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

mountain glen, amid scenes OF gayety or In
the solitude of my chamber, have never
for moment forgotten my much loved wife
or the sin and folly which separated us.
Time has not made my guilt seem less, that
venture to return and sue for pardon, but
day by day the desire to behold You again
has increased and could stay no longer. I
remembered your true and priceless love in
the years gone by, and l dared to hope your
own heart would plead for me. Obi Stella,
Is my hope in vainP"
He paused for reply. rising and standing
with bowed head before her.
Leon, obi Leon;n il was all she could
say, but 1t was enough. The tone was full
OF love and tenderness, Of suffering and of
forgiveness, and Leon Somers knew that her
heart indeed plead for him, and that her af-
fections were rs fully and entirely his as
when they first plighted their trolh, or in the
happy years that followed before his sin ex-
lied him from their Eden.
When they were calmer. Stella said, 81
forgave you, Leon, when your neglect and
coldness pierced my heart, and even when
believed you had forsaken me for another 1
tried to forgive you, even Ms l hoped my
many errors might be forgiven, but will
not deny that had tried also to forget you,
for thought you had forfeited all claim 10
my regret, or even to my remembrance, If
that were possible. On that day you went
away, l was quiet In manner as we'll knew,
but | felt constrained, and know not what TO
say to you. Anerward supposed, us you
must now see, that you had already planned
your departure, and only waited to complete
your arrangements before putting your plans
in execution; but then l believed, rs you
now assure me, that your conscience had
showed you your error, and l only wnitod,---
God alone knows how prayerfully and hope
| fullY,-for the moment when there should be
reconciliation between u.s."
81 see now" returned Leon. 81 under
stand now what your feelings must have been.
II n life of devotion can attest my sorrow for
the past"
81 ask no promises, Leon" interrupted
Stella. 1.-The remorse you have suffered in
consequence of your deviation from right,
and the fact that your love remains unchang-
ed through all these years of absence, are TO
me sufficient guarantee that need not fear to
trust you. Now" she continued, rising from
her scat, "let us go to my parents, and after
relieving their minds of the doubts and sus-
plcions they entertain against you, let the
past, or so much of it rs relates to this I'M
happy estrangement, be n sealed book be-
tween u.s. In the happy years which are be-
fore us wo will forget everything that would
bring shadow of remorse to your brow"
Generous Stellar exclaimed Leon. press.
ing her to his heart, " never can forget the
faithful love that, undimmed by neglect
burned brightly through years of cruel de-
sertion, and now blesses me with such entire
forgiveness that 1t would if possible blot
from my remembrance the fact that ever
forfeited the right to such devotion aud conf
dencc."
lie drew her shawl more closely about heI
graceful form, and together they left the gar
den which within tho hour each had entered
alone,-he Borrowing and repentant, no
dreaming that he should so soon meet he
whom rs yet he had not the courage TO seek
she patient and calm under the sorrow sh,
had learned to bear with resignation, bu
| NlehOub hOpO bhthe ehO SlOdu WuiNh AOhON
her pathway would ever be lifted.
The cottage was soon refurnished, and lie
on and Stella Somers again entered it. not
however, in the careless. thoughtless happi
ness which characterized their first entranc
to their mutual home, but, chastened by sui
fering, mindful of the past. yet strong ant
true in their love for each other. AM
for the benefit of those who have no faith
either in sincere repentance, or in true an,
entire forgiveness. let me add that DIR. ap'
Mrs. Somers lived many years. ahdthroug
all their trust in each other remained un
changed. Never did Leon Somers saddei
the heart Of his wife by neglect or GOODNESS
and never was his heart or fancy turned 70
. moment from her whom he had promise
to love until death. Neither did Stella re
mind him by look, word or tone that she re
membercd his past error, or harbored tn
remotest fear oil its repetition. Their recon
citation was perfect,--their happiness com
plete.