Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-09-17

was surrounded by low willows, and its
yard aud its high-pitched roof were in
shade.
As turned out of the grape-ield l saw,
sitting side by side, uF on bench beneath
the rugged belle Of one of these trees, Thur
man and a sweet faced girl of is. She was
bareheaded, and her golden hair was plait-
ed and bound up in tight knot behind.
Her dress was Of a dark-b brown stuff, and
from beneath her skirts there projected
two pretty feet, crossed and composed.
She was knitting a blue sock, and she was
listening at the same time, with her head
cast down, and inclined slightly upon one
side, to what my friend was saying, and he
was saying it most earnestly, though by no
means secretly.
l recognized at once the daughter Of
Reinhart, for 1 had seen her three years
before, and she was then a most lovable
child. She was new woman, and have
never seen moro innocent face than that
which she raised when 1 first made my
presence known. Thurman showed no
signs OF discontinue, but he welcomed me
warmly. Seibel-that was the girls name
| -4Nh Us dbbhh aib pihNs1 @hN"ih5 u" "'A nv
sights. "These are the old-country wood
en- panniers that we gather grapes in.
These are the pipes that the wine runs into.
| This is the wine-press-ah, i do so long to
see it run again 1 press the grapes my
self sonnet lines. Did you ever hear the
stream of red wine flow into the empty
| pipes? ii makes such little roar ~ and
she laughed and showed her white teeth.
When we were about TO 60, Thurman
put out his hand. Seibel put hers into it
fairly, and looked him in the lace-not
with that abominable sham frankness that
knows its own name, but with natural
thong ghtlessness.
The season was most charming, aud I
| did not hesitate TO make up my mind TO
spend month on the island. The greater
number Of the summer visitors had long
since departed, and the long walks and the
shady groves were almost entirely desert
ed. Now and then, in u long walk, one
caught a glimpse of a city dress, o. heard
the ring of a city laugh, but it was not OF
en- the glorious sunlight, now doubly yell
low, poured down upon the silent fields
and the white roads, and everything paus-
ed for the grapes 10 ripeu. Thurman went
every day TO Reinharrs house, and l fire.
quently went with him. Finally Reinhart
himself, urged by the good wife whose
anxious face l had more than once seen
peerug cautiously through her vine
covered windows upon the group upon the
bench, came and put the question in a
goOd-naiuIed, roundabout way:-
I'll
TO be hanging round our Seibel so much
What do you tbink?"
"Ill speak TO him." said l.
did so. Thurman replied quietly: ~
am going TO marry her."
"Whatv'
at is true"
"But your heart, your spirit, your entire
nature, must he antagonisiic TO Lowell You
are fresh from one Of these defeats that
drive men mad, OF out of the world. 1t is
impossible for you TO stimulate new pas
sion.
''T hat is very true"
'Then explain"
Listen: admit that there is ruin
somewhere. l observe myself from with
out myself, and / see that am i'll, that l
am purposeless, that l am full of sorrow
and regret. go through a slight cllcula-
ton, and l perceive that 1 must recover
myself in order 10 be OF any further Use in
the world. You admit that. Very we'll.
Then, instead of taking usual measures
by usual measures / mean the slow pro-
esscs Of time and lravel-I take heroic
measure. l force upon my attention an OBJ
l. ,I,aI liyt oil
spirit and outraged sensibilities must soon
assimilate with it. find in Seibel a crea-
ture of absolute purity, elevated moral
sense, ardent disposition, and unquestion-
ing trust. 1 am as certain that my heart
will entertain her at some time in the
future as l am that we now talk together.
1 do not say that the memory Of my real
position does not agitate me at times even
before her face, but l am resolved 10 hold
her TO my breast until her nature does its
healing, purifying work, and then shall
hold Der forever.
This was his idea and faithfully did he
labor TO carry il into execution. Ittouched
me to the quick TO see him go up, pale and
languid, from some new realization of his
pain, and seek in the grape-iields this fair
haired, simp le-hearted child, and walk be
side her hour after hour, bending his intel
ligence with an iron will upon the things
that gave her inter est and qualification
Reinhart and his wife took my word for il
that they need have no fear, and so Thur
man found a welcome from both at their
house. He dined with them often, ale o.
their rough dishes, and looked pleased al
their simple surroundings. On these occa
sons Seibel was gay and unaffected, and
she would sit beside him happy at his con
tentment.
Meanwhile, the grapes ripened poorly,
and the buyers who were abroad SHOOK
their heads. / sent intelligence to the Wal.
lings through the office, and proposed tC
wait until the gathering came, for i
} would then be easier to judge Of the finan
cial prospects of the farmers. Week aftei
week in October went by, and still thu
song of love was sung without let or hin
, drance. ] saw the two sitting beside thu
} shore in the long, sweet afternoons, idly
listening TO the waves, or devoutly listen
ing TO each other. Thurman was succeed
} ing. noted signs of returning strength il
his manner, and an increased vigor in hi
! method OF talking. These proofs wer'
> slight, to be sure, but they were positive al
| far as they went
l On the 23d of October, al late hour II
7 the afternoon, l received note by mes
[ senger who came from a club-hotel at thu
lower part of the island. 1t invited me Il
I call at once on a matter of pressing i'm
portance, and II was signed by MarioI
I, Walling. 1 was thunderstruck. She hat
t found us out, and was upon the groun'
| with no good purpose. What unhapp.
| 4. I.a LII In.. l. ...nn M