Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-08-06

|
ather," said Bertha.
Young Etherton was left now very much
o his own medItations his work for his
ather was done, and though dongall for his
lister and her children that love could sug-
rest, Il did not satisfy the requirements of
his conscience; he felt that he was idle, or
hat his labor was not counting in the right
direction. Mrs Matthews had noticed
his anxious and troubled appearance, and
,aid to him one day when he visited her:
ELMER, you ought now to get little wife
to share your pleasant homo with you"
"Do you really think | ought, BerthaP"
Certainly, | do; why should you doubt itP" |
Because, sister-well-you know that do
doubt IL" and he babe her hasty goodbye.
Not moro than week had elapsed before
he came to see her again, but looking more
cheerful. "Sister, he said, 1 have come to
tell you that my plans are laid and think my
course is fixed; have made up my mind to
go out into the world and try to tell men of
the better way; or in other words, to devote
n part of my time to lecturing OH tenn
pernnce."
81 am glad you have made that decision;
and hope that you, and that tho world too,
win be blessed by 1t, Bertha answered.
"But am going first to visit our old home;
the place where our mother took us nftor we
were left to her care alone. That place has
haunted my night dreams and day dreams,
and must go and look it over and see how
much there is Left Of 1t. Don't you want to
go with me, Bertha?'
II should like to so much. but cannot now"
"Well. goodbye, then, for the present"
Two days from the city carried young
Etherton far out into the country, where he
found il as green and fresh, and sweet with
wild perfumes as when his mother first Sc
lected that place and removed there with her
children, thinking she could give her little
plants purer, and more luxuriant growth.
then IN the dry, sordld dust of city life.
On the first day of his arrival, after OBJ
tanning comfortable rooms, and more COM
forting dinner at the inn. he strolled out to
find his old home; not the house, but first
over the hill, and to the little pasture, where
the one COW and old Fleetfoot used to Craze
together; "dear old Fleet she was very swift
l
were gone by. This must be the same fence
and the same half decnyed logs and stray
bushes by it, else these are made from the
same pattern"
lie crossed the brook.
This, at least, is unchanged; the same
merry, gossiping little brook, rs of old.
fear to listen to thee now! Are the tales "
tell, true or lalse9"
And on through miniature forest. up tC
"the high rock" to get view-up and up
now and then turning to look back,--on ant
little higher, turning an angle round the
rock
"What view is this? The same fiaxel
curs. the same dimples, but where's the tinS
grip"
lie had stood so immovabe that he WASH
observed for moment, when the haxen curl.
looked up from her book, and with all of thu
dignity and ferocity such sweet face coul,
command, rose, rs il to demand reason 70
the intrusion.
Forgive me. gentle lady; | could no
speak before, and will trouble you but
moment win you tell me who lives on tn,
, widow - place rs itused to be called?
MY father. Andrew Lee;" she answered
"And you are-are you little Betty Lee
II used to be, years ago"
Turning from her to recover measure o
, ca!mness, he sald.-
"My name used to be Elmer -"
She sat down again, shutting her mout
very tightly and clinching her hands II
I | Al Ala 4
did not faint, being too much used to facin
. life's various vicitiudes for that; the worl
= had never dealt very softly with her, eXceT
> to brighten and polish the little heart will
U in that always beat IN unison with ever,
thing pure and lovely Mr. Etherton agai
spoke
Dear lady. ono more requset and | wi
leave you. May | meet you ut your father
' house this evePn
Certainly sir;" and rising, she bowed
mechanical adieu.
q Not until the sun was sinking low In ii
n valley did Betty remember what she was d,
; ing, or rather not doing; then mechanical
Il rs before picked up her book, went dow
;, the steep rock and home. She found her f
= ther looking rather anxious about her, al
q about his supper: but Betty soon had the
g plain meal upon the table, and sat down wi
: her father.
"Why child are you sick to night? or hi
= the young squire been urging his case again
30. neither, father; am very we'll"
d "Well, don't wear that sober face the
" daughter; you know have told you to nal
II your own choice, not mine. | am goil
!; away for while but will not be gone long
s. The dishes were soon cleared away, thoug
if any one had asked Betty what she was d,
" ing. she could not have told. She then S
t down in the window where she always $
le in her leisure moments, and watched Il
shadows gather over the woods and deepe
" in the valley, until unawares they fell ov
II her own heart. Startled by the ring of the do
pr bell she looked up but did not rise until
Sc had been repeated, she knew not how maj
er times. At last she opened the door and Il
of visitor walked in without invitation, seat
ks himself and tried to talk of matters in genera
IN she answered him indiflcrently, until he 81
as he rose to co.
ry "Miss Lee Il suppose | should call you) ;,
two years and might say all of my life, the
ny old grounds have been in my dreams, alwa
with little Betty Lee playing by the broC
or somewhere hidden in tho dim misty 20
III der; and now that have found you in I
he day visions, still on this dear old place, S
in il / may not call you frendP and will you n
d. talk to mo as friend? You perhaps Ia
heard of my past life and could never hlal
NJ you for the cold reserve with which you m
TO- me yet beg for only II little more in
CT name of happy childhood"
'er She reached out her hand, and bowed
o. head in overwhelming tears which SC
brought her thoughts into activity and
I'm said;
ID II do not know what | have been sayi