Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-01-17
Laura's Experienec-SA True Story Of
the heaft.
ny D. HASTINGS, JR.

Laura, my heroine, petite young lady in
a stylish walking suit, looked wonderfully
charming and attractive as she tripped along
tho silsileSi NJ Maio earoet in Greenfeld, one
sunny May morning in the year Of our Lord
1s6-. So thought a tall and well dressed
young man who coming up from a side street
lifted his hat gracefully, saying as he did So
" beg your pardon, but was looking for the
post Office and expected to find it here"
" 1t is opposite, just across the common %
she replied, in the sweetest Of voices, indicat-
ing the direction with a wave Of her daiutily
goved hand.
As We are going in the same direction,
will you allow me the pleasure Of your COM
panyY" be asked.
80 | could not refuse so simple request, 81
she answered, modestly.
lie thanked her, and explained that wish
ing to mail letter on board the car, he had
found it was nota mail train so had ayailed
himself of the short delay at the station to
run to the post office, which he was told was
close by
And so it is but you kept to the left in
stead Of the right, and so made the circuit Of
the common"
81 cannot regret it, he replied, with so
pointed lock Of admiration that the blush
rose hue Of her cheeks deepened to carmine,
which noticing, he hastened to say, is it
not lovely morning. | have enjoyed my
early ride with its glimpses Of varied scenery
exceedingly, and Tennysons lines have haun-
ted my mind continually
"The sun, the moon The stars, th' sea- the hill. and
Are mol lhsse, o soul the vision of Him who
rclgugW
THAT is a little singular, for | was think
ing Of that Higher Pantheism when met
you, anu repeating to myself
Is not the vision ne' tho He be not that which He
Dreams arc true while they last, aud do We not live
In drcamsi'
"a continuation Of my train Of ideas.
How shall we account for it2 Upon the prin-
ciple that our minds met even before our eyes
had seen each other ?"
"a wave of thought which touched us
both, perhaps"
lie looked pleased. Do you, then, be-
lieve that there is a sympathy--although Of
ten uurecognized existing between people OF
certain temperaments2 That mind acts upon
and influences mind ?"
Yes, believe it without knowing why
and it puzzles me nexpressibly."
Thank you for acknowledging it. | think
many people believe as much, but for fear oi
being thought foolish or transcendental they
/ will not admit it. | am an enthusiast upon
the suy,~~., and fond OF experiments. NoN
will you make a compact with me which We
shall neither Of US mention to a third per
son We are entire strangers | do not
know your name, nor you mine; will you
promise me not to try in any way to ascer-
tain my residence or identity, and | will
preserve the same silence in regard to you
We are opposites in looks and in tempera.
ment, | believe. We have some points oi
interest in common, our admiration for Ten
nyson, for instance | shall never read his
poems without a thought of you, and be-
lieye your mind will 10 the same way revert
to me, although you must not invest me in
your imagination with all the virtues Of Sir
Galahad. We will each pray for the other
at our daily morning and evening deyotions
and trust to our own minds to actuate us-by
that higher knowledge which is not instinct
--as TO our future meetings And | fully
believe that somewhere in the golden future
our lile-paths, which have crossed each other
this morning, will meet aud aow on in the
same channel
q" | PROMISE said Laura, and added in O
tone of real regret, " | am sorry, but here /,
the post Office and if you do not hasten yor
will lose the train"
Many thanks" he said earnestly, raising
4
went their separate way, but with new inter
ests at heart, which they would carry to tn,
end
A curious beginning to curious acquaint
ance. Parkhurst was Young minister, hand
some. talented and lust starting in life unde
auspieious circumstances. Hone and faitl
were predominant traits ia his character. ane
he went on his way as confident that the
beautiful girl with whom he had Just parteC
would some day be his wife as though the,
had been formally betrothed. lie had neye
been particularly fond of the ladies'. or h,
loved all maids. but none in special" and th
fair. radiant face, with a pure. spiritual ligh
and grace shining through. which far tran
soeuded any mere physical beauty. was the
one to whom his spirit cried like Peleas
,' Where 0 where :? | love thee, though
know thee not"
Laura was lovely, imaginative younl
person, possessing strong intellect and
taste for studying into and pondering upon al
kinds of things, seen and unseen. OF cours
this meeting and compact with an entir
stranger took strong hold of her Imagination
% salarly as the stranger chanced to be on
Of the handsomest and most impressive men sh
had seen. Although minister's daughter, sh
was no more religious than the generality Q
girls. She had never been given to readin
! the Bible very attentively, or to spending