Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-07-25

was going to ride to Bradford OF
business, and need not be looked
for until q late hour in the evening
Mrs. Huntley stood before Hui
dah, who sat by the window, where
a blooming spirea made a pretty
snow,drift, altering her old brown
silk into q new-fashioned polonaise
Huldah was q fresh and youthful
copy of her mother ut the age of
the deacon's widow she would have
the same amiable pOuter-pigeon ex'
preston.
"She won't come down to tea,
said the good woman, with q trian
gle of perplexity in the middle OF
her forehead, "and she's crying
her eyes out, and trying to starve
herself, Iexpect. Isn't it enough
to have things walk out of the
house without hands or feet I've
been housekeeper going on thirty
years, and never felt called upon to
keep a stitch of any thing under
lock and key. But it will teach me
a lesson, and 1 shall think twice
another time before / take a strang-
er into my family"
"Mother," said Huldah, looking
up, ''it might not be the end, if
Rachel went away. DO you know.
l think Edwin has taken a great
fancy"
"Well, what if he hasW cooed
Mrs. Huntly, with charming incon-
sistency. 'I could fall in love with
the little thing myself if it wasn't
for this. Edwin isn't a fool ; he
has got your fathers good hard
sense"
Edwin was riding home along the
creek road after midnight, and the
moon was shining down full and
large. It was as bright as day.
Dew lay on the still flowers, and
whiffs of fragrance came from the
grassy fields. Edwin was thinking
of Rachel, so that she seemed every
where present to him in the calm,
still beauty of the scene.
A turn of the highway brought
him within sight of The new rail
road and the dizzy, dangerous spot
where a half finished bridge spanned
the gorge. The place was jagged
with rocks, deep and wild, and in
the night looked like a black chasm
opening down to the centre of the
earth, with the swirling and rush.
ing of hidden waters. The slender
of timbers were like mere
threads stretching out over the gul-
y.
Edwin had just recalled Moses
1off7s ridiculous ghost story, when
;he happy low whistle died on his
ips, and he reined his horse wi tn a
sudden jerk.
Was he awake or dreaming {?
There was something on the bridge,
white moving towards
lis side of the gully; woman clad
n light-colored garments, with long
lair streaming over her shoulders.
'he looked, thus treading the air,
ike an angel of light floating over
he abyss of doom.
Edwin flung himself from his
never knew how-and |
rept into some bushes by the bridge |
lead. The thing, spirit, earthly |
reature, whatever it was, came
light ON, with that wonderful airy
notion, over the dangerous timbers.
IN error of half an inch to right or
oft, and death would have been
wifi and sure. But the light gar
1ent just waved in and out about
he small feet, and the moonlight
hone full upon face and rigid as
,arble. The eyes were wide open
ut sightless. A small bundle was
,as pressed against her bosom.
Edwin saw the face distinctly.
was Rachel. A vertigo must
ave seized him there, crouched
lere among the bushes, but it gave
ay instantly to an immense sense
gratitude and relief. She bad
lided across the road, and through
a opening in the wall between some
ees. Edwin stole stealthily after
er. On and on she went, with the
otiou of a spirit, over thedamp
eadow- grass, until she came to the
lge of an abandoned gravel pit.
own the side of this place she clam
cred nimbly, land laying her bundle
the bottom of the pit, began to
cap over it earth and loose stones
the form of a little grave. By
,ering down over the edge Edwin