Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-08-20
The Beginning and End Of Story.

| Its queer for what different purposes peO
pie use windows. There's my neighbor
Mrs. Quiet Il do believe that the only us,
she knows for one is to let in sunshine
She's got one Of the best windows in towt
for seeing what " goes on" but you'll never
see her at it, except for an hour or So
just the time when nobodys going by
when the sun is pouring IN there, then uI
goes the curtain and down sho sits in a
broad blaze Of sunlight, | should think il
would burn her to cinder, and ruin her
carpets But | never can remember whef
90 there to notice whether the carpet.
are faded or not. There seems to be al.
ways sunshine in the house. | wonder il
she has something magic for catching il
on bright days, aud keeping it " on hand.
She is charming, that Mrs Quiet; that is
as charming as anybody can be who never
sees or knows anything that's going on, and
never tells one bit Of news.
But this is getting away from my story
| was led into it by that thought about
windows.
Now, Miss Osmond comprohends what a
window is made for-namely, for post Of
observation Miss Osmond knows what is
going on in the world She has known
this pretty hard on to fifty years, guess
though | wouldn't be guilty Of telling a
single womaus age Miss Osmond is a
Glowing girl of course She believes il
being well informed" Isn't that what
we all consider women should be This
according to her Interpretation of the
phrase, signifies to know what's "going
on" aud for that purpose she uses her
window as a means tc an end Moreover
Miss Osmond believes 10 making herself
agreeable; aud tell me, pray, is not this
the chief end of woman Miss Osmond
therefore, tells what she knows and it, to
render herself more agreeable, she some.
times tells little more than she knows, i.
the dear creature TO be blamed, since she
is inspired by so lofty a motive
But | wander again. 1t is not neces.
sary for me to say how many years it is
since, upon the particular night in question,
Miss Osmond, faithful at her post, looked
out of her window, and Observed
At first, nothing, but that it was a clear,
cold, moonlight night. Still she looks on,
up and down the silent street, and for a
moment her eyes grow dim. Is she think
ing of weary vigils, now long past, kept by
that same window on such nights as this
hoping for one who came not? The neigh.
bors said he was WORT -out by her sharp
tongue. The neighbors may have been
misinformed but if not, then he was "wise
in time" for her tongue grew sharper aud
still sharper, as she watched for him in vain.
1t may be that Miss Osmond is thinking
Of those far-away years, for her face grows
bitter-her face, which had been very
pretty once, and which might be pretty
still, if only sweet soul looked out of it.
Her eyes flash like icices in the clear, cold
moonlight; they are indeed as bright aud
cold and sharp
Steps upon the pavement She bends
eagerly forward, close against the window
pane.
who comes now, wonder? Well, il
it isn't Belle Stetson Who can that be
with her ? Bellies pretty girl, but she
must be firt, for she always has some new
beau on hand. Now, sure enough, its
Irvin9 70 catch him do .beI;eve tbev
are Gaming in here They ara stonninS
any away. What are they doiug?"
She strains her eyes, and they glitter and
sbarnen til tbev seem 70 almost emit the
glass, like thief's diamond.
on va saints who watch aboye that love.
10 a;rI viii ve NO, bid them move on on,
cr ibe roocb ,c Tho b,IeG,I evcs that al
unhet,owr 10 ,hem ava loot;ng down from
,hat w;nJow .hoye,
Tbo anordian on,el mus, bo leeni,c
eor ;ns,ead ~ movIn, on ,hoy s,onl- Oh
IncL Ioso C,,o dirootlv honea,h tbo window
Miss O,mond i. wild with cxci,emont
cha ,nns, hoar 90 uali a. soo WI, doo,
sbc see ? That bc is taking earnestly
H., Lo a..ms e., Ne encora r;nr, rh;ot
Sa c;ro Snr sho se.s ,ho moonlia6, aasb
un6n !, sha COOS nor ,.ko !, in her bond
Wha, doos sbe beor9 Onlv n hroLen sent
erce Tbo srst nart WINS lost tbrouah ina,
,he s,ioh,os, no;sa m,te bv tbe win5oy a,
sho M m6yod !, un 40 verv corer,lIv al,
,hroa I,,Ia words ,hose m marr;od Oc,o
bor twen,;o,h !" Then Rsle havina take,
~ Nv, r. ossod on s,;lI aarnos,1, ,alL
Wv hs, ~ ~, ,so,e horond Ms Osmond,,
hassr;no s or ses;nn
Sbe s,oseJ ,he window sof,lv She haf
In Nod oyer ,h., window III !, wos =,
no;sa,os. [ sn5 40, l;Le 90 he,selr she ws,
,r;nmnh.n, H. was .ensa,;on ,rnlv
+. Ioro m.L ;nn ;ndeeJ d;d NO, ,hinl
II h.J como 10 tLa, 81 soon How mckv
was looL;ng ont don, belicve ,here's ,
sorI lnows II hut me We'll / sbould tbinL
thev m;aht have waited iii thew cot hom,
10 % ,hs;r corr,;ng Iu 90 over ,o.mor
row md see If she Soars rino for I neve,
som o' ono ~ on har hend In my Ii,s If sh'
doas I shall tnow all obo,, !, evan I,
,ha wada;na asvt Jns, ,h;nL how lnel ,
wasI~
The nav, d.v Miss O.mooa csued al
omiles md swse,ness on her " dear Mis-,
Ralio ~ Her blocL evos looLed as so,, onl
Iov;n, .s such owes might poor u,rrsnect
~. R,llo vss ~ nlad 10 sea her 90 sha wo.
10 zoe onv friend and Relic vas. aniIeIes,