Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1873-09-24
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Peter North looked at his wife noted
the nervous anxiety with which she
watched fer his reply noted her pale thin
face, her hollow eyes and somehow the msn-
ory Of her rsund youthful 6gsrs when she
stood at the altar cane back to him. He
saw her nursing Tom, and heard her lalla-
by song. The tears came yelling into his
eyes--ihe first tears for quarter of a
century he bowed his head over the thin
hands that we're stretched toward him,
aud sobbed aloud.
may, deary, ray, Peter, my own dear
mas, my good man, husband Of my girl
time, don't give way. God help'e, my
dear man." exclaimed the bedridden wo-
man. IL wouldn't have grieved'e so for
worlds"
"lt's all right, Mary; don't be sorry
about it. I'm better for it; don't notice
me-"
You're not well, Peter, that be it,"
said the woman, "that be it; try little
brandy-and-water; it be low spirits, that's
all"
"Y es," said the farmer "God bless
you, Mary, you shall have Kate Meadows,
if she'll come"
That's kind, that's like my old man as
he used to be; let me have Kate, and
III be about again, farmer, that | will"
ASK me any thing as will bring that
to pass said Peter, his face Frightening.
81 feel better already. Why, there Is
Kate crossing the meadow yOhder; she'll
pass the farm; I'll call her while the fits
on me-"
doc love, doe, my DEAR" said the
woman; and Peter left the bedroom to
act upon the good impulse of the moment.
As Kate passed the front Of the house,
Mr.. North tapped at the window. tapped
so loudly that the girl was irightcnedlat
his demonstrations. She could only think
that Mrs. North was either dead or at
the extremity of her illness. Acting on
tho ;anr-a.s;on Kate stopped and after
an instan! Of hesitation, made her way to
the door Of North's house, where she en-.
countered the farmer. who approached
her with nervous step and downcast
eyes. She followed him into the house
After few minutes of awkward silence,
he requested her TO take seat, which
she declined. Then, in firm and unbro-
ken voice. she said,
"Farmcr North, what has been your
object in calling me into your house ?
the house from which you drove out the
only man ever loved-drove him ruth.
lessly forth-your OWE son.
"Do you not speak of him, just at
present at all events said the farmer
"My wife thinks she never can get well
unless you come and nurse her she pray.
of me to bring you to her, and that is
why have taken this liberty"
"Indced. should hardly have thought
! you cared about her getting BETTER" said
! Kate, her lips trembling.
"No, Care say not though | dom
know that ever was exactly unkind tc
, , her, poor SOUL"
"Not when you cursed her son and sen
: him forth; not only inficting misery
upon her and upon me, the limo
) cent cause of his shame. And now yot
ask me to come and take care of YOU
wife, because your accounts are in arrear
u | suppose, and yon want your clerk tt
get we'll"
This reused the farmer. Having SO re
Gently had ft Of goodness, this home
hurst stung him TO the quick.
"Not so fast. Kate Meadows; you arr
clever, no doubt, been wonderfully sedu
Gated and all that; but is not for you t.
lecture me, who am old enough almost t.
: be your grandfather, and who knows NOR
. about the real feeling of a broken heart
perhaps, than you imagine"
"Sir, you deserve tho hardest word
that"
; IF you think | have done you sue
grevious wrong, shall consent to leav
this house while you remain here; no
to wait upon my wife, but to keep he
company, and tell her Of Tom: l don
mind your speaking of him."
Peter North voice faltered, and b
looked appealIngly at the girl.
peter North" said Kate, somewha
= r surprised and softened by the enctio
: evinced by the stern man, 'you did, il
:, deed, gross injustice when you expelle
Tom frem your house and you made
e, doubly grevious when you gave it as tn
&c reason Of your anger that he was in loV
n, with me. And what if that it we're SO
8. What if he did love me? True, my pot
father was your dependent but there W;