Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-07-17

'"bNehNif AhVuBh thcIe WAS noltneI uIaHht
opera, or concert, ms incident to city life, in
that rural locality. Yet they walked down
to the waters edge, and listened to heavens
own natural songsters, or into tho flower
garden, of which Nellie was superintendent,
and of which the great majority Of flowers
had been planted and guarded by herself,
and choicer flowers mover grew. Along the
borders wild vines cropt, mingled with shin
ing pansies and tangled weeds. Close TO
the margin the lily slept, nodding among the
thick-sel reeds, MS over them the dragon fly
hung, from which the wandering winds
would bring the scent of clover sweet, and
sometimes bird would sing unseen where
tho reeds and lilies slept. And we'll we re-
member now how in kind of lotus dream
we gazod upon the beautiful spot. Tho low
ers stood there ono lovely evening, just as
the sun was sinking behind the western ho-
rizon, and leaving streaks of blue, and gold
and emethyst, an opening, rs It were, like a
gateway opening out of the celestial city.
The music OF bird and insect was murmur-
Gus and drowsy, and the lovers felt the
dreamy influence, and they talked tenderly,
and soilly-perchanco sobory-of the future.
Somehow, something strange covers my
vision; u sort of an hinge of sorrow crowds
itself upon my unwilling senses, and fancy
| SEQ u shadow of coming wrong, feeling
so averse to my nature, Robert" said Nellie,
after long silence.
"You arc sentimental Nellie. Let lis talk
of things that are pleasant, darling, and not
of that which covers our hearts with feelings
of sadness. We will be so happy in our
home, and who shall dare intrude upon our
peace? Let us be cheerful, and now let us
walk to our home.n
But AS they turned from this beautiful spot
n dark cloud took possession of that glorious
picture in tho heavens, and covered up tho
lost sunshine while Mt the same moment u
courteous voice asked
"Is this tho home of Mr.. WestgatcP"
1t was II strager who stood before them; a
very handsome well-dressed. and seeming
ly accomplished man. Nellie thought she
had never seen so handsome man.
Robert answered his questions briefly yet
pleasantly, and the stranger introduced him
self as Mr.. Langworthy, who had an inter-
est in large tract of land in the vicinity,
which he had come to see Nellie's father
about, and which he desired to SELL Ac-
companying tho young people to the house
he was introduced to Mr.. Westgate, with
whom he was soon busiy engaged in con-
versation.
lie stayed three weeks rs the guest of Mr..
Westgate, and made himself agreeable to
all; but for Nellie there was different tone
| in upfn 4 1,Nal- f,,h 10
read and talked 10 her, and told her of lifO
in that great far-ofl city, which 10 her SEEM
cd like some wonderful dream, more en-
trs,ncing than Arabian Nights tales, or
kindred literary monstrocitics. But she
never dreamed of falling in love with him
unconscious Of the web he was weaving, she
only in her simple innocence admired him
us some one from another world.
We will not weary you. reader, with de-
tailed account of the flcination the many
ways in which the man insinuated himself
into the graces of our heroine, nor of tho
presents, costly and beautiful. which grlccd
her beautiful form, nor of how marvelously
beautiful they were TO her, and how the pos.
session of them made her wish for other
beautiful things. Much less do we care &c
speak of the sad effect this was working up
on the steadflstness OF her love, rs pledged
to Robert Smthson.
The old people liked tho gentleman very
well Mt first, but after while they tired OF
his pleasant, insinuating ways. and their
manner toward him grew cold and distant
and Robert hated him without imagining
why, which helped 10 mature their dislike
till lie took the hint and left with many
pleasant speeches and look at Nellie which
had she known the villain that lurked be
meath the fair exterior would have filled hel
with horror.
So terribly strong is the power of assoca
ton, ard of latent passion when exercised
IN behalf of IN accused purpose that aftel
Mr.. Langworthy's departure Nellie grew
dull and Respondent, irritable and Cxacting
sought solitude and refused to eat. lie
simple parents guessed not the reason; III,
penetration of Robert was deeper. lie knew
what troubled her, and though his homes
heart was sorcly hurt. yet he did not, daret
not think of the dark, the terrible ultimatum
One morning Nellie was gone. Gone from
the home of her youth,-the chamber of he
girlish innocence, TO the arms OF ut least nj
adventurer, perhaps human demon, if suct
thereare. The blinds were closed ia that cham
her, and the sun never shone in there agail
never. To the old occupants of that hous
the birds never sang anything but requicms
and two prematurely childish old peopl
cropt back and forth like shadows. and
strong man, with deep agony pictured on hi
countenance, ministered to them. So tn
years crept on
Nellie had lost herself in the great city
y that whirlpool of fashion which draws s.
- many to an awful doom. That vortex whic
- has so strong tendency to grind up and dc
- stroy everything tender sweet, and pure
y and make the mind hard, scothing mass @
y selfish pleasure. Young ladies, il you wan
l. a long life and happy one, stay on the farl
y and drink of its pure elixir of life. Rel
y clover blossoms are better than paper ROSE
farming is the rising pursuit. But to oil
story. We have but little more to say. Ne
lie never married Robert. A year or tw
after she had dropped out of the home Ii
and sent back no token, letter came
~ Robert Westgate. You may wonder, but
" read it and looked almost happy. llo wei
- away and was gone couple of days WhC
" he came back.he was not alone. lilo brougl
~ pale, white form, upon whose icatui,
u death had made its imprint, and upon who
" life was frozen the last signs of nortalit
u, The three mourners dropped some bitt
oi tears upon it, and then laid it away to ento
a nal silence among tho creamy roses and Il
80 ANNALS the hand now silent in death h.
IN once nurturod. And there is another graz
~ there now, and two childish old people ba
On bic about the flowers Nellie planted, al
so then are lost in thought, as If trying to reeI
Of some part of their lives so lost.
In "a a.