The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1878-01-11

by this sudden shock had passed away,
the first thought that came to him was
that of pleasure; for he had often felt
that he would rather think of her dead
than as the wife of another.
After his course was completed, he
decided to spend year or two in for.
eign travel, to gain if possible his for.
mcr tone; consequently he soon found
himself in Italy, with companion oil
his school days, rowing about from
place to place, sometimes stopping fol
weeks at country village, then roam.
ing over mountains, camping where
ever night overlook them. Mr.. Bur
ton determined to drive from his mem.
ory everything of Fannie Huntington
although, at times, he almost gave ur
in despair.
One night, as he drove into n quiet
village, situated few miles inland
from Rome, Mr.. Burton said to his
companion,
"Bill, am resolved to return homo
There is no use in rowing about here
any longer, for the longer / stay the
more despondent | become, and even
the most inspiring scenery seems sick.
ening to me-
Joe, old fellow" said Bill, "tliat
little love affair of yours, that took
place almost before you came to years
Misunderstanding, has completely upset
you. You know that she is dead, and
[ believe that if you had any desire tu
do so, you could forget all about her."
"There is no use in talking, Bill,
have tried TO the best of my ability,
and in spite of all that | can do, my
thoughts will wander back to those few
short days spent in hor society. When
| sleep her image appears before me
just as left her for the last time"
Il have another plan that we will
try" said Bill, "and if that proves of nc
avail, we will start for home. You
know that when in college you were
very much interested in botany and we
used to take many long strolls together
in search of specimens. Now, / pro-
pose that we turn our pleasure seeking
into a botanizing expedition and see
how large collection we can take back
with us to New England. If, after we
have given this thorough trial, you do
not get interested, we will pack up"
Mr. Burton was pleased with this,
and readily gave his consent to make
one more effort. The ncxt morning
with the necessary apparatus for pres
sing and preserving their specimens,
they started forth. They both soon be-
came deeply interested, and before they
were aware they were far separated
Mr.. Burton wandered towards the ton
of hill which overlooked the village.
whero he expected to find another va
riety of plants. AS he drew near he
heard children's voices, and, being
weary, he thought he would while
away few moments watching them al
their play. When he came in sight he
saw that there was n young lady, appar-
emily in charge of them, who sat with
her back towards him beneath the
shade of tree, with her hat thrown
aside, an easel before her, and, to all
appearances, sketching the village be-
meath them. Mr.. Burton's first thought
was to quietly withdraw; but as he
started to act on this impulse he over
heard tho conversation of the children
and learned that they were English.
His curiosity was aroused. He desired
to know what English lady was stop.
ping here in such an out of the way
place; and also moved by those feelings
of brotherhood which every one feels
when, in strange land, he meets an
own countryman, he slowly advanced
towards the lady. Hearing his foot
steps, she suddenly arose from her seat
and turned about.
If he had suddenly seen lcgions of
angels sweeping through the air on the
clouds of heaven, he would not have
thought it more supernatural for he
saw in the lady who stood before him
the exact image of Fannie Huntington.
He was on the point of turning away,
thinking that it was the workings of a
disordcred.brain, when she who stood
before him said, "Why, Mr.. Burton,
can believe my cycsY
ooh, Fannie. why do you return to
earth 10 haunt Inc and drag me to the
grave, by continually arousing that old
love within me, that is stamped upon
my heart forevcr?"
''Mr. Burton, | am no ghost. have
never left the earth at all, 80 do not
return; do look like celestial being? p,
''ls this" said Mr.. Burton, ''she
whom once knew as Fannie Hunting
ton, and whose death havo since seen
in print?"
81 am she who was once, aud is now,
Fannie Huntington, and who once had
a friend by the name Of Joseph Burton
in New England; but | have positive
proof that l never died"
Mr.. Burton's heart lcaped as 1t never
had BEFORE as he walked calmly for
ward and grasped her by the hand.
"You say you are still Fannie Hunting
ton; did you not marry Frank Osborn p
mo, we were not married, for papa
lost n part of his property soon after |
went homo from N, and Mr.. Os-
born quickly discovered that his affcc-
uons were not strong enough to over
come the obstacles, so the wedding was
nnceremoniously adjourned siue die.
soon secured a situation as governess,
and as such you now meet me here"
81 saw notice in Western paper,
of the death of Fannie, wife of Frank
Osborn; that must have been mis-
take" added Mr.. Burton.
"Oh, no, no married, Within II few
weeks, Fannie Jackson, an old school
mate of mine" explained Miss Hunt
ington.
"Fannie-I tOiU say Fannie now-may
| consider You as my friend, nay, more
than friend; may |, after so long II
time, call you miner"
The head that dropped upon his
breast was all the answer he required.
When ho met Bill that night he said
he guessed they could abandon that
botanizing plan for the present; for he
had discovered n far better remedy.