Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-06-11

the gilded shadow Of a passion less real
and less true.
Yet when evening came, and she strolled
into the kitchen, after walk with Willie
Drayton, wearing Willie's ribbons in her
hair, and knot Of Wilie's buying at her
throat, the fitting regret had vanished, AID
the light Of the new love shining in her
mellow eyes Of brown had killed tho light
of the old
As January had closed In, Mark vii.
tons dropping visits to the farm had ceased
totally. At first Mrs. Drayton bemoaned
bis absence with Jessie, but grew reconcile
ed when she saw Nellie so taken up with
her new lover and the notion Of the fine
lady life she was TO lead in London, where
she was to have nothing TO do, only to dress
and 60 out with Willie when his days
work was over. Drayton had no true ap-
probation Of the pleasures Of home, and
tiled Nellie's head with the idea Of theaters,
and Christy minstrels, and summer after.
moons at Kew or Richmond, never pausiug
to think that the salary he usually spent on
his personal enjoyment might not afford the
same delightful recreations to two.
Looking at W!lie's picture of their town
life, in its gilded setting, one cold Febru-
ary afternoon while he was absent in the
village, and her hands were busy washing
up the cups after their early tea, Nellie
was startled out of her day dream by a
shadow falling athwart the open doorway.
Glaneing up she saw the stawart figure Of
Mark Wilton entering tho kitchen, carry
ing his gun 10 his hand, aud bending his
head as he had seen him bend it many
time under the old-fashioned entrance.
The scarlet blood few hot to Nelie's
cheek.
"You frightened me with the gun,
Mark" she said, IN excuse for the tide
which would not be stayed, although the
small, plump hands, busy among the tea
cups, never ialtered in their work.
There's no need to be frightened" he
said, it's not loaded though for all that
| shouldn't have brought it here, but /
carry it about with me for company like
because it's the only company I've got
now"
There was world of reproach in his
voice, world Of pathos in the simple sem
tence, to which he added no word, but
ground his gun upon the floor, and clasping
his strong brown hands over the muzze,
stood looking into the girls face silently.
Mother and Jessie are gone a-milk-
ing" Nellie said, forcing herself to say
something, and looking down at tea-cup
she held in her fingers, rather than into the
eyes fixed on her across the brown hands
clasped upon the gun.
just came to have word with you,
Nellie" Wilton said, not noticing her re-
mark about her mother and Jessie. "And
If you don't MUD listening to me a minute,
I'd like to say 1t here"
She made no answer, and Mark, lifting
his large hands away from the muzzle of
the gun, laid it in the corner Of the kitchen.
There was not much romance about Mark
Wilton, nor any show Of sentiment yet
what he had to say to Nellie he wished to
say there, in the crimson glow Of the fire.
light, where he had told her Of his love
nearly year agone. Where il began,
let it end" he said to himself. Then hs
crossed the kitchen, and standing before
Nellie on the hearth, he spoke;
They be talking down in the village
about you marrying Win Drayton, aud
Just came up to hear the truth Of it, Nellie,
from your own lips"
But with scarlet cheek, and droopinr
eye, Nellie stood still, without answering
him.
Silence is the same as words some-
times" Mark proceeded after n moment;
" and all | have to say now, Nell, my lass,
is that if you are going to marry viii
Drayton, and want the promise you made
me back, I'm here to give it to you"
" There's no hurry about it, Mark"
Nellie said nervously, and-and-ldrat
you'd speak to mother"
"Your mother basnover come between us
two yet and she won't now" he said, with
quiet decision "But Neil, my dear girl, if
so be you want your promise, take it to-
night, for may be when the time comes when
you do want it, might not be here to
give it."
Nellie felt startled, although she made
no sign, but stood with her head dropped,
and her eyes wandering from the scattered
tea things on the table to the fitting CLEANS
of the fire.
"You see | thought there was 10 use
staying in these parts any longer" he went
on. "I got to dislike the place when stop
ped comm up here, so | gave my lord no.
tice month agone, and as a brother Of
mine has farm in Gloucestershire, and |
mean to turn farmer too, thought might
as well shift for good, and I'm going down
there tomorrow, to see if can find farm
near his"
You've been so far away from us this
month back, Gloucestershre won't be much
farther" Nellie answered, with a GOODNESS
which struck Mark s1rely, but he only
said
II thought if you wanted me any near
er, you would have sent for me, Nellie"
'The man who goes away of himself is
not worth sending for" Nellie re,orted
taking, with woman's ready tact, the
part Of the injured and deserted.
+" Nellie it is not fair to say words like
them, when you know | went because |
didn't want to stand iu the way Of man
you liked better nor you liked me. And
thought to myself, if it's only girls fancy
auh PiiuO cuc hdo uut VI htth, 10 otcslc
says it is why she'll tell me to come back;
but never had word, nor look, so |
made up my mind to go clear away; and
as you were only child, Nell, when you
gave me your word first, thought I'd
ask you before went, if you'd wish it
back again"
But the half.stilled passion or the deep
psthos of Wiltons words, struck no answer
ing chord in Nellie. She was waxing angry
now, angry with herself, while she thought
she was angry with Mark.
You say right when you tell me | was
u child year agone, when | said | would
be your wife," she cried, light flashing
into her usually mellow eyes Il" but I'm
a woman tonight, and III take my promise
back"
Nell, my lass, don't let our last words
be words of anger" be said " I'm not
like to sec you any more after tonight, for
I'D never wish to look upon your face when
you were another mans wife. But you
might just let me kiss you once before
go once, for sake Of the time that can't
come no more
He came nearer to her while he spoke,