St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-10-03
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memories crowd upon me so strongly
that | am standing, young, happy.
hopeful. in all the glory of that June
MONDAY. upon the lawn at Daryl House.
| can feel the soft. warm sunshine
around me again. as clearly us | did
fifteen years ago. ! see your sister
Maud coming towards us. Like Il fairy
she lightly trips along. III her pretty
muslin dress and as yOu present me
to her us your friend, | am looking
again into the depths of those soft,
brown eyes. wherein read my fate so
long ago. From that moment to this
there has been to me but one woman
on this earth My Only prayers these:
Once to he with her here nOW. to he
with her hereafter for all time. You
know how | learned to love her-hOw.
day 10y day, my love grew until my
hopes were centred upon one wild dream
that she should be my wife. You
know too. how. when | confessed my
secret to Your father. he informed me
that he had that day given his consent
to Sir Guy DevereuXs paying his ad-
dresses to her, and how he added in his
bluff. manly way, But mind, George, l
won't have my girl bought. and if Dew
ereuN's manners can't win her, his
money shan't. And then, George. you
have my consent to make her your
wife if. or when. you can afford 10 do
So All. but he did not know my ac-
cursed poverty. Till then l had never
realized it. Strong. healthy. happy.
with simple tastes. my wants we've
small and easily supplied. But now.
indeed. felt its cruel sting. My self
had won love which my poverty hade
me surrender. | was too poor to enjoy
such luxury. Can you realize the full
bitterness of the thought, Glyn | had
not money, but had a possession as
hereditary. and surely more priceless
honor. 1t told me the stern. uncom-
promising truth that must leave your
house at once. and bid your sister fare
well until could come with something
more than my poor love to lay at her
feet. ! resolved To leave as soon as
could make the necessary arrange
ments.
Full of this determination. strolled
ont into the garden tu acquaiut your
sister of my intention: My appoint
ment to the 5lSt would. | thought. en-
able me to do 50 without disclosing my
real motives. For felt that had no
right to do that. nor did wish to give
her the pain ! felt such il disclosure
would inevitably involve. In my pres
cut bitter hopele>>ncSS. felt more able
to speak calmly than when softer feel
ing> might lead me 10 hopes past the
hoping.
Il knew her favoritc seat well enough.
and in>tinctivcly. almost unconsciou>ly.
found my self clos,. to the weeping
willow. within whose tamglc of hough
and leaf she loved to sit
But as approached. heard a voice
most surely not hers, for it was the
loud treble of Il man. ! recognized it
as that of >ir Guy DtVcIeuX.
"'luu care for him :" | heard him
say ii mere school hoy-a lad begin
ming the battle of life without friends
and without money.
His few friends and his little
money. | heard the sweet soft voice
say in tones ineilHhly tender. 'ae only
reasons why the woman who loves him
should Try +" make up t"I his need ot
both. But enough. Slr Guy. Gou
have assumed my love for Mr.. Mere
dith. food. ana not ashamed to ac-
| knowledge it. Nothing but his um-
w"rthinc>> could deprive him of a love
| | believe him now most mnIthy of. ol
my self "t the sweet pride feel i'll he
/ lieving my love returned
"'Unwortiy He is unworthy of it.
utterly unworthy. Miss DARYL rcioin, It
/ Sir Guy. in tones trembling with pas
sion. i believe him capable of ANY
mcanmc>>. and were he here ! would
tell him to his face that
"'What would you tell him ? said |.
suddenly pushing through the hough
and standing hrfoIc him.
THAT cvc>cInppcrS rarely hear their
own praises he retortcd with ready
wit.
"->il.' rrioincd. my hearing yom
conversation was accidental. not intcu-
tiomal. | came 10 inform Miss Daryl
thai my appointment to Il regiment will
compel my leaving here in two days
time. | need scarcely add. Sir Guy.
tlat opportunities will offer for yom
telling me what YOU seemed so anxious
To say.
">ir Guy bowed and walked of with
Il curious look of triumph i'll his face,
WAS alone with Maud.
"Glyn! swcaI to you the lapse OF
Years has failed to ctfacc the minutesr
detail of those happy moments from my
memory. The recollection of them ha,
been ut once my pleasure and my pain
1t ncrvcd me to bear all, all for hei
sake. while there was hope hut it ha,
kept me cruelty alive these weary Years
while have been hopeless, and would
fain have died. With this lock of that
golden glory which was my pride il
happier summers, my heart could break
but slowly. And ever would he borne
in upon my ears. like the burden of /;
song. those words which. she would Sc
often proudly remind me, are the motto
of the Merediths: Wait for the end y
.Our interview was short. and have
} neither the wish nor the will, Glyn, tC
speak much of it, Her last words ring
in my ears now-have rung in then
ever since: the soft. low vOice-tht
sweet, brave words.
: "'GO. George, she said go work
and may God bless you, darling! Ian
yours his voice broke here, and the
tears streamed fast over the thin, vast
ed hands. After a while he continued
gently: 81 am yours, she said; go
work, and | will pray the while, and il
} His good time we will be together for
. ever y"
Again he paused, but proud, happy
smile illuminated his face, and his eye
flashed proudly and fondly through th,
. long, wet lashes as he looked upward
as if he saw her above him of whom h,
spoke. For moment he was th'
: George Meredith of old, brave an(
5 hopeful, and happy once again. Whel
4 ] no continual his Nnipa faint