Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1873-07-16

up to meet that same frnnk smile and out.
stretched hand that had so often greeted
her years ago, while voice that was mu.
sic TO her ear, exclaimed, eagerly:
''Will y0H welcome me home. Sayf"
"hoW areye? How are ys. Ben? Gtad
Ter see ye again :" aud Deacon sparmip,
crowded himself between the two, in the
hear'iness of his greeting, which was now
re-cchOed by old and young, who crowded
perfect chorus ofsubdued welcomes, qnes.
tiOns, and com nents, while Say, quietly
accepting Mr.. Vests offered escort.
walked silently away, her heart full TO ov-
eraOwiug with its bitter-swcet memories
-trifcs, perhaps, in their dag. but now
to her time-awakened vision, things of
what infinite importance to her future
peace.
The next morning, Mr.. West took dip.
nihed leave of his host and family, with
the air OF one who has no intention of re-
turning a! present, aud Say, with light
ened brow, but with little air Of nervous
expectation, that she tried her best to
hide, busted herself with her usual tasks,
that, as the day waned, seemed gradually
to lose their interest for her, and, as the
twilight began TO fall, she remarked, in n
wcaried tone:
81 believe I'll 60 down to the SUGAR
orchard aud carry father his supper; per.
haps the walk In the open air will help
my headache" And following up her
own suggestion, she was picking her way
along the old familiar path that, Eve
years ago, she had threaded upon the same
errand, with a step as firm, an ere as
clear, and a heart (she smiled sadly, won.
deringly to herself as she recalled that
tlme) not yet wise enough to know itself.
The lunch was gratefully received and
enjoyed, and Say stood watching with a.
dreamy, half-absert eye, the form of her
father, as he passed briskly from fro to
fire, stirring, testing, and discoursng with
pleasant volubility upon the quality, auan.
vt yv hau IoI 'nyo years. IUu rencIiDer,
Say, that year that Ben Worth vent"
His voice died away in the distance, as
he hurried off to replenish decaying
fire. and Say stood looking thoushtfully
down upon the blazing brands, while her
slender fingers played nervously with Il
twig of soft, silky catkins she had plucked
on her way through the woods, and there
was an unconscious pathos in her tones as
sh c softly repeated her fathers words:
"Fivo years of patient waiting, of un-
complaing silence, Of"
'Sugaring off,"
1t was Ben Worths voice that spoke
the words, and Ben Worth's hand that
clasped her OVID, as he whispered, with
tender, yet halfroguish significance:
"Will you accept the sugar as it is now
Say? 1t may not be Of the first quality
to be sure; but if you will only try it, /
will promise that it will do its best toward
/ swcctening away whatever drops Of Bit
terness fate may mingle in your cup Of
lifs."
Says face was turned away, but low
; ing hand gently drew the dropping head
into the full light Of tAe shameless fire.
and pair of tender, yet mastery eyes
: looked searchingy into her own. She
tried to laugh, but the tears would come
: instead, and, dropping her head upon the
+ shoulder beside her. she sobbed out few
7 broken words of loving acknowledgment
d that made her listener heart bound with
Il grateful joy.
l. "But where did you gst that idea Of
the 'sugaring Off" she asked, little
., later, as they sat, side by side, before the
to cheerful fire, and Ben answered, with o
Ip slightly embarrassed air:
ul Thereby hangs confession. On the
t, night that we parted here, came bacl
ID for my sap-ladle, that in the angry excite
ut ment of my leaving had forgotten, ant
ed which l knew would be needed by m,
ad father the next day. came justin tim
y, to hear your conversation with your faith
to er about me, and [ stole away in a per
m feet agony of grief and modification. |
al- was that that sealed my lips on the even
ais ing of my departure to California, and
un is that that now emboldens me to offe
ed you the sugar that five long years of tria
ug toll, and sefdenial have produced"
me Say smiled-yet with fearful eyes
up she placed her hand in his, and from th'
ner day forth the fancy was never alluded
for by either, but was laid aside amid 9TH
of precious relics Of the past, as somethiI
too sacred for careless hands 70 interme
r. die with-a sealed memory, to whit
VI their own hearts alone kept the key.
'eet .s----------
line "A philadelphia man has purchsas
and set up his own tombstone, bearing I
inscription, 'Died April A, 1879.