Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-07-22

and them tunes that Paul will take to nat
urally. When old batcheldors marry a
little chit like she is, they mostly acts as
if she was made Of chny, and nothing's too
good for 'em. Lor sakes, Della. who's that
man coming acrost the yard? Where's
my salts? What start he gave me, to be
sure? | thought it was Reubing's father,
and him in his grave these thirty years,
and we never getting on together anything
to speak of -
But it was only Reuben himself, follow
ed ly his wife
After this Della might have been free to
90 back to her old home and Paul; only
he did not need her any longer. He had
found another sweetheart, she kept repeat
ing to herself hugging her griefs closer
day BY day, till it seemed to her as if, all
1t once, she had become something super
iluous on the face Of the earth. In the
meantime. hints of the wedding preplra-
tions reached lIighgate daily. One could
almost catch the odor of brides cake and
the rustic of wedding garments.
It's we'll for him." Aunt Hitty was fond
Of assuring her. It's we'll for him that he
give over waiting for an old love in dead
mems shoes. seeing that Reubing has come
to fill them hisself. However could You
hey afforded a veil, Della, and all the fix
iug-?'
1t was June, and the world was at its
b-aveSt, with b3ossOminT ami bird song.
Della, with the heart Of twenty still llutter
inc and aching under her od-womanish
gray bod,lice. allowed herself to remember
the red roses that nodded in at the windows
Of the sleepinp-room at CarrutherS Farm,
and make the June air as sweet rs love IL
self: allowed herself to recall youth and all
its lost possibilities, to yearn wildly for the
sight of her one lover, b' fore he should be-
long to another Just for one glimpse of the
comelv, sunburned face that had been her
| 10 le-stlr.
Chlnce threw fulflment in her way.
Amt IIittv had heard of the new doctor
Over at Hampton, whose touch was heal
inc. Somebody must fetch him. Della
volunteered, and took the afternoon stage.
ihat set her down at the crossroads leading
jnso tha village Nobody remarked the
DUSTY little BODY. in her old poke bonnet,
Irusinm to look with misty eyes over the
low stone wall at the smart new church
and the moss-groWn grlveyard; at " the
children lust let loose from school, play
ing catch : on the green, although the
/ clouds We're gathering for a shower, and
/ careful housewives were closing their scut-
1 tie windows AMI hurrying the week s wash
! off the lines. D>li;,'s thoughts We're not in
/ the clouds She did not even observe that
/ the sun had gone behind them. She walk
| cd on toward the C:trruthers Farm. think
! inc to reach it by dusk, to linTer near til
thr lamps were lighted and to steal the one
thing she cOvetel-thc sight of her lover
face. As She walked, the wind began to
3 e., 4. r. 1..a,saI1- t1la
/ fcl fast and blinded her. She stepped
beneath an elm-tree for shelter. just undel
The outermost bough of IL widespreadme
tree. like a tower of leaves, with bird:
twittering am me its branches. She stood
there. looking out at the storm in all IL
angry mamniticence when suddenly the
thunder seemed to shake the planet asun
der. only Della did not see the blue bol
lhat split the elm tree in all Its 9 eel
Strength and left it a blackenel ruin.
Somebody, looking out of the window o
the farmhouse near, saw it and shuddered
sorry luck, Tom said he. Ih
lightning has blasted my elm tree.
The deuce" cried Tom, going to thu
door TO look out. " 1t might have strucl
nearer with more harm. There ; plent.
Of elms in the world.
But no elm like that one, Tom. Tha
tres been like Il friend To me. | stuck l
into the ground when it was nothing but
feeble twig. when | was angry with Dell.
for going to Aunt Iiuy; and when it be
.ran to crow | felt u if miracle had beer
performed. Tomas if it meant to tell me
in every green leaf anl shoot, that Deli
loved me, in spite of all. I'd sooner III
ligh ming had hit anywheres instell.'
:. If vou'd been bred a sailor, sail Tom
smiling at his brothers sentiment, You
have forgot Della in Il dozen sweetheart
before this Halloar' rs another flash cor
ru,catctl across the heavens, " Somebod
had taken shelter under your elm, Pau
!, rs I'm sinner There's a heap on tn
ground wonder that looks nightly like
r woman, Come I'm bound on Il voyage {
di~covcrv." and he rushed toward the spo
followed by the douhting Paul.
70 be sure. they found Della proStrat
1 ana brought her in; called up the serving
, woman and the nearest neighbo :. an
fetched the doctor that Aunt Hitty had ser
= for. Anal when Della opened her eyes. a
ter lone persuasion, having been onl
a stunned. she saw the old familiar room
! the chintz-covered lounge, with its wilder
ness of palms and peacochs. and. dearo
I vet, the fond anxious eyes of Paul watci
: ing beside her
4 Oh know that Aunt Hitty needs me,
+ she murmured, taking up the thread OF ii
, teen years ago. And the twins are ge
: ting OLD enough-to help-your mother;
and -oh,-but You are going to be marrie'
E, Panl?" coming back from the past, in
, confusion of tongues.
> Yes. Della, We can't afford to wa
, much longer. YOU and l." he assured he
t later. Well have double welding,
! YOU don't mind; for maybe you've heal
that Tom came home to marry Squi
i Thorne's daughter, and the cake is all bal
ed and the wedding garments ready. b
: rs for me. Della. YOU see the folks have
2 Their hearts on my being an old bac
e clor, hereabouts, that, if it hadn't been #
Tie elm tree and the lightning, sweetheal
:. doubt if Id had the face to disappoi
them. - IndependcM