Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-11-06
ing me angry and defiant.


up, however; and when for days the old
man kept her from me, and do what I
might l could catch no glimpse Of her.
l vowed to punish him for his cruelty
by running away with her and marrying
her against his will.
If she loves me. she would not be
willing to be separated from me. tho't
and faneied her locked up in her own
room, kept from meeting me by force. l
wandered about the house Of old neigh
Dor Werner like ghost, and almost de-
termined to force an entrance but at
last she came to me. one sunny after
noon, and looked over the fence. with
her arms folded upon it, as she used
when she was child.
Gretchen l' l cried, and ran to her
and put my arms about her. Gretchen.
my darling, YOU have come to me at las"
She gave little sigh, and drew her
self away from NY embrace.
''Itis for the last time, Ezra, she said.
Father told me might bid you good
bye"
Goodbye ?" l faltered.
Yes" she said Il must never talk
to yOu again"
You have promised to be my wife, "
l said. "You have said you loved me.
What do you mean? He has frightened
you by locking you up. You think that
his power is absolute" "
mo one locked NE up" she said, qui-
etly. Il have been told to stay within
doors out of your sight, and l obeyed.
1t was wrong Of me to promise anything
without fathers leave l thought it was
different in such case. and 1 liked you
so, but know now how unmaidenly it
was Father has told me."
"You stayed from NE out of your own
free will, 1 said. "You were not re-
strained. o. Gretchen -
Father gave NE his orders One
must obey ones parents. 1t is Gods
law" she said
Easy to obey when you are willing, -
said. bitterly. Parents could not keep
me from you if you wanted NE, Gretch-
en-"
The tears were falling fast over her
cheeks She was sobbing heavily.
40. Ezra, if you only knew" she said.
Il must obey"
Then she drew the ring had given
her from her finger.
Father says must return this" she
said. and she seemed as though she could
not speak for weeping.
But was cruel to her.
"Of your own free will. because YOU
do not care for me - l asked.
Il cannot change my feelings" she
said Perhaps they are wrong, but ]
must always like you better than any
one else. But father says 1 must NO
marry you, and that L must give baeL
the ring"
l felt it drop into ny palm 1 clutch
ed it fercely There was a fat stOn'
close by the fence, and l dropped tn
ring on that, and ground it to atoms be
meath my heel She only sobbed tn,
more
Don't be angry with me, Ezra" sh'
said. at is not my fault"
But l would not listen to her. l turn
ed from her and walked away. Judgin.
By myself. she could not care for me, /
any thought of disobedience could stant
between Us
That night packed ny portmanteau
and left home l could not stay there 5
near her, and yet have nothing more t
do with her.
l never forgot her for a moment, bu
l did not talk Of the past to any one.
| had an uncle in Detroit, and | wen
to him. He was farrier, and taugh
me his business, and soon was able {
make money at it. But money was moth
ing to me now, except 50 far as it va
needed to enable me to live from day {
day. l sent it to my parents, and they
needing nothing. put it away in tie ban
with the little store they we're saving fo
my good
But We are glad to have such an in
dustr1ous son, said my mother; "an
when you bring home some pretty Cans
dian girl. you viii Be glad to have Iii
tie neztegg to start with"
1 had no thought Of any girl, hOwe7
er pretty, for wife; but mother eoul
not guess how deeply had been WOUND
ed
Day and night | kept thinking I
Gretchen, and always kept On ny bee
room window sill. in china pot, one {
those pure white lilies, which always n
minded me Of her. But / never asked
question about her. and Eve years pas
ed by-fve anniversaries Of our betrOtI
al. and | did not know even whether Il
had married. or was Jet Gretchen We
, ner.
Il vas the sixth anniversary Of Ii;
! day when | went home to ny little roo
! earlier than usual | had been strzng