Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-02-25
,rlbable conviction that they had at last

| iound tue very spot.
Yet, whilo they uttered this exclamation,
the young man and the Lily turned an APP
prehensive glance al their dreary associate,
deeming 1t hardly possible that some tale
OF earthly afIiiction should not make those
precincts lonthsome, as in every former
case. The old man stood Just behind them,
so rs 10 form tho chief in the group, with
his sable cloak nunling the lower part OF
his visage, and his sombre hat over-shad-
ing his brows. But he gave no word Of dis
sent from their purpose; and an inscruta.
Bile smile was accepted by the lovers as a
token that there had been no footprint OF
guilt or sorrow to desecrate the site of their
Temple Of Happiness.
In little time longer, while summer was
still in its prime, the fairy structure Of tho
Temple arose on the summit OF the knoll
amid the solemn shadows Of tho trees, yet
often gladdened with bright sunshine. 1t
was built of white marble, with slender and
graceful pillars supporting a vaulled dome (;
and beneath the centre OF this dome, upon
a pedestal, was a slab of dark-veined mar
bic, on which books and music might be
strewn. But there was a fantasy among the
people Of the ncighborhoOd, that the edi-
fl &c was planned after an ancient mausO-
leum, and was intended for tomb, and
that the central slab of dark-Veined marble
was to be inscribed with the names OF buried
ones. They doubted, too, whether the form
Of Lilias Fay could appertain to creature
of this earth, being SO very delicate, and
growing every day more fragile, so that
sue locke as If the summer breeze would
snatch her up and wan her heavenward.
But still she watched the daily growth of
the Temple; and so did old Walter Gas
colgne, who now made that spot his con-
tinual haunt, leaning whole hours together
on his staff, and giving as deep attention to
the work as though it had been indeed
tomb. In duo time it was finished, and
day appointed for a simple lite Of dedlca-
tion.
On the preceding evening, aler Adam
Forester had taken leave of his mistress,
he looked back toward the portal of her
dwelling and felt strange thrill of fear
for he imagined that, as the setting sun
beams faded from her figure, she was ex-
haling away, aud that something of her
lessening gleam of light. With his fare
well glance, shadow had fallen over the
portal, and Lilias was invisible. His fore
boding spirit deemed it an omen at the
time, and so il proved for the sweet earth
ly form, by which Lily had been manifest
ed in the world, was found liieless the next
morning. in the Temple, with her head rest
ing on her arms, which were folded upon
the slab OF dark. .veined marble. The chill
winds of The earth had long since breathed
blight into this beautiful flower, so that
loving hand had now transplauted it 10
blossom brightly in the garden Of Para
disc.
But alas for the Temple of Happiness
In his unulterable grief, Adam Forester
had no purpose moro at heart than TO con-
vert this Temple of many delightful hopes
into tomb, and bury his dead mistress
there. And 10! a wonder! Digging grave
beneath the Temples marble II Dor, the sex
ton found no virgin earth, such rs was meet
TO receive the maiden's dust, but an ancient
sepulcher, in which were treasured up the
bones Of generations that had died long
ago. Among those forgotten ancestors was
the Lily to be laid. Aud when the funeral
procession brought Lilias thither in her cof-
fin they heheld cid Walter Gascoigne stand
ing beneath the dome of the Temple, with
his cloak ofplll, and face ofdIrke est gloom
aud wherever that figure might take its
stand, the spot would seem stpulcher.
He watched the mourners as they lowered
the collin down.
"And So" said he 10 Adam Forester,
with the strange smile in which his insani-
ty was wont to CLEAN forth, you have
found no better foundation for your happi-
ness than on gravep'
But as the Shadow Of Afliiclon spoke, a
vision Of Hope and Joy had its birth in
Adams mind, even from the old mans
taunting words; for then he knew what
was betokened by the parable in which the
Lily and himself had acted aul the mys-
terry of Life and Death was opened to him.
Joy! joyr' he cried, throwing his arms
towards Heaven, ION a grave be the site of
our Temple; and now our happiness is for
Eternity y
With these words ray OF sunshine broke
through the dismal sky and glimmered
down into the sepuleher; while, at the same
moment, the shape of old Walter Gascoigne
slalked drearily away, because his gloom,
symbolic of all earthly sorrow, might no
longer abide there, now that the darkest
riddle of humanity was read.