Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-08-19

great bundle Of cast-of clothing, TO bo sent
to the suffering freedmen. Lou and Eta
bad followed her up stairs, and were look.
ing over the various articles, as she took
them from the great cedar chest, whore
they had been stored.
"Oh, Eta, see here i" exclaimed Lou;
here is this very lavender suit that Frank
ruined with lemonade, the day We went on
the Flying Arrow, just after Capt. Tiles
ton came home-let me see, two--three
years ago. Poor Frank was Just turning
out glass, when the be lurched, and threw
il over him from head to foot. How we
all laughed Don't you remember? Why.
mamma, you must not take them till |
have searched the pockets. A letter, as |
live Miss Eta Stuart"
IL was Ettas turn now. One swift
glance, as Lou held the letter up To the
light, and she had recognized the hand
writing She snatehed il from her cousins
hand, while the blood surgei up to her
heart in one convulsivo throb.
"Ohl Eta, dear, that's too bad"
pleaded Lou. 81 found IL so please let
me see il too"
But Eta had flown to her own room, not
daring to wait the scrutiny Of Lou's Curl
GUS eyes.
When Frank came up to tea, Eta said,
carelessly, Where is Ralph Field--in
Paris still. l found goodbye note from
him, in one Of your pockets, or Lou did,
rather, written just before he sailed"
"How like you, Frank, said Lou. never
to think Of il; and We all 30 vexed, because
he didn't call"
That's true enough, Louie" said Frank
pcnitently. Then turning 10 Eta: al
don't know where he is, am sure. He
never wrote to me word Not in Paris,
probably, for he wrote to Flint & Chatter
ton, when he had been there six months,
asking to be relieved from his situation.
They urged him to retain it, but he posi-
lively refused, giving no reason, except that
he was weary Of business--so unlike him,
you know. They have heard nothing from
him since. 1t is the strangest thing l ever
knew"
Eta Stuart was in Rome. She had
sailed from New York with the Wallaces,
az governess for little Carrie, and COM
panion for her mother. They had spent
some months in travel, but Mrs. Wallace
longed to be near her artist son. so they
had taken pleasant suite Of rooms, for the
summer, in the old imperial city.
Evening was coming on, and the indies.
cribable color Of the Italian sunset still
flooded all the air with an almost tangible
radiance. Etta lay on couch, with her
hands clasped tightly over her forehead, as
If to press the pain from her throbbing
temples. The door opened softly, aud lit
tie Carrie came IN.
Are you better, Miss Eta?
Mamma said she was afraid should
tire you, but wanted to tell you SO much
about our ride. Oh, if you could only
have gone First we drove to brother
Charles studio, aud he said he wanted us
to 90 with him and see beautiful Madonna
that one Of his friends had painted
Mamma said she should like it very much,
so we went, and on the way, Charley told
us about this friend, what wonderful genius
he had, aud such devotion to his art, but
still be seemed so lonely sometimes. By
and by we were there, and Charley intro
duced us. Mr.. Field, the gentleman's 8
name was--he was 80 tall and handsome,
but with the saddest eyes ever saw. As
soon as he uncovered the picture, mamma
and both exclaimed at once for, indeed,
Miss Eta, it was a perfect likeness Of you,
emily the expression was more lovely than
anything can describe-as If an angel was
! looking out Of your face. Mr.. Field turned
pale, and said to mamma, Pardon me,
madam, did understand that ths picture
| reminded you of some friend?' Then mamma
told him, and be asked great many ques-
5 tions about you, and listened 20 eagerly.
) Mamma asked him to call. and he thanked
, her and said, think, Mrs. Wallace,
} shall find in Miss Stuart very old friend.
I should not be surprised if he were to
Q come this evening, though mamma told him
you were not quite well. Do you really
. think that you know him, Miss Eta ~
I Then, without waiting for reply, she
I started up, saying, There, do believe that
{, hear his voice now-shal tell him that
i you will see him, Miss. Eta 7"
"Yes, Carrie, if you please Etta's
) voice trembled, but Carrie did not stop Il
( notice it. A moment more, and Eta heard
9 the little girls voice in the passage. "Misi
y Stuart is better, and will soc Mr.. Field.
II will tell mamma"
The door opened again. and Ralph Fielt
! came in. With a glad cry, Eta spranl
forward. He took both her hands in his
II and looked down into her face. Neither
, spoke for moment, but her eyes answeret
v the question his had asked.
, miss Eta"
"0h, Ralph! at last atlast" Then
! with her thrilling eyes still raised, Ralph
= y | have looked for you across the continent
" | have sought you everywhere. You
letter was mislaid. never saw it unit
II six months ago."
Al pAnd Capt. Tileston, Etta2"
~ married my cousin, Nellie Stuart, thre
years ago. after a long engagement. Oh
u Ralph! Ralph! what terrible mistake !!
9 "And you loved me, Etta2"
'e Loved you, Ralphf loved you tbel
:, now and always"
III Then thank Cod" said Ralph Fielt
10 reverently, as he took her up to his hear
There is little more to tell, Mr.. an
~, Mrs. Ralph Field are still abroad. He
! winning name and fame, and his painting
are sought eagerly. There is one of theI
~, ~ for which an extravagant sum has NOR
u than once been offered. He will neve
sell 1t. 1t is the Madonna. .--Demorets
aI