Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-11-28
The Sisters.


T'he breath Of summer yet fingered in the
,ir the woods were yet green and the yell
'ow stubbe of the freshlyreaped fields of
rain showed plainly in the emerald of the
rich meadows. The sun looks down upon
no fairer scene than the beautiful valley
among the Canadian Alps where the lit
lie village of Lennox lies On the high
ast mountain peak little spring bubbles
up, and, trickling down among the rocks
is joined by numerous others. till it swells
into sparkling rivulet, which, far down the
mountain side forms wonderful waterfall
albeit, only few feet in width, but so many
in height, that at little distance it seems
only thin misty veil, spread over the
grand old rocks This little glen, three
miles above the village, is the resort of all
lovers of beauty, and of all pleasure-seekers,
aud thither in the golden September morn
ing of which | write, young girl slowly
wended her way She was on horseback
slender girl, with masses of nut-brown hair
falling on her shoulders, and a look of quiet
endowment on the delicately-hushed face and
in the clear deep eyes of that rarest of all
colors, perfect gray.
Arrived at the foot of the fall, she feasted
her eyes on the picture before her, and
looked longingly at the rough path leading
up the mountain side. How lovely it
would be on the mountain such day
Then, from the gigantic fernery nature had
constructed among the huge rocks, she picked
handful of rare ferns and slowly retraced
her steps. When she reached the road
look, half of vexation, half OF amusement,
overspread the fair face Her horse had
disappeared and the hoof marks in the un-
'requented road showed that he had turned
his head homewards.
"Whoever would have thought of Prince
loing such thing ?" she exclaimed. 81
suppose | must walk the whole distance to
Sunnyside, for no doubt he has gone straight
nome. How foolish | was not to fasten
MIN ~ and she walked quickly toward home,
laughing a little at her odd walking costume.
Mr. Ernest Hilton had invited his friend
Edward Howe to spend this particular day
IN the mountains and as they sauntered
| tong the road in the direction of the little
| rlen before mentioned, the measured beat of
| / horses hoofs awoke the woodland echoes.
| A turn in the winding road showed them
\ beautiful dappled gray coming swiftly
'oward them.
I Has some faire Una been thrown from
! her horse ?" asked young Howe, and are
| ve to have the pleasure Of rescuing her and
iearing her from this enchanted wood ?" he
'ontinued, as they separated little to give
hem better chance of stopping the runaway
The horse, however, evidently understood
their intentions, for he graciously stopped of
MS own accord few PAGES from the young
men, and, after making several motions, APP
1arently having grave doubts as to whether
le had better turn and go the other way or
,ot, allowed young Hilton to place his hand
N the bride and smooth the glossy neck.
You may lay aside your hopes of rescu-
ing faire Una this morning, Howe he
aid "the Young lady who owns this gal
ant gray is much too good rider to be
brown, under ordinary circumstances. |
hink it probable that she left him united
omewhere, and he has started for his
table. At all events, we will walk on a
little way, and perhaps we will meet Miss
Carleton"
"And who is Miss Carleton 2"
"Miss Carleton is simply Miss Carleton, -
answered young Hilton. Her parents are
lead, and she lives with an invalid sister at
hat pretty little cottage about a mile the
1ther side of The Pines" --
"Is she young and pretty?" asked Mr.
Howe.
Ernest Hilton laughed. Z" thought Eng
ishmen were not inquisitive. Miss Carle
on is young; not more than nineteen.
,hould think. Pretty Yes, call her very
pretty and | am not alone in my opinion
, or she has many admirers"
You laugh at me for being inquisitive
put it is only natural that should be in
crested in your fair neighbor if am t.
pend the winter with you," returned hi
companion, " and | -
His friend interrupted. There is Mis-
$ Carleton coming toward us, You will hav
chance to Judge for yourself"
As the young lady drew near, the folds o
ier riding skirt gathered up in one hand
+ md the other holding great bunch o
N eathery ferns, Edward Howe decided tina
!, MS friend had been mistaken in calling he
+, pretty. That was not the word to descrb
:, he faultless features, the low, broad foIe
!, mead, and pencilled eyebrows, the wonder
> iul eyes, and smooth, rosetinted cheek
>, She laughingly thanked Mr. Hilton for hay
!, ing so befriended her. and when she spok
, Mr. Howe's name, after his friend had gon
y through the prescribed form of introduction
a that grave English gentleman thought tn
v low, clear voice added the last charm to tn
Z sweet face and graceful figure.
:, "l never would have believed Prince CT
Il pable of such conduct as he has show
~ lo-day," she said. @ have left him dozer
y of times before, and he has always stood liB
:. Z, monument"
=, This is the horse without fault" quote
# Mr.. Hilton, as he placed the slight figure
l., the saddle, and adjusted the folds of ii
y riding-skirt.
. IL understand the delicate satire of thi
"a remark" said Miss Carleton, with smil
and think it very ungenerous of 20
m Mr. Hilton, to turn my words against me
- that way" and with slight bow to ii
~ gentlemen, she moved swiftly away.
~ ar The beautiful ferns held so carefully
h, Irene Cartoons hand were destined for Il
~ room where her only sister passed so MAJ
~ ~ weary days and restless nights. Seven lol
~ ~ years had passed since the fair June di
y, o when both sisters had been thrown from
a. ~ carriage, and had been taken up--lrene " i
=" A frightened look in her gray eyes, aud on
", a slight flesh wound in one arm but po
ssd little Alice Hours passed before she "
~ back to consciousness of suffering, aud tn
DAYS grew slowly to weeks, aud still the dc
tors gave only vague and unsatisfacto
answers to the widowed mothers pitt
ira questions, until at length the great city dC
ar tor, who had come 10 consult with the othe
ha quietly told her that her child might Ii
nd many years, and in all probability wou
Ia suffer less acutely, but--she would ney
nt walk again,
in When the mothers summons came
ad leave her children, the one 80 beautiful a
,ar strong, and the other so helpless and suff
inp her las words were in the form O