Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-02-25


never doubling that another year would
bring our engagement to happy conclu
sior.
The little village in which we resided
grew less d less active year by year, un
til it lost its interest to all but the few
old settlers who would not give it up
The young people generally left home as
sOoU az possible. TO seek more favorable
points for their fortunes and future.
Near by, hewever, was the fourshicg
village of Pembroke, which seemed to
increase IN activity even faster than sur
place decreased in prosperity. or late
years, it had become well-known resort
for city visitors, who came there glad to
escape from the summer heat and rormoi
Of their city homes. Large hotels were
erected trains came during the season
loaded with passengers, and the place
seemed clothed with new life. A neighbor-
ing mountains towering peak commanded
a view of scenery rich and rare: Capi.
talis,s seized upon this and crowned its
lofty summit with "A beautiful observato-
ry and other attractions for those who
could furnish accommodations Cor board
ers, as liberal prices were everywhere OBJ.
tainable.>
Mr. Selden was among the lucky ones.
lie had purchased a large house in Penn
broke just previous to the breaking out OF
the mania, and sudden y found himself in
possession of u gold m,ne, as it wcru. ed
ih's help was brought iu requisirion to
entertain the city guests; and her
sweet. fresh beauty soon attracted uni
vcrsal attention.
She was indeed beautiful at this time,
in the first faint flush of her womanhood
IA blonde Of perfect form and features.
Her face may have been a ,rihe darkened
by MONDAY suns and mountain winds, but
this oDi y made her rustic beauty more be.
witching Blue eyes of that dreamy pale
ness which artists 90 priz,, gave u tone Of
her beauty. and instead of golden hair,
hers vas lightish brown, which none
could mistake for the much-abused red
Her face was faultless, and unmarried by
freckc, scar or frown. Her cheeks were
flushed with healthy crimson. upon
which the tell.'ale bushes came and went
with the switIncss and lightuess of the
autumn's twilight breeze. t..
| saw less aud less of Edith after she
had moved 10 her new home. She was
busy with her pleasures, and with my
work therefore wr-were seldom together
| noticed she grew more reserved and
dlstaut at every meeting, but attributed it
to her new found society, never doubling
her constancy, Or believing that she would
allow the easy manners aud stylish dress
OF the city gentlemen 20 tu:n her head, az
il had that of many another pretty girl in
the village.
The last time we met was at her fa-
theirs house. She rec,ived me coIdly,
while in vain | tried to tslk to her as of
old. Finally we quarreled, and | left
the house in anger. l was nothing but IA
raw country lad then, with two aud TWEEN.
ty years experience among the agricultur.
Al precincts Of oar native hills. No won-
Ter she compared me with her new associ-
ites so much to my disadvantage.
Two weeks afterwards she sent me a
'>tc. telling Inc ere | received it she
you'd be wife of one cf her fathers
,uests. and well on her route to her future
lomc. She inclosed my betroth.l gift
cheap circulet of gold which noticed.
It our last meeting, and had been replac.
ID with a massive, ill-proportioned ring.
The city company had scarce returned
0 thcir-cily homes, when terrible cpl
emic broke out, crushing the villages
ew-born prosperity to the earth, aud
uining its character for the future. The
courge swept away many of inhabitants,
lcluding b-th Mr.. and Mrs. Selden.
Soon after | left home. and amid tho
ever-ceasing life Of New York, cndeav-
red to forget the fi'iu past. My chosen l
rpfession brought me in the presence of {
i grades of grief, and soon conquered !
y hopeless passion BY hard labor and I
rict economy, was in time comfortably Il
tuatod. | stunned society, made few t
lends and never married. c
Edilh's husnanIl proved to be worth. a
IS creature diss0lu'e and drunkarI =
DO proud TO return to her to her native .
ace. her parents dead, aud without
lends in AN unknown city. she was in. =
'ed condemned to sad life.
Poverty and disgrace crushed all her
lie scnsihii'ies, her loving heart and :"
easing disposition. Then four children Il
ed before mothers eyes. and she pow O.
less to prevent 1t; but the last one, n
light little daughter, who hears her mo. ),