Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-05-28
For the VERMONT FARMER.
Error and Retribution.
BY L. A. j.

If Mildred Courtney sinned when she
clandestinely left her fathers roof to unite
her destiny with that of n comparative stran-
ger, surely in after years she atoned for it,
If, by suffering, we can atone for sin. Judge
Courtney was a stern man, inhexibe in his
opinions, and too much inclined to look
down upon those whom he considered be-
meath him in station, yet had he known of
the deep unchanging affection Mildred en-
tertained for her music teacher, he would
not have stood in the way of their union,
even though Percy Cliffe had been less the
scholar and gentleman than he was; for Mil
bred was the pride and delight of the old
mans heart, and her wishes were seldom
disregarded. Beautiful was she as her fond
father could desire.
Imagine n slight, 1.-THE figure graceful as
fairy, with fair, sweet face, coral lips, and
cheeks pink with the flush OF health, eyes of
Il clear blue, clear as the skies OF June, and
such hair,-a wealth of golden curls dancing
and shimm ering in the sunlight till each hair
seemed thread Of gold. and the shining
mass fit to be coiled and woven into n crown
ion. neither the true regularity of feature
which constituted The great charm of Mil
bred Courtney's face. There was nm express
sion of true womanliness in the clear eye,
and the pretty lips gave not only the impress
sion of tenderness but of firmness; which,
when one noted the open brow and the well
shaped head, one felt sure would seldom be
aya,cicad in ho ,vponu 1ipanIion Aud ynt
conscientious as Mildred almost invariably
was, once, at least she allowed herself to be
persuaded into wrong action. -. .H.
Percy Clilfe had come to Ireton with album
dant testimonials from high authority of his
standing in society, and his abilities rs a
teacher of music, both vocal and instrument
al, and his subsequent conduct and success
had fully Endorsed his recommendations
Judge Courtney had early engaged him rs
Mildred's instructor, and his pupil had done
him credit.
Another lesson, too, had Mildred learned,
to love the poor teacher who bent with her
over the keys OF the piano, and patiently
helped her to conquer the difficult passages
who practced duets with her when her clear,
bird-llke voice blended harmoniously with
his own, full, rich, and manly; and Percy's
heart. too, became a captive to the beauty
and goodness of sweet Mildred Courtney.
But both knew the pride of the judge and
his ambition, and when the love they could
no longer conceal from each other was al
length spoken and vows of eternal constancy
exchanged, still they dared not entrust their
secret to the stern man who passed Percy
with a courteous bow. and an occasional in.
quiry in regard to Mildred's progress, but
never unbent from his rigid dignity to adj
dress the young man as friend. But Mil
bred felt that life would be bitter indeed il
separated from him she loved and, fearing
to risk her fathers refusal, at length she
yielded to Percy's passionate entreaties thai
she would flee with him from the home o.
her childhood, and in some distant spO
cheer the home which he fondly portrayed
as Paradise. So with bright hopes for the
future, though clouded with remorse for th'
sorrow she was about to occasion her father
she made arrangements for her flight.
Censure her not too severely; u mother
love and counsel had been denied her from
earliest childhood. Beneath the daises rest
ed all that was mortal of the gentle woman
who, had she lived, might have traine,
nearer to perfection the goodness which wa
already inherent in Mildred's character
and in the dignity of her father Mildred saw
little of the strong affection which the be
reaved husband entertained for this onl
child.
Their plans were prosperous, and sudden
ly the good people of Ireton We're startle
out of their usual sedateness by the disclos
ure of this elopement in high life"
Percy and his lovely wife werO soon estab
lished in quiet boarding house in distar
city, and Percy's efforts TO obtain pupils wer
successful. Mildred was at times very me
ancholy when she thought of her father
hls loneliness, but Percy pictured him, NJ
as the sorrowing but the angry parent, an
by degrees she ceased TO regret her waywar
act, especially as she found in her husban
all she had expected or desired As II
years rolled on Percy was moderately pro
porous, and, although never acquiring wealtl
still he was able to provide not only the nc
cessities of life but many Injuries for his Ii
tie family.
For there were others TO share the love
the happy pair. First had come little be
and Mildred sighed as she thought OF Il
love her father would have bestowed up6
her first born, had her marriage been san
toned by his blessing. A few years mo