Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-04-29
Vol. 69.-3524. No. %.

I .
her kinsman, for two years she had taugh
the village school and this summer, hear
ing that housekeeper was wanted at the
Boar's Head Hotel, which was but short
drive from her new home, she bad sought
and obtained the situation.
Bessie" said |, when she had finished,
and wo had talked a little while about her
owr family" Bessie | wonder you have
not married. am sure IL has not been for
lack of lovers"
"No," she replied, after moments
silence. "There we're two, either Of whom
my cousin thought would have been de.
sirable match for me and, as they made
no secret Of the matter themselves, / am at
liberty to speak Of them. The first was
Tom Stevens, who used to tease me so
very good man now, and the owner of the
principal store in the village. The other
was my fathers successor in the ministry,
a widower with two girls. like Tom, and
have great respect for Mr.. Fanshaw; but,
Mary, | must tell you my whole heart
have never loved any one but John and
am sure il he is living he loves me. When
he went away he put a ring on my finger,
and asked me to wait for him, if it was ten
years. Until his misfortune at Denver he
wrote me very often; but since then, no
one has heard from him. sometimes fear
be is dead but would rather remember
him than to marry any other man in the
world"
What sweetness, what pathos was in her
face, in her voice, as she said this. The
very wind lulled to listen to her words, and
in my heart prayed, God grant John
Farley may be alive and true"
After this Bessie spent every evening
with me, either in my room or walking on
the grassy plot that overlooks the sea. We
talked Of thousand things; and | found
her the same genial, affectionate companion
she had been in early days. 1t made me
sad to look forward and think Of the mar
row, lonely life she must lead; and re-
solved as soon as | got home to institute a
search for John. could not believe him
dead and fickleness and falsehood were
not in him.
My new.found friend and the charm of
the sea won me to protract my stay till the
cool days Of September But the time came
when could delay no longer. My trunks
were packed for early departure on the NOR
row my last arrangements made, and, after
twilight talk with Bessie, | went to the
parlor to say farewell to the pleasant peo-
pie met there during my pleasant sojourn.
As | crossed the hall the stage from the
last Boston train was at the door, and saw
a tall gentleman alight and 60 over to the
Office to record his name. A half hour
later the same gentleman entered the par
lor with the landlord and stood near me,
talking and watching the dancers. With
his fine size, his dark, striking face and his
air Of ease and command, he would have
been anywhere noticeable man. AsI OBJ
served him he said to the host
81 am amazed at the changes which have
taken place since l left. To think of a
railway among the hills of Marston. ex-
pected to have been there tonight, but find.
ing the last train did not 90 through, /
stopped here to have glimpse Of the sea-"
Who is he, thought |, that speaks of
Marston?
"How long have you been in California 2"
asked the landlord.
Nearly six years. l was long time
in Colorado before going there"
With my heart in my mouth, ! stole out
and asked the clerk to let me look at the
register of arrivals. | could not be mis-
taken. There it was, in bold, running
hand "John Farley, Los Angelos, Cali.
fornia."
Going quickly back, | found him stand
ing alone now, and said:
Pardon me, but you are Deacon Far
ley's sou, Of Marston, are you not?"
al am," he replied, but | have for
gotten you"
"Don't you remember Bessie Hyde's
friend, Mary Temple?"
"What!" said be, with heightened color,
"are you little Mary Temple, who went to
school with us one SUMMER Then per-
haps you know something Of Bessie"
Yes" | said " Bessie is well, and in
this house.
"And she is still and his voice fal.
tered. "Is she still Bessie Hyde 2"
ayes, she Is still Bessie Hyde"
Then 60 to her, please, and tell her
} ohm Farley is here, and wants to see her
this moment"
"But not in this crowded room" said.
Open that door and go out to the summer
house on the point, and | will send her to
you"
His earnestness, his emotion, made me
feel that all was right with him regarding
Bessie and flying upstairs, | went into
the room where she sat darning table.
cloth, with the settled calmness on her face
of one who has nothing more to expect or
hope for.
I" Bessie" l exclaimed, an old friend
Of yours is waiting to see you in the sum
mer-house. You must go down at once"
as it some one from Marston 7" she
asked. quietly folding her work.
Yes, some one from Marston. Make
haste, dear" said, throwing light shawl
over her shoulders and kissing her cheek.
Aud, as she disappeared in the darkness, l
sought my own apartment and knelt in
thanksgiving for the happiness awaiting
this gentle true-hearted woman, who had
thought all her bright days were over.
1t was past eleven o'clock. The music
had ceased and the last dancers were CON-
ing up the stairs, when some one knocked
lightly at my door. opened it and Bessie
entered, rosy, radiant, traus6gurcd with joy.
Why, Bessie, said |, "if you would
only let your hair down, you would look just
as you used to Saturday afternoons, when
we went berrying with John"
And you knew it was John all the
while, Mary" she said. "How good God
is to me. l can hardly believe yet that
he has come back, and that he loves me all
the same, and that before October shall
be his wife" as
Then she sat down and related to me what
he had told her Of the despair with which
he went to California, feeling that it would
be wrong 10 ask her to wait longer for him.
with his broken fortunes and his uncer-
tain future; OF his resolve never to address
her again, unless it could be with proposal
Of marriage ), of the success which had at
tended his later business efforts; OF his
orange plantation near Los Angeles; and
of his coming back, hopeful, yet fearful, to
know his fate. 4" As if" said Bessie, 81
could ever have thought Of any one but him. +"
So it all ended like story book Bes-
sic went the next day to her cousins, and