Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-08-13

was tinge of romance in giving the ring
happy ending after being spurned by iis
FIRST owner.
DR.. Gilmore did like il, and put il on
my finger before Kate went of, with some
good advice about not sitting up late,
which met the fate Of most good advice
| crept into her bed in the wee sma'
hours ayont the twal," and she woke n.
stantly.
4" This is good example to set before
young and innocent maiden" she re.
marked.
"Oh, Kate" said in the usual gushing
fashion, " | am so happy, can't believe
it,"
Oh, we'll, | can. Nobody comes TO
bed at this time o. night unless something
awful has happened"
d" | wonder he did not fall 10 love with
you, Kate"
" So do |, but some meu have no taste,
you know. They are to be pitied, not to
be blamed. Besides, as have said before,
he is too aged for me. He'll be centu-
rian' when you're in your prime"
Kate refused to talk all night. as would
gladly have had her. and | did catch an
hour or two of sleep, full of happy dreams.
| was nearly alone in the world, and
there was no earthly reason for delaying
the marriage except for the wedding gar
ments.
Dovecotes was wonderfully healthy Just
at this time, but the doctors carriage (he
bad discarded the old narrow sulky and
replaced It with buggy might be seen
going at full speed along the avenue often
enough for patient at the point Of death.
We we're married and went into the vii
lsge' to live in the very house in which |
had first taken possession of its owner.
That former neighbor, who had seen me
an old maid in her prophetic soul, said
'' 80 you took the doctor, after ALL"
If this were an ordinary and we'll con.
Quoted story, it ought to end here; but be-
ing true history, my life did not at once
come to an end, like that of most heroines,
with marriage.
| had been Mrs. Gilmore nearly ten
ears, aud had led very dowuy life of it.
My love, which had run so smooth from
the beginning, kept up the same habit.
mentally carried an umbrella all those
years, but it never raned anything but good
fortuue
Three little Gilmorcs made my life a
happy burden, and my old friend, Kate
Purdy, came constantly to the house to
help me bring them up Kate was nearly
thirty years old, when her fate was carried
into her auut's house with sprained ankle,
and came out Of 1t her accepted lover.
Many men had fallen in love with Kate
IN these years, but they had been without
form or comeiness in her eyes. The mild,
coloress man whom she loved at last with
all her tender heart, carried her away from
Doyecotes, and did not see her again till
she brought with her the transcendent first
baby, which was to cast far into the shade
all Gilmore babies, past, present, and to
come.
One foggy twilight, when our tyrants
were "laid " for the night, we walked
toward Dovecotes. The long gate opening
on the avenue was shut, and we all leaned
upon it, to rest moment before turning
homeward.
"By the way" said |. "it is Just like
the night when | found this ring. wor-
der if those lovers ever made up their
quarrel and married, after ALL"
81 am quite sure they never married."
said Kate's husband, gravely.
"What do you mean2" gasped
"Tell her all about it." said Kate to DR..
Gilmore. 1--WE are all happy now" She
kissed me twice, with a long look into my
face, and walked away with her
husband.
"What is it2" said, with great effort,
SO dry vas my throat.
1t was Kate Purdy aud who quar-
relied at the gate and lost the ring That
is all"
"All!" | repeated
Little wife," have we not been happy
?"
81 have supposed so."
"And | have known it,"
/" But the long deceit"
"On my word, there has been none.
After you introduced me to Kate, | never
poke word to her that you did not hear,
nor looked a look at her that you did not
see. She fascinated me once, but never
really loved her."
| believe men often make this sort of
remark to their wives touching their youth
'ul follies, butt has comforied many another
wife. | had always worn the sapphire
ing, the sign of our betrothal. and as we
alked, | had been slipping it up and down
lround my finger.
As we turned to leave the gate, | saw
leep crack in the ground where frost had
oosened the post in an instant | had
lroppcd the ring into the crack and went
N with one 6ruise less in my heart.
On the way home We talked of universal
preference for moonlight over fog, and
ound Kate waiting alone on the doorstep.
| will not darken your doors again" she
aid, :" till you say that you forgive me-"
yes" said the doctor, " she will let by
Ter answer.