Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-11-16
Autumn Leaves.
COMPLETE IN FOUR CHAPTERS.
CHAPTER /.

L give tnat little name 10 my story,
because, in looking back, these days of
my life resemble autumn leaves; they
speak not of hope, but of promises full
illed-they have not the golden hue of
hope-the sun of happiness has shone
upon them and brought them to perfec-
ton
Heaven has been very good to me;
yet there was time when. in my heart,
if not in words. rebelled fercely against
its DEGREES, and longing to grasp what
seemed to be withheld from me, cried
out that l was unjustly dealt with. |
know better now.
[ am sitting. on this fair autumn day.
at my favorite window in ny own home.
As far as eye can reach, | see a golden
abundance the fruit is all ripe in the
orchards, sy-cheeked apples and brown
pears hang upon the trees, purple plums
shine on green leaves, farther away the
corn stands in thick sheaves, and the
meadows are full of busy men.
The golden-brown leaves are falling
On the lawn, sweeping with a musical
rustic over the grass the garden is one
gorgeous mass of autumn flowers. Iraise
my eyes to the smiling heavens-this
world is very fair and beautiful. but
what lies there beyond those clouds
Our village of Deep Glen is situated
in the most fertile part Of Devonshire !;
and here, many years ago, my widowed
mother came to dwell, bringing with her
all she had left ID the world-my sister
and myself.
My father, Captain VIVIAN, died of a
slow and lingering malady that for ma
ny years had incapacitated him from
public service. Fortunately for US my
mother had some income of her own,
amounting in all to four hundred year !;
and this, in simple country place like
Deep Glen, was riches indeed So, when
my father died. and my mother had to
face the world alone, she chose Deep
Glen as her future home.
The village is surrounded by the beau
tiful Devonshire hills, and is, believe,
one of the most picturesque spots that
ever an artist could dream Of No words
can adequately describe the luxuriant
foliage in which it seems to be half bur-
led, the grand old trees, the purple hills
stretching away far and wide, the fertile
meadows, the fruit laden orchards and
quaint cottages. The pretty town OF
Beecham is only mile distant. Every
one knows Beecham-people come from
all parts of England to enjoy the fresh
life-giving breezes of the Beecham hills
No one can call the neighborhood 3
dull one. Beecham court, the property
of Sir Gerald Mayne, the largest land
owner and the chief magnate of this par
of the country, is near Beecham ; and OF
the east of Deep Glen stands Riversdals
Hall, the home of Lady Horton and he
two daughters. Feene Abbey and Grey
ton Towers are not far away. Altogethe
the neighborhood is quite an aristocrati
, one.
When my dear mother first came t
live at Lime Cottage, as our house wa
called, the notables of the neighborhoo'
were rather puzzled. True, she was al
officers widow, and an elegant and &C
complished woman-but then she KEEP
; no carriage, and gave no parties. Th
qrandes DANES held a consultation as
7 the propriety of visiting her. 1t was Gel
t tainly dilemma; she was not of clas
5 to be quite overlooked, and yet she cOul
: not be eagerly courted- Perhaps be
l widows weed and winning manners wo
some little consideration for her. Lad
s Mayne was the first to call, then Lad
!, Horton followed, and gradually all th
e ladies in the neighborhood appeared. N
}. mother soon set matters straight; 81
|. thanked them for the kindness whic
dictated their visit. but said it in ht
|. quiet, dignifed way, that she had I
"a thoughts of re-entering society.
70 From time to time Lady Mayne an
Lady Horton called. My mother new
made any advances towards them; 81
(, was always the same. calm and dignife
They were compelled to admire her.
Ours was a limited household
mother. myself-at that time. an awi
ward girl of ffteen-and my little sist
n Clarce-the loveliest fair" that ey
gladdened human eyes. She was ju
It FIVE; and, with SO great difference B
tween our ages, l seemed more like
I mother than a sister to her. | had be
at boarding school for some years, al
? my mother now devoted herself to fms
is ing my education and beginning nay S
ter's. Life passed very pleasantly wi
T us. We seemed to live amid the warm
to of the sunshine. the song of birds, a
the fragrance of flowers.
Sc The chief events Of my life beg
ar with my eighteenth year. 1t is not
much my own story that ] wish to te
ke as that Of others SO In a few brief wor
els Lmay say that shortly after my bir
on day | met Hugh Gordon for the &