Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-08-05


love until we stand before him." And the
great sea, and the sky, and the good God,
whose best earthly gift to man is just such
love as this, were witnesses TO their vows.
"Ross," said Alta, as they reached the
hotel, "let me tell Walter; l can make
him understand itall so much better than
YOU" She did tell him IN such way that
he did not for one moment blame Ross,
and in his frst surprise, he could scarcely
tell for which of them he sorrowed most.
He did not say anything, only took her in
his arms and kissed her very gently; but
his manner was better than any words.
Alta spent sleepless night, but did not
tell even Walter how she suffered.
That night, after leaving Alta, Ross
walked on the beech for hours. He went
on and on, hardly knowing or caring where
he was, certain of but one thing. that
great grief had overtaken him, the burden
Of which was almost too heavy to be borne.
He judged Atlas love by his own, and was
nearly beside himself when he thought of
the trouble he had brought upon her. He
felt tina! all the beauty and joy was drift
ing out of their lives, and he was power
less to SO much as lift his hand to detain
it, for he had determined not to attempt
again to influence Atlas decision. After
a lime he became more calm; then he
prayed for Alta and himself, prayed as
only the broken and crushed In spirit can
pray. The gray dawn was creeping over
the sea before he went back to the house.
Two days later Alta and Ross parted.
Alta requested Ross not to write to her.
She thought that perhaps if no correspond.
ence was kept up, Ross might, in time,
forget her amid the hustle and hurry of
his busy life. She loved him sincerely
enough to want him to do this, if possible.
He, not knowing why she made the re-
quest, assented to it.
When Alta reached home she found her
uncle far from well, and during long
and tedious illness that followed, she de-
voted herself entirely to him. She grew
thin and pale, but every one, fortunately,
attributed it to the close confinement Of
the sick room even Walter did not guess
the truth. AS her uncle began to recov-
er, he noticed her. changed looks, and
threatened to send her away from home
again, but Alta, smilingly told him that he
kuew he could not do without her. After
this she exertcd herself to seem more
cheerful, and as she never complained, her
appearance ceased to be subject Of COM
ment.
Alta was too true woman TO spend
her life in mourning over her own partic.
ular sorrow, and, therefore, she was soou
at work among the poorer classes Of the
vicinity, and ere the spring came, there
was not an humble house in the village
near her kome wherein she was not known
and loved.
j Five years passed. and in all this time
Alta and Ross had not met; they had
J heard occasionally Of one another through
Walter, but nothing more. At length
people commenced to wonder why the
charming Miss Belden did not accept some
one of the many suitors who were known
to have sought to win her, but Walter
alone was in possession Of the secret why
} Alta remained single.
Walter had married a lovely girl, who
was indeed sister to Alta, and their old
est child, now three years Of age, was
named after Alta.
One afternoon in October, Alta was sit.
ting in the library reading, when her lit
tie niece came running in, saying:
, "Tantie, Tantie, gen'man in dc parlo
, wants 'ou. Me 60 too.
!, This was no unusual announcement, SO
taking the child by the hand, Alta went
. slowly across the wide hall, thinking, with
: sigh, that the only man., except Walter
, and her uncle, whor she cared to see,
could never come to her.
Opening the parlor door, what was he'
! amazement to see Ross Hamilton seated
/ at window directly opposite her. Ht
rose as she entered and came towards her
/ She was so surprised at seeing him tha
!. she forgot what had separated them, only
/ remembering that this man she loved
: above all others. Alta dropped the hanc
: Of the child, and going up to Mr.. Hamil
: ton put out both her little hands to him
r exclaimipg:
!, "Oh! Ross | am so glad to see you.
J, "Then come to me, my darling" An,
10 moment Alta was folded to his hreas
| in long, close embrace.
It Little Alta watched her aunt for awhile
1t and as neither she nor the gentleman too
If any notice Of her, the tiny lady bein
Il hurt at this neglect, went in search of he