St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-11-23

new, ana tnat held all the subtle power
OF loveliness, with sort of weird fas-
cination added, that seemed to hold
the glory OF sea-girt, tropic islands.
Percy Thornton was no idle man of
fashion. There was a grand depth of
soul in him that thrilled when touched
by power that could rouse it, and at
these times he was man to be proud
of; but he lacked the great keynote
OF holding the position thus gained, and
when the mOmentary excitement was
gone, sank back into the careless and
listless life his wealth enabled him to
follow. Necessity, or the dangers of
others, would have made him a noted
man, and it would need the presence of
an ever-sOaring soul to urge him on,
and make him what he was born to be,
what all men are born to be, utefuI to
the world.
Something of this desire to stride
forth and be of use, swelled in his soul,
as the music of this woman's voice
echoed in its chambers. She was only
talking of common things, of the bright
hess of nature, and the sun-glOry lying
on the sea, but there seemed to be
something hidden in her words, and to
Percy Thornton this took the form of a
question, and that question was, ''What
is your life doing for the good of the
world and its people ?"
There was nothing in the conversa-
tiOn to call this forth, for it was only
the usual manner of such little morning
chats, and ended in Miss Follen being
escorted back to the hotel by the two
gentlemen.
"What do you think of her ?" said
Tom Wilde, as Percy and he, having
left Miss FOllen at the main entrance,
seated themselves in out of the-way
chairs at the end of the veranda.
81 don't know what to think of her.
There is something very peculiar about
her, and l can think of nothing to ex-
press it."
.'The usual judgment. Truly she is
fate; but whose 2"
81 will tell you what she appears to
be,-a beautiful appeal for high and
helpful work /; human guardian angel,
sent to lead some one Alright"
"You will find her extremely human
in many things"
$50 much the better. Were she too
angelic, she would impair her useful
ness"
| utt ClCN was
to fathom the mystery of Miss FOllen's
power, was seen by the close attention
he paid her. ElmpOrt was not as full
of summer visitors as usual, for the war
was raging at it's maddest hight, and
the men who had been wont to lounge
idly on it's hard and shining sands were
marching onward to bloody battle
fields. How came it that Percy Thorn
ton and Tom Wilde were not with
them
Of Toms delinquency little need be
said, for he had just finished his law
studies, and had come to Elmport to
have few weeks off work ere he Joined
the brave fellows down on the Potomac.
Tom Wilde was IL man who never
shrank from his duty and perhaps it
was because she had recognized this,
that Pearl Thornton had given him her
love.
But it was different with Percy.
When Tom and he graduated, he had
gone home, while Tom went to the law
school. Percy was free when the war
began, and, with his intelligence and
influence, could have obtained high
position. But he was listless, and
though Pearl was patriotic, and strove
hard to arouse him, she could not, and
the dark days of sixty-twO had come.
and found him still spectator.
Miss Follen never said word to him
concerning his duty, never mentioned
the war, but there was an earnestness
in her manner when reading the news,
that told how much she was interested.
Percy noticed this, and, as day by day
went by, found that he was growing
very fond of this strange woman, and
at last he was startled by the knOwl-
edge that he loved her.
1t was revelation to him, and one
he could not view with his usual ease.
He was no coward. Once thoroughly
aroused, he would have sacrificed a
thousand lives, had he possessed them,
to gain victory. But now he found
that he was confronted by a position
that he dared not storm.
He felt that this woman's love was
all to him, that its gaining meant JOY
hope, honor, everything, and that its
loss would leave life blank. He was
not fantistically love-sick, but he was
one of those to whom affection gives
few flowers, and, to compensate fol the
smallness of the number, makes then
everlasting and somehow he felt that
he could not ask this woman for hel
love. because he had done nothing tC
deserve it.
When her great questioning eyes rest,
ed on him, he felt that she was weigh
ing him, and dreaded the result. Day
by day he felt her fascinatiOns drawing
its meshes closer about him, and witt
this knowledge came that telling hin
he had work to do to gain her affection
Still he fingered on until Septembe
came, loving her more, and all the while
repelled from telling of his love, be
cause he knew her soul demanded wortl
and endeavOr from him she would max,
her king.
With September came word to Ton
, that he could join regiment III the
field as lieutenant.
Percy and Miss Follen were walking
on the beach when Tom received thi
news, and he went to them, and told it
.'And you are going to help" sait
| Miss Follen, proud light in her eyes
, "Thank you," and she clasped his hant
warmly.
"When do you go, Tom 2" asked
Percy, who had seen the light, ant
heard the words.
sIn week."
There was little talk after this, bu
, Percy took no farther part in it. Th,
succeeding days went by as of old unit
the morning of that on which Tom wa
to leave. They were seated in coz,
/ alcove whose open windows let in tn
cool sea-breeze, reading the morning
, papers, which had just come from tn
city. There had been battle, ant
) Miss Follen's eyes were dewy with tn