Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-02-10
VOL. 7O.-3565. NO. II.

4'~Ni"hN uVfa not tnlnk You are WHOM
your mourning, you know %
An, Grace, do you not suppose all my
good friends have Informed him long ere
this Of my status in society--have pointed
me out as a woman living apart from her
husband p And even if he did not know.
II would make no difference"
Not to you, perhaps" | replied "hnt,
Milicent, are you quite sure II might not to
him ?"
~ had not thought Of that" she an
swered and her eyes grew dreamy as she went
on combing out her long beautiful brown
hair After little, with her face half hid
by her heavy locks, she continued "Grace,
have you the faintest idea that Mr.. Newland
has any regard for me, save as one of his
flock 2"
al don't know, Millicent," I hesitated;
" but il ! were he, would -
"Oh. you silly girl p she replied, coming
up and kissing me, and her cheeks were
burning "you see through such loving
glasses 20
q" / see you as you are, NIillicent, and you
are lovable."
" Don't romance ON me, Grace" she
answered, in her old weary, sad tones; my
day is past"
And cousin Frank lie had returned
on again with his deep, dumb love, eloquent
alone in its devotion. And she ? She was
so blind to il, she thought her answer to him
long ago had suficed. ! believe there was
nothing in the world he would not do for
hers the lightest wish which she expressed
in his hearing was gratifed if within his
power. lie had an unconquerable dread and
fear of water, having but narrowly escaped
shipwreck once but one evening, when he
overheard her say TO me as we sat on the pi-
azza, Grace, wouldn't a row on the river be
lovely in this sunset I'd like 10 drift right
over 10 those purple Clouds" he left us sud
denly and in a short time returned. saying
Come, girls, get your shaws the purple
cloud has not faded yet, Millicent, and the
boat is ready"
But, Frank" | began.
Not a word" he whispered; "sLe wants
to 60"
We drifted slowly down the river; the
soft silence Of the summer sunset hung over
us; on either bank the dark green Of the
rushes now and then caught our oars. Mil
licent sat in dreamy sort of study, her hand
trailing along in the ripples of the stream.
Presently she started suddenly and ex-
Grace, oh see have lost my
ring" and, holding up her hand saw that
"Oh Frank what can | do" she cried as
she leaned far over the side of the boat as
though she fain would follow it.
"Leave it where it is" he muttered. at
should never have been on your hand. Ma
ture has said so now and snatched it from
YOU"
She turned upon him, flushing to the tenn
ples.a " Frank, forbid you," she began
angrily. lie glanced at me. | lay upon the
cushions half-asleep as he thought; | had
not spoken since we left, and they never
minded me very much. Leaving his seat
be came beside her.
"Millicent," he interrupted her in whis-
per, hurriedly- -"forgive me, but love you
so truly--you know it, ,cM speak. You
can now no longer love the man you call
your husband. Let him follow your ring;
east him away; give me your hand. | have
waited, God knows so patiently, so long
BE my wife now"
She drew her hand away from his grasp
md answered him calmly. Frank, do not
pain me again by this talk. can give you
nothing"
Nothing he echoed "Oh, Millicent,
see | am beggar; entreat beg for
your love-"
"Love which is begged for is not worth
Nay" cried he; 'was not the love re-
ceived by Jacob enoughY and he begged,
he waited-so many years.
"Jacob's, perhaps but was Rachel's ?
Did she not at the last but deign to reward
his serving? An Frank love should spring
up out of the heart as little seed comes up
out of the ground, because it obeys law of
nature and cannot help it,"
But may not loving hand plant the
seed? - he urged.
Gay, but it cannot make it live. The seed
may die in the ground; it will not grow
without spontaneous life from within"
"And must | take these cruel words as
D final answer?'' he entreated. al had
hoped that time"
"No, no !" quickly interrupted Millieent.
q ] can never give you any other answer.
In justice to yourself Frank, | could not
marry YOU. Even II were not already
wife (as you seem 10 forget), you deserve a
more loving wife than | could ever make
wake up darling" she called TO
ne. I'VE are going home now. am cold;
he purple cloud has chilled me through
and she shivered, drawing her shawl up
close around her shoulders.
Frank took up the oars and rowed us
quickly homeward, every stroke seeming the
beat of his great, full, passionate heart.
Mr. Newland continued TO come to and
fro il his visits to our home all that sum
mer and fall. | thought my cousin Milli-
cent had never looked so beautiful nor
seemed so happy. Even aunt noticed the
change, and said TO me she hoped Millicent
was forgetting Walter now, and would make
up her mind at last to be freed from him.
One day-it was in the early winter-we
had fires, and sat by the open crate in the
sewing. | could hear the voices
of Milieent and Mr.. Newand talking in the
library. There was to be church fair the
next week, and he had called to see her about
the final arrangements. Presently | heard
the hall door open and close quickly, and
then his firm step along the gravel walk.
Fanoying heard sobs ! went to the library
door and saw Millicent, her head bowed on
the table, and her whole frame trembling
with emotion. "What is it, my darling 2"
! cried kneeling beside her. "Tell me-"
"Oh, Grace, you were right" she sobbed.
" 1t has made difference 10 him. lie has
thought me a widow all this time, and seeing
my ring no longer on my hand, he has dared
TO take courage and tell me that he loves me -
me"
And you ?" asked.
"Il" and she rose up and looked through
mel :" am rife until death do us part. |
have told him all, and he says am right.
But, oh, Grace, he loves me 70
Mr. Newland did not visit our house so
frequently after that day. Aunt used to
wonderfully. Heneyer told her She thought
he must be studying too hard that winter
she said he grew so thin and pale lie uds
changed. A story or legend somewhere tells
of beautiful Catholic princess who becomes
enamored of her priest, young and hand
some man. She confesses her sin TO her
father confessor, an old gray-haired priest of
the church, and he, to inflict severe pen
ance commands her 10 go 10 the man she
loves and confess also 10 him the crime of
which her soul stands guilty With some
such feeling as that with which the heart Of
the princess must have been torn did the
Rev. Lionel Newland meekly rise in his pull
pit to preach before the woman whom he felt
II was a sin TO love. pitied him; / pitied
her; for fancied in her heart there lay q
little germ Of love for him which, alas, could
never blossom until grave should give it
ground.
The following spring Mr.. Newland's de-
clining health caused his congregation to
feel so anxious concerning him that they
unanimously agreed that a trip 10 Europe
should be rendered him as a mark of their
loving kindness. lie came one bright June
morning to bid us all good-by. We were
assembled together in the parlor, feeling