Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-10-16

lecty devoid OF oil the appurtenances oil oi-
oganco. Ali my feet had pressed the royal
velvet in my friends parlors, and think you
they would longer be content with ingrainP
Oh, tho " mansion just over the way" II
was the skeleton that haunted mo by night
and day; IL was ever standing by, even
laying its cold fingers upon me. | could no
longer willingly go step by step, when It was
such long remove from my sphere to the
position that Kate occupied. Where now
was the education OF tho heart; was It fin
ishedp Oh, the mockory of the word! l
knew was leading miserable life. Our
home was no longer home rs formerly, no
pleasant evenings passed in social converse,
reading and song. l had cottage piano,
Kate grand, so lost my taste for music.
Fred noticed the change and vnnly tried
to divine its reason, for l was too proud to
acknowledge the cause of my discomfort to
him.
Did he forsake me and seek society else
where No. TO his honor be it said, he never
left me all the while that l so willfully
strnycd away -deserting him in my vain
reaching after the idol | had set up. But
could see he was not rs happy rs formerly
Was IP
1t was few days after Christmas. had
been in to see Kato's git-an elegant set Of
pearls (and she had diamonds before. }
Mine had been a book of choice poems.
True, had once said that jewels were moth.
ing to me, that preferred books; but now
the jewels had u strange, weird fascination
for me- and turned coldly away. What
were books compared with these gems?
That evening Fred came in with cards of
invitation to social gathering at tho home
of one of our valued friends select party
given in honor of a noted literary gentle
man, who, it was stated, would give u read
ing for our entertainment.
"You will go?" There was eagerncss in
his tone. But tho evil spirit that had so long
prompted me whispered, Your friend will
doubtless be there clad in silk and jewels
and you will not wish 10 90 in palmer attire.
| do not care TO 60"
81 am sorry, May; this would be n rea
feast to me. Can't | induce you to goP"
II have told you my decision; you can &c
If you like; l don't wish to interrupt You
pleasure"
There was n look in his face had never
seen there before. Had | gone too Elr9
would not rotract it if had; folt n sort o
desperation--t was n madness. was stand
ing on brink, and there was n fearful
yawning chasm below, but l could not ste
back
One short week and | would have give
all the jewels of the earth, had posscsse
them to have recalled the words and feeling
of that evening. Ere the next. tho one ha,
promised to love and cherish above all 9th
ers was down in the dark shidowy valley
He was taken suddenly i'll Mt his office, an
; when brought home was insensible.
y All night watched by his bedside, hardl
) knowing who was around me; my eyes ry
e eted on that deal form-how dear had new
or known till now. But no look of recogn
= ton chcered me. His feet seemed just /,
the verge of the cold river; was he eve
I now feeling lis dews and mists? Oh, coul
! it be possible that he would he taken iror
u me? Was the same person that such Ii
!, tie while before had murmured at my lot
u life and envied those of Others All, kne
q now that with my own hand had willlull
u painted all the shades of the picture.
u Oh, the anguish of those hours! Could
be that the sun was shining just rs bright /
= ever, that the flowers were still blooming
l and the birds singing their sweet carol,
u How could it be so when there WAS sue
!. sorrow, such gloom as mine? ah, it was \
l longer the grim spccter seen ut u distance
y it was grasping my hand and whisperin
q dread words in my ear. Now, for the fir
d time, knew what sorrow meant. For Il
NJ first time realized the value of the jew
ie God had given me, just rs il was to be take
u away. Could it he so? was my repentan,
G. too late?
'n Words came IN broken utterance MA
y oh. May y" What is it?"-" meant
have made you happy-won't you go?" G.
~ where would not go if he could be give
ST back to me?
p Days wore on--they seemed like agcs-t
" one night, never to be forgotten, | had Ia
III down to rest for n few moments. / wi
is awakened from troubled sleep by hal
10 on my shoulder. Was it summon to tai
W the last sad farewell? had the death ang
u come? Oh. no, it had come very near, b
VI had passed by. The eyes had again tho o
OF light in them. The rapture Of the nome
OF / shall never forget. The voice, weak rs
l was, was the same dear voice once MOI
T. but it had never before thrilled me US mo-
May, where have beenP have you con
Ut back TO me?" Come back? Yes, had con
IL all tho way over thorny. dark pathw
IL thrOnO oh tho flames hack In him hack tn fri
90 womanhood, back to God.