Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-10-23

The surprised messenger reported her
faithfully. Mr.. Gildersleeve was in de-
spair, particularly as he overheard his
landlady saying, after he had exchanged
one Sunday, "Miss Sally Sunderland
was to church yesterday, sure's you're
sinner what's going to happenG 1
didn't think she was going to meddle
with religion, never no more they amt
got no religion to spare at the Hall, no
way, and it does seem as though Mr..
Gildersleeve oughter exert hisself and
bring 'em under some sort of conviction,
if he knew his duty |"
Mr.. Gildersleeve groaned in spirit
Wasn't that the very result toward which
he had bent his best energies9 and how
miserably had he failed 1t seemed
as if his mere presence in Eaglethorpe
hindered her spiritual advancement, that
under the hand of another pastor she
might grow in grace, and blossom into
all Christian virtues. 1t began to APP
pear plain to him that he had not been
called to help her on the way, to make
her election sure that not into his
hands had been committed the precious
task of opening heaven to her-he was
not worthy of such blessedness How
ever painful it was to him, he would
seek another field it should never be
said of him that had willfully hindered
soul from heaven-and her soul
He sent in his resignation. A parish
meeting was called, and they quarreled
and expostulated, and finally notified
Mr.. Gildersleeve that they should not
fill the pulpit for three months, at the
end of which time it would be at his
option either to resume his duties or not,
as the spirit moved. He thanked them,
and took the noon train for the city.
When ten miles of Eaglethorpe two
trains collided, and when Miss Sally
Sunderland dashed up to the railway
track on her horse, Scamper, in a mad
gallop through the woods-she could not
have told whither-she came full and
suddenly upon the CHASTITY melee. She
threw up. her arms at the sight, and
grew hot and cold by turns two men
were bringing mangled human being
toward rude ambulance which they
had constructed the face, amidst all its
bruises, was terribly familiar to Miss
Sunderland. She never knew when OF
how she alighted from Scamper. She
did not hear him galloping home bare
backed, to frighten Mr.. Tom out of his
wits she heard only the stifed groans
that came from the livid lips of the
mangled man before her, with whom
she had dared to trife but while ago,
as she tore up portions of her clothing,
and helped strangers to bandage his
wounds, and dropped hot tears over hin
and repentant sobs, and cried out in hel
agony that she had driven him away
that she had killed him, and begged hin
to hear her sing to him once again, ant
to open his eyes and live for her sake
careless and forgetful of the presence O
by-standers. And when, at length, Mr.
Gildersleeve did open his eyes, it wa
! to meet the ear-bedimmed face of Mis-
Sally bent above him, all its dimples al
! rest, all its brilliant color faded, all it
cruel disdain swallowed up in bite
anguish. ~.
You have forgiven me-" he whisper
ed, feebly, "you have forgiven me
Thank God, shall not hinder you an,
longer. / was going away because
seemed to be keeping you from Him
: and because--I belieye--I loved you
Chow could you love me Such
dreadful girl! thought you deteste,
me, and I--I-you know L loved you al
the while P' aaG - .......
"Then sing to me, DEAR he asked
and Miss Sally's heart consented, he
: countenance beamed, her lips parted an
palnitated, but no melody flowed forth
4 alas Just as some grow gray from ten
: ror in single night, so in single da
she had lost the power to sing. Th
q neighbors called it visitation of Prov
0 dence the doctors gave it another name
0 The pulpit of Eaglethorpe was vacar
for twelve months and better, and whe
Q Mr.. Gildersleeve at last returned to il
g he walked with two crutches, and Mr.
g Gildersleeve again sat silent through th
e congregational singing !-Bazar.