The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-09-07

speaking OF the mO0n-lcd tides, about
great storms and wrecks.
"Do you know" she confessed, "their
driftwood fire chills me. How do |
know but it is a bit of the spar Laurence
chung top
"They are having supper" said Long
worthy, turning away. "Let me bring
you something. We have been too
gloomy"
"No; when am gloomy am in no
danger of forgetting. Don't you re-
member Andersen's story of the poor
old maid who used the broken half of q
bottle picked up OH the beach for her
canary's drinking vessel, when it was a
bit of the very bottle to which her lost
lover had intrusted tender farewcll?"
"You don't mean to be an old maid,
Lctty?'
"I? The day of my destiny's over.
How ghostly the lighthouse iooksl
used to think should like to live in one,
once-especially in stormy weather."
"They will be lighting up presently; 4;
we will pay them visit, if you please"
And while they climbed the lighthouse
tower, and saw the fishing fleet stand
ing out TO sea, and watched the keeper
light his lamps, while he told them of
the sea-birds that beat their lives out
against the windows, of ships he had
seen go to pieces in the storm; of the
times he had put out in his boat to the
rescue, and his wife keeping the lamps
bright alone amidst the gale, their
friends were gathering up the fragments
and steaming homewards, each think
ing that Lefty was with the other
When Tom and Lefty came out under
the stars, the beach had a wild and lone
ly aspect; some night-bird was scream.
ing overhead, the gypsy fire smouldered
amidst some stranded timbers, but the
sands were deserted. Toms little craft
was the only one in sight, and with the
wind dead against them and tide falling
it would be useless to start for some
hours to come.
owe may as well make ourselves COM
fortable," said Tom, bringing fresh fuel
for the fire. al am to blame for this
disaster"
81 don't call it a disaster, exactly"
said Lefty. "Do you see how much our
backlog resembles crouching camel ?
In this weird light | can half believe
that we are belated OH the desert, and
are bivouacking till day. It's rather
romantic than disastrous"
"Tm glad you see it in that light.
You would made the desert blossom
like rose"
! GLOW you fiatter me'
81? We never flatter those we love-"
You needn't take pains to tell me
you don't love me-" she laughed
81 take pleasure in saying that do"
'That you do!-that YOU do"
Eyes. do love you Lefty" stretch
ing his arms toward her, for she had
risen and half moved away. "Letty !!
Lefty! don't be angry with me for lov-
ing you. How could help it?'
"You must" she cried; "you mustn't
love me. You don't. It's all fancy.
You deceive yourself. | can't allow
yon to love me-"
"You might as well say that you
would not allow the frost to pinch you,
or the rain TO drench you. Can't you
love me little, Lettyr'
"Oh, don't ask me! don't! can't; it
is quite impossible. Forgive me for
saying so. You have always been a
friend to me-"
"And always shall be, Lefty"
''Then don't let us talk about love,
nor think of it. shall never marry"
"But if you should change your mind
81 can never change it,
"1et if such thing should happen
women have that privilege, you know
you will always find me the same"
"But you must be sure that il never
can happen.'
'Since you deny me so much, humor
this whim of mine, Lefty, and promise
me that if any change should occur, YOU
will let me know"
81 can safely promise that" she re-
piled.
"Thank YOU"
1t is not often that lover is obliged
to impose his society upon the sweet
heart who has refused him. One might
easily conceive of it as an embarrassing
situation, but it did not prove so in the
case of Tom and Lefty; they spoke OF
were silent, as the spirit moved. lie
trimmed his boat with hand rs steady
as if all his wishes had been granted.
They counted the consultations and the
harbor light, watched the stars set, and
the gray dawn shine upon the water,
: and sunrise was just beginning to glow
in tender lines of color as they reached
the town, made the boat fast and STEP
ped ashore. Only few loungers were
smoking on the wharf, and waiting fol
job or sensation. The widow Cir.
die was pulling up her blinds as they
passed, while the house-maid at DR.
Squills', sweeping off the front steps,
leaned on her broom, for all the world
like an interrogation point.
"Ihey don't look right" said widow
Girdle-"a teacher of youth gallivant.
ing about the country. Where has she
t been at this hour? That's what would
: like to know"
81 dare say you would" said hel
l brother. "Supposing you ask"
But Mrs. Girdle did better. She
l asked her next neighbor, who passed
. the question on and the result was thai
9 in the course of month Lefty was not
I ifled that her resignation of her gram
t mar school would be accepted. Mrs
Girdle, shopping in Boston one day
T met Tom Longworthy at Parker's.
l "What's the news at Carbondale?" he
s asked.
t "News is as scarce as money, Mr.
: Longworthy," she said. 81 suppose
2 you know that Lefty Andrews has lost
l her school. But that's an old story"
e "Lost her school! WhyY
+ "Oh, You must ask the school com.
Y mittee. Young children who have the
s care of children should be circumspect
: and not allow fascinating young men tc
a keep them out late on the river, you
r know"
"You don't mean TO say that luckless
!, affair of mine was the cause? Ii was
: an accident, Mrs. Girdlc, and entirel,
s my fault"
: 81 wonder you don't make amends by
!, marrying her, Don Quixote."
c "She has already refused me-"
, "Refuscd you! You're joking" said
: the widow, opening her eyes with as
t tonishmcnl.
f eli may be fun for you, but it's ghast
e ly truth to me-"
: Mr.. Longworthy went directly TO hi,
: office and wrote HDear Ietfv dom,