Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-04

colt-he's mine you know-and the two
hundred in the bank that Aunt Mary left me-"
MIR. Eastman was silent for some time,
with his head resting on his hands.
"Well, go If you want TO-" he said at
length" and let the money be where it is,
or take IL with you and spend IL If you like.
| You'll be glad enough TO come back when
| it's gone. Does your mother and Ola know
what FOOLS idea you have taken into your
| head 2"
No, aud I'd rather you wouldn't tell them
| till I'm gone; they'll be sure TO put things
in the way of my going"
The next morning only the farmer and
Jake answered the call to breakfast. Jamie
was gone. So was carpet-bag which for
years had hung over against the chimney
fortnight passed, and letter came to
| Ola from her brother. IL was short and
gave an address. II anything happened
at home" she was to write TO him, but not
otherwise.
So for three years he heard from home
only indirectly, until one morning there
came a letter from Alice Budlong. His
mother was very sick--dying, they thought
and If he wished TO see her he must come
at once Ola was married and living at
distance from the old home, so, as she must
| give her brothers address to some one she
true friend to the family.
The dusk of an autumn twilight was on
the earth and filled the room with lurking
shadows, when Jamie, tall and bearded,
came back and bowed his head over his
mothers pillow. IL was Alice who welcomed
him gladly, If not so warmly as Ola would
have done-Alice who told him how his
mother was, and insisted on his having
cup of tea before going to her room. She
was sleeping iu.t then, she told him, and
ought not to be disturbed The farmer had
not yet finished his chores, and the two were
alone in the great kitchen, where the fire.
light, leaping brightly from the earth, kept,
for brief space, the gathering night at bay.
Alice did not wonder at the change which
the years had made III her old schoolmate;
If she thought him handsome, it was only
what long ago she thought he might be.
But looking closely-though trihe, as it
were, by stealth-she detected look in his
face which it panied her inexpressiby to
see. But her own pain must be put back
and away. 1t was nothing after all to what
his mother would feel. And in her weak
state, too.
The young man, having finished his tea,
rose from the table and moved toward the
door leading to his mothers room; but Alice
stepped quickly between him and the door,
and laid OBTAINING hand on his arm.
Don't go in yet" she said with heighten-
ing color. " Mrs. Eastman is still asleep,
and the doctors orders are that she must
not be awakened, and ! want to say some
thing TO you-to ask you to do something.
She will ask you somethng-will want you
to promise something. Will you do it ?"
He looked the earnest face over keenly,
quizzingly, then blushed as he had not
sha1 in 1ats Dnt
| quickly, and look of dogged resistance
took its place.
"lf | know what you mean," he said,
with some bitterness, q may as well tell
YOU that your concern is thrown away. |
can take care of myself. Besides, what does
it matter? I'm of precious small account
anyhowl'
" YOU'RE of very great account to her
and to more-weak as she is, too, Jamie
Only think what might happen if you
refusel'
"What-crying Well, you're queer
girl, ALICE though you're a good one, too.
Ola always told me that, even if I'd never
found it out for myself. But what is it now
tell me right out, so | shall remember that
you want me to promise"
"Qut the road you've entered on she
said, quickly, lest your courage should fail,
/
She had said it, and now she shrank,
trembling, from him, feeling sure she had
angered him. But whether it was anger or
shame that turned his face so fiery a red, who
could have told then 2 He caught her by
the arm, and wheeling her around, looked
into her face as though he would read her
very soul. Perhaps he read secret there.
Alice verify thought he must, and shrank
from him all the more cooring violently
Suppose mother doesn't ask any promise
Of me p he said, still keeping his eyes on
her face.
Then promise me- she said, meeting his
gaze frankly, her face grown suddenly pale.
Do you know how they do in some
places where they seek to reclaim such as
might become, They hold out hope to them.
But | PROMISE Alice; for the sake of the
old days, | promise, changing the sub
ject to keep down struggle that was rising
within him" let us go and see mother"
go in alone, that is best" Alice said,
chokingy; "you will be better than med
icine to her." And so it proved; for when
at the end of fortnight jamie went away,
she was able to leave the room for a few
hours each day.
James Eastman went back to the business
he had established for himself and which
especially atterly--had been conducted in
rather loose way, feeling altogether new
man. He laid hold of what he had to do
, with will and energy he had never felt be-
fore, and his work prospered with him. He
was soon spoken of as a rising man. People
/ wondered and admired where before they had
not been slow to blame and censure. Joe
t Hyatt heard of him as one made of in society
aud never let pass an opportunity of mention
- ing that he had once been an esteemed friend
of their own, but they never met Jamie
= wrote home occasionally now, long, pleasant
letters, which the old folks took world of
pride in showing to their friends.
E A year went by, and the return OF autumn
e found Jamie once more at his own home.
, Oddly enough, as before, Alice Budlong was
4 the first to meet him. She was coming
D down the walk, after visit to his mother,
when he met her. Was it any wonder that
- Mrs, Eastman, stealing glances at the pair
from behind the window-curtain, thought
. her son long in coming into the house? Not
, that she was sorry, either, when at length
( Jamie turned his face from Alice and she
t read what was written thereon, Aud still
: James Eastman had not spoken the word
r which might win Alice for wife. Would
t he ever, when he knew that Joe Hyatt was
d stopping at the Budlongs'2
5 You will not fail to come over soon u
Alice had said, ".Joe Hyatt is there for a
/. few days; you will be pleased to meet her"
e Then she is Joe Hyatt still p
5 "Yes, Joe Hyatt still, and more beautiful
5 than ever, and more sensible and womanly
p by far than when you knew her." Alice said,
V quietly.
Mr. James Eastman lost little time in call.
d ing on his old neghbors, the Budlongs.
d Miss Hyatt took the honors of his visit quite
S to herself. He had loved her once passion
it ately as she was very certain. Did he love
l. her still That, with her, was TIE all-im-
n portant question. If not, was it too late to
II win him2
e lie came often, and Joe, pleased and fiat
It tered, did her best to captivate him, until
v one day, going into the garden when she
l. supposed James at home, she found james
,r aud Alice standing under vine from which
T. hung few clusters of grapes, and talking
in that peculiar uudertone which lovers
e affect. Something, too, in the attitude OF
At the parties told her she had nothing to hope
from in that quarter, and so the next morn.
,r ing's train bore her away, chagrined and
A. disappointed beyond measure. Farmer
re Eastman thought she was in "mighty
!" hurry, all of a sudden" and might, at least
have waited till after the wedding, which
% it was arranged should take place soon.
There was no going back to the business
d in town. farmers life was what suited