Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-12-15
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ing wind, and the folds of the curtains
stirred and trembled with it !; but she new
er stirred NOT even a hair OF her head
was shaken as she stood there.
"IIe was brave, and young, and hand
some; and he came riding in from Boston
and rode down the street of Salem, that
spring-day, the godliest day ever saw
In old England. OF in the new bleak
country, there were none to compare with
him. in my eyes and so loved him. Ana
he stayed in Salem, and saw him day al
ter dav; and none knew it at first, for we
strayed far away in those green woods
that were just putting on their leaves, and
looked for May-fowers, and, later on, for
the blue yiolets that crept up through the
rustling dead foliage OF last year. And
at last he came to my fathers house ;
but Abel Chillingworth was old and stern,
and feared him, and | had no mother !;
and so we kept our secret-Roger and /.
| feared nothing, asked nothing, in my
love; I'drained the cup of each day dry,
and was content with its full draught OF
iov, and never dreamed. with summer
and the roses round me, of winter and de-
cav, and dust snd ashes. until one day
came when we met in the Salem woods TO
part.
"'No tears, my little May -nower, Rog-
er Vane said, softly as he held me there
within his strong, kindly arms. i have
never seen the drops in those sweet eyes
of thine before, and | would not have my
last sight of them so married. 1t is only
for a little space, sweetheart. | shall
come back to steal my little. Puritan maid
en- before the first leaf has turned red by
her fathers door
Why-why will you go, Roger" |
cried, as | chung round him; and asked
it only to hear over again what knew be-
fore quite WE'LL how Gov. Winthrop,
whose blood relation he was, had sent
him here, and now recalled him. on BUSH
ness of the commonwealth, and how he
must obey; leaving me only for little
whle-a very little while, | made him
whisper over and over, with my arms
about his neck. And then he pulled from
his finger that ring, with its dark-yellow
stone and the little bright pearls, and slip
ped it over mine.
See, he said; 'you shall wear this as
my pledge of love and loyalty there is a
lock OF my own hair under the stone, and
and you shall give me one of those pre-
cious dark locks to keep and kiss when we
are parted and in two little months VOW
to exchange our love-gifts back again,
here in this very wood, my sweetest"
.'He took the lock OF hair that cured by
my forehead, and took his ring, and his
own kiss sealed it on my finger. SO we
turned away from each other, and started
on the long paths that led our lives apart,
and never drew them together again. =
never any more! Roger Vain rode back
into Boston town, and stole sadly to my
fathers house, TO mourn and wait for him
with bis ring hung round my neck, low
down, by my heart.
The summer crept on, and the hot days
shortened their fierce fires, and the August
haze was in the sky the golden rod shook
out its pumes all along the dry, dusty
road, and the ragged white thistle down
blew here and there. | watched for the
first change along the dark borders of the
woods, for the red leaves, and for Roger
but, one morning.. | woke up and saw the
white frost glittering on some blackened,
dropping vines around my window, and
broad splash:of scarlet, like blood, dashed
across the maple trees, and no lover came
riding down the road, or straying through
the Salem woods TO find me.