The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-03-21

still the song OF l0Vo was sung without
let or hindrance. | saw the two sitting
beside the shore in the long, sweet after.
moons, idly listening to the waves, or de-
voutly listening to each other. Thur
man was succeeding. noted signs Of
returning strength in his manner, and an
increased vigor in bis method of talking.
These proofs were slight, to be sure, but
they wero positive as far as they went.
On the 23d of October, at a late hour
in the afternoon, | received a note by a
messenger who came from a club.hotel at
the lower part of the island. 1t invited
me TO call at once on matter of pressing
importance, and it was signed by Marion
Walling. was thunderatruck. She
had found US out, and was upon the
ground with no good purpose. What un-
happy fate had led her here ? Thurman
was not present l hastened to obey the
summons.
Miss Walling received me in private
parlor, one of those poor rooms scantily
furnished with the cheap material Of wa.
tering place grandeur. l was astonished,
nay, shocked at the change that had ta.
ken place in Miss Walling's appearance.
She had become wasted in face and per.
son, and her features, always serious in
expression, we're now most sad. Her
large, dark eyes turned upon me with
look Of appeal, that had never behed
before, and her voice, at this somewhat
important moment, almost escaped her
mastery. She was alone, and she re-
ceivod me without Formally.
I" You see that am here" she said,
with faint smile. l bowed 1--WE have
been here, father and |, for three days.
did not conceal my surprise. She
hesitated moment, and then said with
painful deliberation.-a deliberation which
enabled her to compose herself before the
utterance of each word -
"Mr. Weymouth, you know why 1 am
here. l feel that could not deceive
you even if | would. for it has been your
i'll fortune to discover that am weak
or rather that am strong-for have
come at last to count it strength to be
able to love. Tell me, is what have
seen true ?"
The word "true" fell from her lips with
50 strange an ascent that could not but
comprehend much of its significance. !
therefore hesitated but at length replied;
eyes, believe it to be true"
"Is it possible that it can be anything
more than On attempt to solace himself
or the pain that | inflicted upon him ?"
"Yes, it is"
"You are sure ?"
II am"
Possibly he has told you that it is
Yes ?-Then you can repeat what he
aid ?"
| did so. did not convey any of my
own feeling, but l think that | gave
Thurmans in full It was a hard task
for 1 could see The listener shudder and
droop under the successive assurances
that all was lost to her. After | had
finished there was long silence. look
ed downward, not caring to witness the
perturbation of my companion. After a
minute I was aroused by movement on
her part. looked Up. A great change
had come over her. Her cheeks were
flushed with color, her eyes had lost their
mournfulness and were now bright and
piercing She stood erect, and faced me
with an air of aggression.
"Knowing your aptitude for business
l have no doubt that, in spite of the de.
mands that friendship has made upon
your time and attention, you have observ.
ed the condition Of the Reinhart farm p
l indicated that l had
1T is clear to you, l suppose, then
that its tenant will again fail to meet his
engagements with us ?"
II have not seen enough yet to war.
rant such decision"
"Ah - then you ore troubled with
blindness l have examined everything
think that nothing has escaped me.
request you to take steps for the foreclo
sure Of its mortgage"
The motive Of this was only too plain
A sudden revolution in her temper haG
made it possible for her to conceive thi
6crce but feeble plan to gain her object
|, of course, could not be instrumental il
the transaction of business that arose from
any such sources, and said so in as ma
, ny words.
She gave me an angry reply.
This enabled me to address to her I
speech which treated, think, of ever,
phase of her conduct in the matter will
Thurman, and every sentiment that hat
, been evolved from the outrage. di'
not spare her. The indignation that
! felt found ready words, and l think, if
recall these words with any degree Of ac
t curacy, they must have told keenly upcl
t her. | spoke as from the most elevate'
height-the height where the love wa
first conceived-a height immeasurabl
above the plane Of common loves-and
as the cause had been great, 30 my denun
citation of its ruin was severe and relcnt
Q less. uttered the last words in the col
, loquy.
. l left Miss Waling trembling betwee
. rage and remorse. unable to gainsay me
f vet beholding, in far higher colors than
/, had painted it, the picture OF the erro
, she had made. | left the rom and tn
t house. and returned to tie hotel, wher
g | cast myself down TO puzzle out tn
course that it was best for me to pursue
= 1t was then three o'clock in the aoel
S noon, The day was cloudess and warn
! and | vaguely remembered that ha
Q seen the grape.pickers in the teemin
D fields, and that the day was like day c
heaven.
e At five O'Clock heard Thurman's steI
t in the corridor, They were hurried, an
D | had hardly time to raise myself to m
feet before he came into the room. II
e terrified me second time by his will
: appearance. He looked much as he ha
r looked upon the day tina. he came frol
n his defeat at Lahill. He fixed his ey,
r upon me, and passing by, went on in'
d his own chamber. He opened his trunl
y searched in it for a moment, closed i
] I IL