Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-06-20

when shG stood Mt night-fall, straining her
eyes out into the darkness to see the last
outline of his dim figure on the open com
straining her eyes to catch the dis
tant echo of his football; but quaint fam
cy came to her, us she looked up at the
evening Star, us to how the life she had
planned out for him might have hnd some
thlnS star-like in it-mi hit have been Just
as high and clear and still above the tur-
mol of this troublesome world-might
have been, like it, II focus to which all eyes
could have been turned and had their way
llghtened; but she shivercd as she stood in
the doorway, and was glad to 90 in and
draw Philips chair up into the light of the
lamp and talk to Eleanor Of her boy,
So the time crept slowly on to the har-
vest; and the autumn deadened into win.
ter; and the birds left off singing; and the
dead leaves lay foot deep in Eversham
woods-and Philip came home as he had
promised
But not to stay. "IIs work was not fin.
iShed, " he said" it would want another
month or two;" but he looked so well and
happy, and was so hopeful and bright, that
they made very merry party on Christ
mas-day; and when he said goOd-by, they
all felt that it would not be so very long
before they met again.
1t was longer than they thought, how
ever. Seven months And in the late
July days II letter came to warn them Of
his coming.
81 shall be down on Tuesday night" he
wrote, "because mean to show my model
at the Agricultural Show on Wednesday,
It's all finished and patented, mother, and
think it will be success; only don't
lhink too much of il, for hardly expect IL
prize, us other people are sure to see so
many improvements that might be made
in it,"
So he wrote; and on Tuesday evening he
followed his letter, and the model was put
away in the barn, under sacking, until the
hventlu morning. His mother had no
turn for Instruments, SO she said she won d
be quite satisfied to see it ut the show, but
Eleanor Gray went out ut night and held
the candle while Philip pointed out the use
and work of the beautiful finished imple-
nent over which he had toiIed for years.
" | shall 90 to the show early he said
" but you had better come later for the
prizes are not given until twelve o'clock.
DON'T say any thing to mother" he went
on; " but Nell, Nell, | do hope such great
Ihings from tomorrow. Have your good
wishes, NellP | have II fancy that you
should wish me we'll"
" Indeed you have" said Eleanor; and
she stretched out her two soft hands and
laid them in his, and they were both quiet
for minute, until Eleanor said, with II
laugh, "And have fancy too, Philip,
that Tomorrow will be IL very triumphant
day to you
| o us all, !" he corrected.
ITO US all. "
1t was grand day at all events, and the
neighbors far and near, were gathered to
gether to do honor to the Agricultural
Show and by eleven o'clock, Dame Leigh
had put on her Sunday silk dress, and her
soft white handkerchief, and her widow S
bonnet, and was walking quietly across the
fields with Eleanor Gray.
IL feel little nervous, Nell" she said,
when they got to the gate where the tick.
cts were taken. Philip was anxious this
morning, l could see, so l hope they no.
tice the lads work"
Il hope So" said Eleanor, gently. She
always spoke quietly, but there was IL scar.
let hush on hor white cheeks that belied
the stiffness of her voice, and made hel
look almost beautiful.
The first words they heard on the field
we're disappointment. 1.-The prizes
were given an hour ago the man SAID
who opened the gate to them. &" No, Mrs
Leigh, don't know who got the first fol
the implements, but they're all in II lnt
up there-ticketed. Young Mr.. Leigh!
Oh, he's down with the crowd yonder,
watching the horse Jumping
"Shall we 60 to Philip, said Mrs. Leigh
anxiously, or shall we look at the ticket;
ourselves! Tell me Nell"
"Oh, the implements" said Eleanor
decidedly so they left the crowd far away
on their left, and went up to the long line
Of agricultural implements, on whose
forks and blades the sun was shining dowr
in flashes of light.
at first they looked at every ticket, un
,il Mrs. Leigh grew Hurried and nervous
and they found that they were getting oT
terribly slowly.
Il shall not look at one more, Nell,
she said, until | come to Philips, ant
then | shall know the worst al once. Yol
have seen it my dear. What is it like?'
" Do you see IL bright scarlet thing II
the very top?' said Eleanor. 60 That i
Philips model, Mrs. Leigh; let us g
straight to it"
So they walked quietly up the line Of i'm
plements, keeping the scarlet model steadi
y before them. And at last they stood be
i side it, and looked across it at one another
The ticket had fallen forward, SO that th
I number was hidden, and Eleanor's eye
q grew dazzled as she looked ut the brillan
white against the brilliant red.
0 Turn it over. Nell" said Mrs. Leigh
= nervousIy; "my hand shakes"
Elean0r's hand did not shake ut all. Sh
n stretched it out and turned IL great black |
8 that stood staring ut them from the centr
q of the white.
4 list prize" said Mrs. Leigh, wit
n sudden tears in her eyes.
81 knew it," said Eleanor under he
G breath.
Are you proud of him now?' said 81
= JullCS NtlHGI, tCLl lllhuUSS l"IOli no u
n stood beside MIS-. Leigh and the model
+ It's wonderful thing"
Pm very glad, said Mrs. Leigh, teal
n fully; Its commoner kind Of II thin
than | wished for him, Sir James, but In
glad he's done we'll"
" Common!n said Sir James; d" don
;. know about that. Have you seen it worl
h Mrs. Legh9 It's the very perfection {
e workmanship. Why, the lads genius!
S A genius!
Quick rs light the remembrance aashe
It through Mrs. Leigh's mind of summe
o morning tive-andtwenty years ago. whe
d little Philip made VOW over his torn copy
book. 1t showed her, by the light of tho
~ one word, her years of unavailing frettin
Y and wasted regret-her vain attempts
turn his talents into other grooves, and u
S ter the work of his life. And now, rs s
| james said, his genius had grown an
10 hourished above and through it all.
l. My dear boy" she said, turning impe
" uously round toward him, "you must fol
give me having tried to thwart you all yor
IS life for having hated your models as
h nave done. was so ignorant, Philip.
Well, he's all right now," said II
If Squire heartily; and bless me, Mrs. Leig
l. how like his father he is, to be sure"
Yes, only his fathers hair was almo
e white at twenty-seven, and Philips wa
o brown, and soft, and curly.
h ghat evening Philip and Eleanor stoc
on the wooden bridge, where the oth
Philip had stood with Phoebe so mar
L.