Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-03-26

tIce Of this once loved art. The lessons CON-
menced, merely with desire on Steln's
part to oblige her friend, but the pupil was
an apt one, and before she was aware of It
Stella had become much interested in her
progress. Soon n few other young ladies,
daughters of Mrs. Browing's personal
friends, besought Stella to teach them also,
and her spirits being somewhat lightened by
the recreation she had already enjoyed, she
more willingly consented, and commenced
in earnest the business of teaching, and soon
became much absorbed in her occupation.
Thus prevented from constantly brooding over
her sorrow. her spirits resumed something Of
their former elasticity, and she grow more
like the bright Stella Of old, yet she ceased
not TO mourn for the absent one, though she
strove TO Danish him from her mind and con-
slider him unworthy of regret.
The years passed on. Stella continued to
instruct the children Of her friends in music,
and later she learned to find comfort for her
self in offering consolation to others, and her
visits among the needy and afflicted were not
infrequent. Returning one evening from one
of these visits of mercy, she stopped in the
garden of her old home. The cottage had
been occupied until recently, but the last
tenants had been few weeks away, and the
house was not now inhabited. The flower
garden, which had been Stella's pride in the
happy years Of her married life, was some
what neglected, although the last occupants
OF the house had partially restored it to its
kna h,,No 81 ~ 81
care were yet visible, and Stella paused,
here, to tie up trailing vine, there. to prune
too luxuriant a bush. The twilight of the
lovely June day gathered about her as she
fingered, inducing feeling of sadness, and
Stella drew near n little arbor which Leon
had constructed in those happier days, long
past, and over which she had trained the
vines which few months later would bear
rich clusters of purple fruit. The vines had
not yet attained luxuriant growth, but the
arbor was in deep shade from the foliage of
tree which stood ut its western extremity,
and through whose leaves. gently stirred by
the evening zephyrs, came glimpses of the
ever-varying tints,--gold and fire-color and
purple, which tinged the clouds where the
sun had set,-a halo of glory, invisible until
the greater glory of the sun had passed from
view.
Slowly Stella approached the arbor, I'M
pressed by the loveliness of the scene. and
wishing, rs she SO often vainly wished, that
Leon could be present to share and heighten
the enjoyment of the hour. Suddenly she
paused. just within the arbor, next the en-
trance, sat man. his head bent in an atti-
tude of deep thought and detection His face
was turned from her, but there was some
thing familiar in tho figure, and. though
nothing could have been moro unexpected
Stella knew that she beheld Leon Somers.
She did not move nor cry out, but stood
silently gazing upon him whom she had
once so dearly loved, but against whom she
had later tried to steel her heart rs one ut
ter ly unworthy Of her remembrance or regret
Whether she should accost him or turn noise.
lessly away, she had not thought; when
suddenly, influenced perhaps by some mag
netic power, he raised his head and, Turn
| ing, beheld Stella before him. He was pale
and careworn, and tho five years of his alb
sence had aged him as ten years might mo-
have done if passed in tranquility and hap
piness. The color mounted to his face ant
roceded. leaving him paler than before. HI
arose and advanced step toward his wife
! Stella stood as one in dream, but trem
bling In every limb, almost overcome by thi
sudden appearing of one whom she had be
leved she had seen for the last time. He
lips parted rs if to speak tho once love-
| -
ment they stood thus silently each striving
to read the emotions of the other, then Leol
Somcrs fell upon his knees before his injure'
wife, and, clasping her hand, in n voic
choked by emotion besought her forgive
ness.
Poor Stella! her heart still aching and DIES
olate, longing for love, but her confidence il
this man destroyed by his own actl CoulC
she forgive such an injury-such faithless
ness? She attempted to draw her hand from
Icons imprisoned grasp, but he held
firmly and begged her to hear his plea
Her pride, which had nearly deserted her a
this unexpected meeting, came to her aid
and she scornfully asked, "Has she 70
whom you deserted faithful wife tired G
your devotion, that you return to mep"
"Ohl Stella, did you think-oh! | see it al
now. / had wronged and neglected you
blinded, infatuated by my admiration 70
one whose very readiness to accept my nj
tentions was sufficient to prove her unworth
of the esteem of all good men; and, wher
you whom l had so deeply injured, VIII
could blame you for supposing | had gone t
meet her for whose sake had forgotten dut
and honor? Oh! Stella, hear me- while | te
you l was not rs bad as you thought me,
and trembling with excitement he led her t
n seat in the arbor. Seating himself on
stool at her feet he proceeded to explain tn
events of that sorrowful week which had r,
suited in misery TO both.
81 will not dwell" he said, /" upon tn
blind devotion with which l bowed befor
Nettie ingalls,. You and all who know u
must have seen my wicked folly and despise
me as deserved. do not seek to extent
ate my guit,-even her dazzling beaut.
which now appears hateful to me as loo
back upon the past, was no excuse for IN
willful neglect of loving, uncomplainin
wife who so patiently endured my cOldne'
and carelessness, hoping, rs now believ,
that when she who caused my unfaithiulne'
! had gone l should see my error and repen
And so did. Thank God, was not so d.
PRAYED as to think of deserving my wife
follow Nettio Ingalls, to her home. l wo
} shipped and admired her,-I did not loy
} her,-for true love is born only Of respec
and, even in the moments of my greatest il
fatuation, could but know that she wi
would accept such lover-lke attentions froI
the husband of another, without regard
her own good name, or the suffering of h
: whose happiness she destroyed, was utter
} unworthy of respect.
"When would have hidden her goo
} bye OH the morning Of her departure, stoo
: aghast at the position in which found m.