Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-04-15

might find prettier and younger one;
and 80, nothing dismayed, he set forth
upon his search for a wife; wishing,
with every new adventure, that Diana
had been rich, and bemoaning his hard
fate that he could not afford to marry
poor girl.
However, the rich ones were skittish,
had other fancies, did not appreciate
Mr.. Harry Hart; either gave him no OPP
portunity to ask "Yes," or said "No"
outright and five years after he had
Tilted Diana he found himself still a
bachelor, his estimation of his own
charms greatly lessened by his bad luck
in the matrimonial market, and the
small competence which had been his
own dwindling away to nothing.
Still, Diana haunted him-a pale,
faded vision, with two hands clasped
over broken heart-and still he kissed
her picture, and believed himself to
have adored her, and to be the victim of
cruel fate.
He had come to such state of pc
cuniary despair, however, that he was
about to offer himself to the landlady of
his lodging house, who otherwise would
soon have become troublesomein regard
to her little bill, when rich old uncle,
dying without heirs, saved him from the
sacrifice. He became the joyful pos
SCISSOR of fortune, and independent
thencefoIth of both landladies and heir
esses.
For while, Mr.. Harry Hart reveled
in the knowledge of this fact, and salts
GAl h,y,ono1f ,,,,IL lri, nj
much riding behind fast horses, in the
most fashionable coats devisable by his
tailor; but, finally, even this palled; 70
nance asserted her sway. Diana begun
to haunt him once more; and at last he
came to the heroic resolution of going
at once to her native village, and offer.
ing her his hand, his heart and his for
tune. That she would accept him, he
had no doubt. How could he2 Women
who loved once, loved forever, the poets
had declared and if Diana had not
loved him he certainly had tried to
make her.
Therefore he packed up his most fas-
cinating belongings, placed Diana's pic
ture next his heart and started for Tu-
ipgrove by next mornings early train.
He reached the the village at noon.
How familiar it looked Nothing SEEM
ed to have changed. The old elms nod
ded welcome. The old people sat III
their porches. The flowers in the gar
den might have done the same. And
she-Diana-was she the same2 Alas
her beauty might have faded her
broken heart might be visible in her
euea. sha noioht ha daod
"Oh, no." cried Harry, as this last
thought entered his mind-"no; she
must live for me"
AS he spoke he found himself ap-
preaching the church. 1t was a week
day, but it was full-or rather emptying
itself of its fullness as fast as possible.
Something must have happened out
of the usual order of things to occasion
such an event. A wedding or funeral
only could fill Tulipgrove church on
week day. Suddenly a well remembered
face flashed on him-Caleb Blooms.
He was struggling out of the crowd,
dressed in his Sunday best, and looking
about him for something. Harry collar
ed him.
"Sir," cried Caleb" Mr.. Hart, de-
clare9 How dye do?"
"Thank you," said Harry, "I'm
very well; but I waut to ask you
Diana?"
"Oh, she's there" said Caleb, point
ing with his thumb, as Harry thought,
towards the churchyard.
Harry staggered back.
"Not deadl" he cried.
"Dead !" cried Caleb. "Why, thank
Heaven, no. Here she is. Diana, here's
Mr.. Hart"
Mr.. Hart turned his head. There
stood Diana. Diana, as of oil, only
very plump and rosy, and holding in
her arms baby of some five weeks old,
in glorious white christening robes.
She nodded and smiled courteously upon
Harry, and smiled after another sort
upon Caleb.
"Its our second, Mr.. Hart" she
said, with matronly pride. Our first
was named Caleb. You'll see him in a
moment coming with his grandma. This
is Diana-his pa would have it 50. A
boy and girl we have now. Wouldn't
you like to hold her a minute, Mr.. Hart
don't believe she'll cry. She's asgood
as gold"
But Mr.. Hart declined the pleasure,
and returned to town by the next train.