The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1873-07-10
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but something that really happened near
. ly iweuiy years ago. Let me think
Cau i be possible that Father Time has
. passed us 80 many times, when to us Il
seems such llile whilei All! yes; Il
surely must have been as long ago as that
tof ! remember my hair was brown aud
curling then, and my cheeks we're almost
a. red a. those yon see youder Now my
half is ibickly threaded with gray, the
roses have faded from my cheeks, and
well, may AZ well say it'll am growing
old Don't be getting restless, Eloise;
aB not going TO sermonize, The story
will come after time. Let me see As
I | told you, il must have been nearly
I twenty Years ago since we-that Il, the
Young people Of CLAY niore--we invited
70 Margaret Fnller's wedding. The
wedding created no little excitement in
our usually quiet village, for Margaret or
4 Madge, a, she was generally called, was
the only child Of Lawyer Fuller, the
wealthiest men In all the whole country
round.
Her mother had beeu dead a number OF
years, and Mr.. Fuller had brought home
a nephew aud his wife, to keep the house
aud care Tor the poor little motherless
Madge.
Madge had always Jared well in the
hands OF her Cousin Marsden and his
kind-hearted little wife Minnie She
hardly missed the tender mother that left
her almost in her babyhood. As she
grew older, every advantage was given
her that wealth could afford, and at eigh-
teen her teacher pronounced her educa-
ton finished. Then she came home.
Oil how she frightened up our little
village! There was no end to the pleas
ure excursions after she came; picnics,
boat rides, horseback rides, and every
thing Of that description, were enjoyed
that summer to the fullest extent.
When the hot weather came, some OF
Madge's city friends came down to try
the country for while, Then we pic
nieed more than ever
Among the city beaux was one Harry
Clifton, a young lawyer of considerable
talent, and ii was soon whispered around
that he was Madge's lover. He was very
handsome, but there was sad look in
his eyes when he was quiet, that never
could get rid of; it always seemed to
haunt me. Madge was very lively and
full of fun, and to me never seemed at
all suited to Harry with his quiet ways;
but opposites are attracted by opposites
so | suppose it could be accounted for in
that way
Very often, when the rest were engag-
ed in some merry game, or perhaps dan
cling, he would come and talk with me,
for he seldom danced, and my lameness
forbade my participating in any such
amusement. How enjoyed those talks
lie would tell me of different countries
that he had visited and curious sights
that he had seen, and so wildly would he
describe them that almost felt as though
had seen them myself.
/ One evening at Lawyer Fuler's, while
the rest were dancing and we were hav-
ing one of our pleasant talks, | asked
him something Of his former life. lie
was very quiet, and when | looked al
him he was very quiet, and when | look.
ed at him he was very pale, was frigh-
tened, for thought he must have been
taken suddenly i'll. | sprang TO my feet
and in a moment more would have sum.
moned assistance, but he laid his hand on
my arm and said: have frightened you
Miss Ellersley; sit down again. / an
better now.
He was quiet for moment, and ther
he said; ! believe you asked me some
thing of my boyhood days. | will tel
you some time, perhaps; but | hardly
feel adequate to the task now. II you
will be so kind as to call Miss Madge,
will make my excuse and retire, tor my
7 head is aching severely.
had intended to come back to hin
again, bat as tose to go in search O
Madge, he extended his hand, and said
will bid you good night now and pleast
don't worry about me, for ! assure YOU
shall be better by morning. | am subjec
to such attacks any little excitemen
brings them on. bade him good nigh
and in a few moments | found Madge a
- the piano, aud whispering to her my eT
rand, she excused herself to the merr
group she had been entertaining, an,
FASTENED TO Harry.
When she had gone, some Of the part
declared that as | had been the cause q
Miss Madge's sudden departure it wa
nothing more than just that should tax
her place 1t the piano. In vain ! begge
-. to be excused, telling them that coul
not play anything that they would car
that they would care 10 hear, that N
music was old-fa.bioned, and all that soi
ID OF thing; Il was Of 10 use; they urge
e me until felt fairly compelled to $
down 10 The instrument and try.
= first, the sounds werc 80 very difieref
from our own little old piano at hom'
that W.. fairly frightened; but gradu
ally became nsed to IL, aud forgsttin
that there was anyone present but myse
| threw my whole soul into tho musi
and played one Of my fayorites, vii,
weird piece, called The Storm At Sea
When finished, there was a dead silen,
e.. ii the room. Lawyer Fuller had bee
standing IN the door, listening to "a
nlaKing. alihpngA ! was not aware Of