Litchfield enquirer., 1877-08-23


ceiling and seemed to set the staid pulse
of the tall clock ticking to quicker meas
ure. .a 4, 80. ..s. r
One morning in December, Amos rode
mp in great hurry to tell Patty that he
had been summoned to Boston unexpect-
eddy, where he would have to stay until
the day before the Wedding. He found
her IN good spirits, She told him what
books to bring her from the city, and
then she let him embrace her over and
over again, while telling her goodbye.
Just two weeks from now, God willing,
I'll be with you again, Patty, and then
you will be my own dear wife, Ea5
,9f s''Yes, Amos, yours for time and for
eternity !sa ss3 hsa s i >
: The sleigh-bells iingled and he was
gone. Ia The short winter days sped on /.
Aunty Faith came often to consult With
Patty about arranging Amos house.
Pattysa and he.were going on no long we'd
ding tour. After their minister had mar
ried them at Mrs. BEawton's house ID, the
presence Of q few relatives and friends;
and as they hoped in the presence of
the great Head of the Church. who had
Himself typifed this relation by. calling
her Ellis Bride" they, were going die
rectly to Amos' house. ASA =. ,.s.,,..a
The wedding loaf was made. Mrs.
Brawton and Sara had packed, the great
chests Of home-spun linen, and the trunk
full of the nice stitching over which the
girls had been so busy. s..l. ..--,s...
The morning Of the 10Th was cold and
gray. Banks OF snow clouds were piled
up over the mountains. Patty busied her
self for while. with household matters
and then she retired to her room. Her
father was dead, who might have been
more congenial, but there was little 4. in
common between, her mother and herself,
save the faithful performance Of reoipro-
cal duties. Tbs hard practical nature of
her mother, toughened by the stern eli
mate and more stern religion of New Eng
land, could see nothing of the inner life
of her daughter. the overweight mag.
nation, the self-distrust, the mysticism
ever looking for symbols, ever craving
some intangible presence to lead her up
ward, Patty sat alone hour after hour,
that winters day, thinking OF her wedding
tomorrow. Early in the afternoon mis-
lay over the mountain and over the ever
green trees. It crept toward the
Lake toward her. Weird shadows
fitted here and there. A ghostly
presence seemed to steal up to her and
then the voice she dreaded whispered,
''wait." She fell on her knees. ''Oh! God,
have I not waited long enough. Let me 60
to Amos now" A fold Of gray enveloped
her, deadly chill struck her heart, again
the word "yait,'" Great anguish seized
her. She never doubted the warning,
and we'll she knew. or thought she knew
why she was not to marry. She prayed
for strength to bear, fo- words to tell
Amos that she could not be his life, but
never to tell him why, until-oh, until
her soul was fitting. She asked for God Is
blessing to rest on him, that he would
forgive her. ~. .....-. -.
At last peace came, and she waited quiz
city for Amos. All this time he had been
fastening to her as fast as the huge snow
drifts. and binding mist permitted. In
stead of taking the lower road as usual
from his house, where he had stopped just
long enough to let Aunty Faith see that
he was well, he came over the hill as he
wanted to call at the house of an old ser.
want and bid her to the wedding to-mor-
row. Daylight was with him on the
heights, but when he neared the lake
under the mountain, he was plunged all at
once into darkness. Night had set in here.
Brave and CHEEKY as he was he felt op.
pressed. How would Patty meet him. He
recalled German myth, which she had
once told him, Of mountain Spirit who
strides through his kingdom. and whose
might in such an hour passes into the life
of.the mortal who is going through his
country. Whatever he unites is united
forever; whatever he separates, is separa-
ted for all eternity. Was this spirit
abroad then. he urged his jaded horse
into the lane, and then put him into his
accustomed stall in Mrs. Brawton's stable.
Poor Reno knew it well. He had been
there nearly as much for the last two
years as at his masters barn. No Patty
looked out Of the window. He took from
his saddle.bags the books he had brought
her from Boston, and now stood ut the
door. Mrs. Brawton opened it for him.
Her features looked harder than ever, her
eyes cold and gray like the mist. Amos
scarcely spoke to her. - ..'4.1"
Where is Patty?'' he asked, putting
his bundle down into the nearest chair
and taking off his wet hat and cloak, and
going up to the IRE. @t ss9'i5ad Ef 8
81 will call her. She has been in her
room nearly all day" =,
Amos tried to stir the smouldering logs
INTO a blaze, but they seemed dampened
md dispirited. Mrs. Brawton came back
saying that Patty would be down in mo-
nent, butthat she looked sick. She then
put some light wood under the hickory
brands and jets of flame burst out to
warm Amos benumbed fingers. Then she
eft him. :.
Presently rustic was heard on the
'tairs. and with slow step Patty entered
he room. Her face was sshen and rigid.
Little rings of moist hair lay on her fore
head. She went up to Amos and kissed
him tsndsrly. letting him hold her for Q
She did not trembls now, and
Amos hoped all was we'll with her. But
Ter extreme palsness and the wide-opened,
appealing ewes alarmed him s.4fa3z va,fts