned to his thought, mi
Cling with the grating of the file, unr
tered thoughts and loving wishes, brigI
-. ened by the hopes of a rosy future,
which the fragile toys were souvenir al
-, token. Finished at last, polished wi
sand paper, until they shone again, al
>, daintily vanished, Phillip laid the
- carefully away, and sought his chamb,
His dreams were of Jessie and the sea
:. The golden morning sun woke him
times, and hurrying through his |;
preparations, grudging every nome
ow- with loves impatience, he was soon
ced his way to Jessie's home. The pet
t of figure was waiting for him at the sum-
i'd: of the hill-path, the sunlight on her ha
and the lovelight in her eyes. Phil
thought, for the first time, almost VI
pang, of the long separation that m
elapse, and the days that must pass,
he could greet again the shy, ten
oio- maiden, or read his welcome in her |