Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-09-12
At Rest
BY PERCY MONTAGUE MACINrTRE.

A long sweep of smiling sea, IN un-
broken line of cleaning white beach. In
the cool shade of an immense boulder re-
cined Serena Asten. Stretched full length
at her feet was gentleman with hair OF
glittering gold and eyes of deepest blue.
He had flung his hat aside, and the deli
cious sea breeze caressed his curling locks.
The lady was almost Eastern, so sombre
was her beauty. There was an indescrib.
able expression of sadness, of utter loneli-
ness in her dark eyes.
Mr.. Carmel, she said, breaking the
pause that had existed between them for
some time, what do you suppose am 90
ing to do? What do you suppose has en-
tered my head9
He laughed and appeared interested.
have not the slightest idea what it is,
said he, but please tell me. | am in the
mood to receive condolences.
rarely confde in any one, was the some
what grave reply; and | do not think
what am going to tell you can be termed
confidential. Mr.. Carmel, how long
have been in this most delightful place ?
lie looked ut her in Il questioning man
ner.
You were here before | came. have
been here three weeks.
Only three weeks. 1t seems as if lmd
known you for years,
You feel rs do. You remember how
we met. 1t was out here on the beach at
sunset. You were dressed in white. We
came face to lace-our eyes met-and you
passed swiftly by. How surprised and
pleased was to find you seated opposite
me that evening at supper! 1t was mere
chance that caused me to select Mrs, Rye's
boarding house for my stopping place.
Since then we have been considerably to-
gether, have we not?
During this little narrative the color had
come and gone and appeared again in the
ady's olive cheeks, and she had gazed
seaward with happy eyes, for all the world
us though her very heart was glad. He
did not observe her emotion. He took her
fan and attentively looked at the poppies
painted on its azure surface.
Nv three weeks, he continued dreamily,
at this out-of, the-way-s have been the
happiest three weeks | have ever known
twenty-onc days of perfect peace and
warm happiness, Whom must l thank
for them? Why, you, and no one else!
There was i'm exquisite ripple Of joy
over her face rs she turned W him and
said:
Oh, no; do not say tlSt! Do not thank
me for them! Let me thank you instead,
for you, and you alone, made the time so
bright beside these waters, which will be
dear to me forever / am the dullest,
loneliest, most unnterestng creature
aive-then how could | make your time
enjoyable? 1t is impossible. Ii was you
that helped me to forget my miserable
self showed me how to Danish my grief,
my remorse, and my ugly thoughts. Yes.
| am the one to render thanks, and | do ;
| thank you with all my heart.
His face was q study during her out
burst of gratitude-a study OF joyous eX-
pressicns, of ineXpressibc happiness and
relief.
was we'll nigh heart broken, she went
on, looking at the dancing waves over
which the yellow sunshine shone, and so
wretched when | came here that did not
care what became of me. was here one
month before you camG-a dreary Time in
which /, by slow degrees, acquired II feel
ing akin to rest was glad to have it,
for previous to that | had gone through
periods never wish to know again My
moments were spent in watching the se;I
and listening to it, until, soothed by lis
murmurs grew calm. Then you CAME
you know the rest.
lie smiled II WAS tender, caressing
smile, SO grand in It's great tendern IS
that had she seen it her heart would have
ceased throbbing with very delight. But
she was watching the long patches of red
dish light and streaks of crimson in the
west that told of the approaching sunset,
lana therefore failed to see it. A pause.
He was too glad to speak, and size, guess
ing by instinct what was coming, held her
peace in expectancy Of it, while her fine