The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-06-21
ONE OF nv "Bv.GONES.'

new house, III was comfort untOiu ~ rush ol
INTO the avenue, in the dusk and take Swee
counsel with myself, or, as quaint old licrbcr
expresses II:
To tumble up and down my chest,
And see what my soul doth wear
twas the avenue that made me take TIT
house; nobody, avenue in particular yet i
belonged to each one of the small group o
cottages TO which il led from the high road
Ii had existed Us Il sort of lane before TIT
cottages were thought OF, and great trees haC
had time to grow up in Il leisurcly way ant
meet overhead A long gate closed it in a
night from the snarcs of the outer world ant
gave a greater sense of security To the lonely
Spns,crs and timid widows who lived in the
cottages.
On this night thin mist EMBODIED the tree
and me rs with Il sombcr garment, and tn,
remark of one Of our old neighborS whcr
she heard of our destination came back tC
me like bird of ill-omcn: Going to Dove
cotes! Then YOU will live and die an old
maid No one ever goes there but the doctor
to make them SICK and the lawyers to make
their wills Ii is too far from the village 10
walk and too near to make il worth while to
ride"
She evidently spake not without knowledge
and kccnly felt the little fine point wrapped
up in it. Ii had Il fearful sound to be an old
maid all my days, for old maids do live i'm
mcnscy long lives, having neither great joys
nor great sorrows. 1t almost seems thatwith
little effort they might live forever | was
twenty-five years old, and no love passage
had ever been mine. If one must be an old
maid il would be some consolation to have a
few old letters and IL bunch of dried flowers
TO turn over winter evenings. Ii was an old
familiar track in my mind; my thoughts
travelled it often. The hour was not very late,
but the fog made Il darkness that might be
jclt Suddenly heard voices near me, but
whether in front or following, it was impossi-
bic for me to tell, rs | distinguished no foot
steps.
II fear we have made a mistake said Il
woman's voice, trembling in spite Of II hard
tone in it, "lf you cannot bear with me- while
we are lovers, what will become of me by and
by?'
1T is only when we are alone that should
ever suspect we were lovers" responded
masculine voice
You were willing that our engagement
should be II secret"
Yes, because you bcsought me so anxious
Iy; but your manner to ohcrmCn is sOUttcrly
-utcTl-'
Don't hesitate for word. | assure you |
can endure it. My manner i, sO-->'
It ncngagcd. would say, to put it very
mildly"
"Perhap, it is better that my condition
should fiji my manner
"Perhaps-unlcss YOU can change that
manner"
II could no more do that than the leopard
could change his spots. | have loved you
well, but that is no reason We should marry, |
| suppose"
"Oh none whatever. | hear some one
coming. Here Is the ring you meant for a
letter Goodnight and goodbye"
\ woman ran by me so closely that her
skirt, brushed mine and the fog lifting IA lit
lr Ut the same moment, | saw the outline of
imam take hi elbows from the gate on which
~ had been leaning, and stopping down
ccmcd to look for something on the ground
Then he hurried away toward the village,
md, as Bunyan says of his pilgrims Il saw
lUl no more
| felt like L person blindiolded, who had
,ccn tormcntcd with other peoples secrets
'gainst his will leaned my own arms on
he gate until the fog cleared away, and IA
oft, waycring moonlight fell on the trees,
which seemed to whisper together about the
cry secrets which had shared with them.
n crack between the post and bar some
hing CLEANED in the moonlight | picked ,
MT a ring-thc ring which orc had thrown 5
way IL her mad haste, and which the other [
I'D looked for on the ground in vain II twas
violet, formed of small sapphircs, with !
imond in the center G
| carried ii home and tucked il into The Z
lrthcr corner of my upper drawer, and fora |
Month pondcrcd it in my heart looked
agcry for all notices under the head of.
Lost and Found Vast hOrdcS of dog,
c"ncd to have gone upon their travels about 4
hat time, NUTS ana bonds and other small a
matters were cnlrCatcd 10 be returned and no /
UcSlion, asked; out no one had lost Il ring
composed with infinite pains :. Ica>i Don b
u advertisements which should dcicalcly u
onvcy to that outline of man that hi, ring
ight be recovered il he desired it, said C
% word to my aunt with whom shared the,
Otm@c and all other worldly goods of nay
tile adventure III the avenue II she had t
yer had any nonsense about her it had en- 4
rely disappeared before my time She would
ave sought Tor the owner in the same Y
and exhaustive way ~ if /,
ad been Il strange hoe, found in our Garden
Those two lovers would have been forced :
) ~tanG and deliver ihcir names and their |
ccrrt within week l.
Aunt Esther had brought me up in the same
.uy thai she did everything else; She never |,
lrgot to wind her clock ON every seventh day, /;
nj she never failed 10 give me good meas. |,
re of home comfort, out ii was not pressed Il
own nor running over. gave her honest
king and respect without any love, and she
ever missed it. Nevertheless II gave me
.rriblc shock when her vigorous life was ar.
ratcd by stroke of paralysis. Our only ser
ant in her fright was rs helpless a> her mis-.
'css; but Miss Purdy, who lived next door
lnc in to stay with the patient, while I ran
trough midnight darkncs, down the avenue
nd the iong village street for the doctor. DR. I
fillmore was the name ON the first door that
ad light behind it, Al The first pull of the
ELI The handle came oil in my hand, but
pcncd the door and found myself in the office
hc doctor lay on Il lounge, sleeping heavily, II
$ il he had just thrown himself down after
hard days work. | called him in vain. and
nally laid violent hands on him. lie must
ave been dreaming some fearful thing. for
c seized my hands as in II vice and rourcd,
Now have YOU" before he ever opened his ,
yc-.
lou are mistaken. doctor; ii i, who haze
uU' | said, laughing He released my