Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-03-31

Mr.. Eden engaged him ut once, IN
the lady members of his little flock wei
secretly delighted.
Even young Clergyman, when he b,
comes rs cross as Mr.. Eden was in Ii
uncomfortable convalescence, grow
wearisome.
Ching Fo, q young Japanese, was il
stalled at she parsonage, and in the littl
slippers which he wore in the house wer
noiselessly about his work, and petite
and nursed his master with strang
tenderness.
He never spoke unless spoken to.
But when he was not busy he liked I
sit on low stool close to Mr.. Eden's in
valid chair, and Mr.. Eden liked the littl
man well.
Once as he crouched there the master
thin hand was outstretched, and reste,
for a moment on Ching Fo's smootl
head.
While it lay there the Japanese an
quite still, but when it was about to b.
removed he caught it and pressed it t,
his lips and showered kisses on it.
He has a tender heart" thought Mr.
Eden.
Winter has gone.
Spring has come.
All the grass about Laughing brool
was green, fresh and tender.
The young leaves were on the trees a
his window.
The young minister, whose vision wa.
yet dim, could hear the lap and ripple o.
the water over the stones.
He did not shut it out now.
1t seemed to him as though the mem
ories of his dead love hung 80 closely
about Laughing brook that if spirits
could return to earth hers would revisit
that spot of all others.
At least those fond remembrances that,
if they are not the spirits Of those we
have lost, have us in their stead would
fill his heart beside its shady margin,
and he might beg,lile himself into a
fancy that he was waiting, rs he had
often waited, for her coming step.
At last he determined that he would
go thither.
"Ching Fo," he said to his little Japa-
nese, "can you wheel me as far as the
brook yonder ?"
The servant replied by retreating be-
hind his masters invalid chair, and no
more was said until by quiet paths they
had come to the side Of Laughing brook
hay, to the very spot where he parted
from Ada, where he had thrown their
roth-plight ring into the water.
Then she stood beside him, living,
young and beautiful.
Then he was strong and active and full
of vigor.
To-day she lay dead, ashes amidst the
ashes Of her ruined home, and he, help
less, half blind invalid, sat there alone.
And all might have been 80 different.
He put his head down upon his hands
and the tears would not be crushed back
from his weakened eyes.
eff 1 could only have died with her,"
he said to himself, sit would have been
so much hotter"
Meanwhile Ching Fo, who must have
had some sorrow OF his own, cried softly
behind his chair. But Ching Fo's eyes
were bright even when wet with tears,
md as he wiped them away he caught
sight of something among the pebbles
that glittered and flashed with strange
and leaving his masters side
ne crept forward and stopped with low
,ry and caught it and hid it in his bosom.
"Oh. have found it !" he cried.
And Reuben Eden, starting from his
oitter reverie, said
"What have you foundl"
GA little ring, sir" said Ching Fo.
GA ring ?" said Mr.. Eden. "Give it
% me-"
"Pardon," said Ching Fo; "I found
t let me keep it. F."
"Not if it is What think it," said
lis master. II will give you another
ing, or more than its value in money
But if it is womans ring set with dia-
nond, with Ada, from Reuben en-
,raved within, I must have it,
cit is the ring" said the Japanese.
lie advanced and put it into his masters
and.
"Ching Fo," said Reuben Eden,
you are good, tender hearted fellow.
Let me tell you why 1 love this ring so
1ell. It belonged to the girl who
hould have been my wife. She is dead
ow. tried to save her, but in vain.
oh, I was cruel to her-cruel, cruel
nd that is all I have left. 1 deserve
deserve it.
He dropped his head passionately
pom his arm. But two smaller arms
fted itup. A soft cheek pressed his.
lips touched his SCARED forehead.
"Oh, Reuben !" cried voice, full of
Il the tenderness of love, "you did
we me, after ALL"
(t1,iprr No Vxhn e,>01yo H1,.,,o
o who showered these kisses on the
ching eyes, and fondled and caressed
Fo, and not Ching Fo.
"In Heavens name, speak again !"
ried Reuben Eden. "Tell me who you
e!''
And though the voice only answered:
No, no 1et me co." it was enough.
"Ada," he said, and he held her fast
Ada-no, I will never let you go again.
ince You are not dead, but wing
nee you have stopped your woman's
ride to minister to me in this disguise
OIL must love me. Take the ring again
put it upon your finger. 1 have made
fool of myself, but God only knows
ow bitterly have paid for it. ;"
81 never meant you should find me
ut, said she. 81 heard that you could
,arcely see and you believed me dead.
grieved for you SO bitterly, and grand
a, who could not bear to come to the
ID place, sent me down when he heard
hat had happened. We were not in
lie house when the fire broke out we
ere away on visit, and before Gretchen
whose life you had saved-was sensible
lough to tell people that her friends
nd taken her home. When came down
ere met the little Japanese, who had
cen sent to you by chance, and he
ally looked like me and was much my
re. told him you would not be a
ind master and sent him to some one /
now who has wanted servant for
ing time, and bought two of his suits
I'd got recommendation, and grandpa
links am visiting Jane Lorne, and oh,
deed 1 meant to go away before you
'uld guess at the truth, my poor, blind
arling"
"And you must go before any one
Sc guesses it," said the man, with a
ldden remembrance of evil tongues.
But you will come back to me in your
yn person? You will promise that,
da-you will be my wife? ?"
Ada promised. That night the Japa-