Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1872-09-27

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"Because--do you not know did not Dali
ton tell you'll am married man. My
wife is in private madhouse 7"
She looked at him speechlessly, with eyes
in which the tears gathered but did not fall.
For an instant he met the sad beseeching Of
that gaze then suddenly he caught her close
in his arms and kissed her with such kiss
as she had never felt in all her life, aud then
turned away with Bitter, passionate cry
"Oh my God, what, does life mean !"
The sight of his pain made her strong for
him.
at MEANS" she said with grave, self
controlled sweetness, "a state of warfare, in
which the FIRST foe we are to conquer is our
selves; and after the victory will come the
triumph and the rest"
"Ah, God, but some victories cost us too
dear"
He bent his head upon his folded arms,
and it was many minutes before be spoke |
again. Then he stood up, and strange
change had passed over the handsome face
since Helen saw il last. The mouth was Get
in tense lines, and the eyes were dark with
pain. He said, so quietly that it seemed
almost coldly:
"You have taught me what love is.
never loved before; and yet SO ignorant l
was that thought had been lover in my
time. kaolc now. This lesson is once
and forever. will live for you, as entirely
as love you. will fight the foe you bid
me fight, will live the life you bid me live.
You shall never blush for me, whether or
not we ever meet again until we meet after
the battle. Kiss me just once, my darling,
for goOd-by.'
She lifted up her sad, sweet face, and the
kiss with which she kissed him was pure as
those wherein we touch the lips Of the be-
loved dead, before the coffin hides them,
And then he went away.
desmond is gone home" Colonel Dalton
said, on his next visit.
"Where is his home p Helen forced
herself to ask, very quietly.
"In st. Louis. His wife-did tell you
is in madhouse She became insane three
years after their marriage, and for eight
years since he has been wifelesS husband.
He is a good fellow-just the man who ought
to have happy home"
Mrs. Maynadiers cheeks flushed. Colonel
Dalton to speak Of her king of men as a good
fellow She looked 50 handsome in her in
dignation that, like man, Colonel Dalton
felt the power Of her beauty. She-was not
was coming, he had asked her to be his wife
asked il with certain confidence which
reminded her that she had encouraged him,
and carried home conviction of sin to her
conscience. She answered with q candor
whish would have disarmed a sterner Judge
al might perhaps have told you yes, if
you had never brought Harry Desmond
here, for did not know what love meant
then. But to say yes would have been ia
tai mistake for us both, for you are worthy
of any woman's best, and never could have
loved you as could not help loving him."
1t showed the noble strain Of the mans
nature, that he thought Of her grief before
he thought Of his own.
"But my child, it is 30 hopeless he said,
with Just such gentle responsiveness as he
might have used to sick baby who had
taken it into its head to cry passionately for
the moon. at is the most hopeless thing
in life. If his wife were sane woman even,
there might be some chance that he would
get his freedom she might want hers, if she
knew that she had lost his heart. But she
cannot be the respondent in a suit when she
is not in her right mind, even if he could SO
} far forget himself as to take advantage Of
, her misfortune. 1t is as hopeless as if he
3 were dead"
, "Yes, know" she answered simply.
He looked at her and saw oil the hope
, iessness of which he had spoken reflected il
| her dcath-white face. He put his hand gen.
! tly upon her hair.
"Oh, my poor girl" he said, "had you MOI
D suffered enough before, that this last and bit
t terest pain Of all must come upon your"
Suddenly she turned.
"And have made you suffer it also,' sh,
! said, with such tender humility that i
b went straight to his heart. "HOw can yor
be so good to me-oh, how can you 7"
q "Do not think Of me, my dear. | an
: years older than you, and no pain, therefore
t will last me so long. And | am harder, too
4 aul stronger; and have not had the pas
. misery which has tortured you. If L coulc
3 bear it all for your sake-your pain anC
= mine-GOd knows | would Perhaps Their
!. will come time when you will rather hav,
h my daily tenderness than be all alone"
She locked into his face, almost uncompre
e hendingly.
= why, love him." she said, as if to al
+: the hopes Of all the men in the world Their
e were answer enough in that little sentence.
:" But Colonel Dalton was a man-with tn
: lOftiest respect, indeed, for woman, but will
a mans theories Of woman's love; and
}. must confess that hope did not die in hi
G heart quite SO utterly afi Harry had beef
c free.
IS He was wise enough, however, not to b.
:. obtrusive. He came to see Mrs. Maynadie
d frequently indeed, but he asked Of her moth
G ing, not even her attention. If it suited he
h mood to sit IN silence, as it often did, h
o was quite ready to sit mutely beside her, bu