Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-11-16

sisting of Mr.. and Mrs. Gordon and
their son Hugh. [ met the latter at a
Harvest Home party given by Squire
Ruthers-almost the first | ever attend
ed. My mother never went to anything
of the kind, and Clarice was young to
90, but kindly Mrs. Ruthers drove over
herself to fetch me and mother could not
refuse.
I went to the party in pretty white
dress of rare Indian muslin, with pearl
brooch which my mother had given me,
and felt myself ..grander than a queer" "
and my heart full of hope. l was not
beautiful even then, in the pride of ny
youth, but one who loved me well said
mine was sweet face that looked fresh
and bright as though it were bathed
each morning in dew.
/ remember it all so we'll; and one
figure stands out distinctly-that of
Hugh Gordon, as / first saw him stand
ing under large beech tree, the sun
light slanting on his comely face and
proud head-the truest, kindest face my
eyes ever beheld He was talking to a
group of young ladies, but he left them,
and then Mrs. Ruthers brought MIN and
introduced him to me-people so soon
make friends at social gatherings. I was
talking gayly to him as We walked un-
der the beech-trees. All that evening
he fingered near me. Mrs. Ruthers smil-
ed, and the young ladies looked pleas
antly enyious.
l went home to dream of hin-he was
my first love, and my last.
[ remember my beautiful love story
word for word-every detail. every hap
py moment, and they were many. Ineed
not dwell upon it. Five months after l
had seen him first, Hugh Gordon asked
me to be his wife, and my mother gladly
consented, upon one condition. was
very young, and the marriage must not
take place for three years at least. So
We were engaged, and lived for months
a fairyland of love and romance. There
was no one like Hugh-none so kind or
true, none so brave or gentle; my moth
er loved him, and little Clarice used to
nestle In his arms and call him brother
Hugh
This happiness of ours lasted just
eight months-long enough to rivet my
heart to Hugh Gordon-long enough for
warmth and brightness to last through
my life Then sudden and dreadful
tragedy happened. The bank in which
all MIR. Gordon's money was invested
broke. and he was completely ruined.
He did not survive it; he never spoke
after the news reached him. They said
he died of paralysis. brought on by
strong emotion !; my mother always be-
lieved he died of broken heart.
The house, furniture, carriage and
plate were sold, and my dear mother
Heaven has blessed and rewarded hel
kindness-almost forced bfrs. Gordon tx
come and live with US. Hugh was going
away-al notion of marriage was at al
end for the present-and she declared
that it was impossible for the poor wild
owed lady to live alone.
Mrs. Gordon consented at last. HoV
Hugh thanked and blessed my mother
Then came the final, greatest sorrow o
all-Hugh resolved to 60 to the golt
diggings. Fortunes were made quickly
there, he said; besides, what could b
do in England? He had not bee
brought up to any trade or profession
everything was overcrowded and over
done. He would 60 to the gold fields
and there make fortune for his mothe
and me.
The old pain rises in my heart whe
remember his bright sanguine words
He never dreamed of failure. He sal
men had realized fortuue there in fou
or five years why should not he /? Nc
a large fortune-he did not care for ths
but enough for his mother and me.
Mrs. Gordon ceased to remonstrat
when she saw how entirely his mind wa
, fixed upon the idea. My own mothe
too, half believed In it, and | was quit
passive after time At first the though
of parting with Hugh was bitter as deaf
. but, like all other women who love siI
cerely, soon lost sight of my own wisl
es and hopes in trying to realize it.
, had one source of comfort. Living
dead, | would be true to him. as !
r would be TO me-living or dead, | woul
r love him, and only him, until time f
I me was no more.
: One day in September he bade n
a farewell My words seem very veal
n they express nothing of the deadly pa
d and anguish that filed my heart wh'
! he held my hand in his for the last tin
y and spoke his last words to me- Loo
b ing back upon that time, wonder DC
b that | lived through it. When the la
d moment came, Hugh was almost heal
broken. Still be tried to be brave al
n smile, saying that he should return
% us In four years.