The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1873-01-23
oNE uF NJ HN-cuNES.

dusk aud take sweet counsel with myseif
or, az quaint old Herbert expresses it, 4
"---sa tambla up and aoan my eBsst
And see what ny s0al dath vear"
Il was the avenue which made me take
the house nobody avenue Ia particular,
yet it seemed to belong to each ont Of the
small cottages to which Il led from the
high road. Il had existed as q sort Of
lane before the cottages were thought or
great trees had had time to grow ia
! eisurely way and meet overhead.
/ a long gate closed it in at night from
/ the snares Of the outer world, and gave
greater sense Of security TO the lonely
spiusters and limid widows who lived IN
/ the cottages.
+ On this night thick mist enfolded the
trees and me as with a sombre garment,
and the remark of one old ueighbor
when she heard our destination came
back to me like bird Of Ill omen; Going
TO Doyeeolesl Then you will live and
die an old maid No one ever goes there
but the doctor to make them sick and the
lawyer to write their wills. It is too far
from the village to walk and too near to
make 1t worth while to ride.
She evidently spoke not without know
ledge, and ] keeuly ielt the fine point
taat was wrapped up in it, 1t had fear
fu sound to be an old maid all my days,
TO- old maids do live immensely long
lives, having neither great joys or great
sorrows to wear ont their bodies. II al
most seems that, with a little more effort;
years old, and no loye-passages had ever
been mine. II one must be an old maid,
il would be some consolation to have
few old letters and bunch of dried flow
ers to turn over on winter evenings. 1t
was an old, familiar track in my mind;
my thoughts travelled it often.
1t was not very lato, but the iog made
a darkness that might be felt suddenly
heard voices near me, bet whether in
front or following it was impossible to
tell, as distinguished no footsteps.
fear we have made a mistake, said a
woman's voice, trembling in spite of
hard tone in it. If 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 that we are lovers,
rejoined a masculine voice.
You were willing that our engagement
should be kept secret
Yes, because you besought me SO anx-
iously; but your manner to other men is
80 utterly-utterly-
Don't hesitate for a word. / assure
you can endure it,, Ny manner Is so -
Unengaged, | would say, to put it very
mildly.
Perhaps it is better that my condition
should fit my manner.
Perhaps, unless you could change that
manner.
could no more do that than the leo
pard could change his spots. have
loved YOU well, but that is no reason why
we should marry, suppose.
Is it not?
Oh none whatever. | hear some one
coming. Here is the ring that you meant
for a fetter. Good night, and good bye.
a woman ran by me so closely that her
skirts brushed mine, and the fog lifting a
,, little at the same time, saw the outline
Of man take his elbows from the long
gate on which he had been leaning, and
STOPPING down, seemed to be looking for
something on the ground. Then he hur-
ried away toward the village, and, as
Bunyan says Of his pilgrim, ! saw him
no more.
q felt like a person bind-fold, who has
been tormented with other peoples Sc
crets against his will leaned my own
arms on the gate until the fog cleared,
aud soft waving moonlight fell on the
trees, which seemed to whisper together
about the very secrets that shared with
them.
In a crack between post and bar some
thing CLEANED in tfe moonlight. picked
out ring, the ring which one had
thrown away in her angry haste, and
which the other had looked for in vain
1t was a violet formed Of small sapphires
with a diamond in the center
carried il home tucked II into the far
thest corner Of my upper drawer, and iol
a month pondered Il In my heart.
/, looked eagerly for all notices under thu
- head of Lost and Found" Vast hordei
Of dogs seemed to have gone on their ira
wells about that time; mu1s aud bondi
and otter small matters were entreated e
return, aud no questions askej; but NJ
one had lost ring. / composed witt
iulnite pains at least a dozen advertise
ments which should declcately convey {,
y that outline Of man that his ring nigh
be IL covered IL be desired IL. / said nt
word 60 my aunt with whom ! shared
the cottage aud all other worldly goods
y Of my little adventure in the avenue. /
b. she had ever had any nonsense about he
3, Il bad entirely worn Of before nv time
- She would have sought for the owner o
the ring Ia the same Straightforward ana
exhaustive way as II # had been a stral
hoe found in our garden. Those twt
lovers would have been forced 10 slaDt
and deliver their names and their secre
within a week.
Aunt Hester hsd brought me up IN %
same way that she did everything else
b.. a. ..s.,-.sg ,ss..,ss, a.. ,rtm4 Eg, ,tyMI g,