Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-10-02

-D"ihe NoolnDs, who had come over with
eggs. Win
a. heard you rightly? she said You
Told me that Evan Locke and his mother
were making ready for voyagep
lhey re going TO Canada. NV son. n
carpenter-and good one. if | saw it
made box for the DOCTORS things. The
Old lady breads the new country but she
goes for her sons sake. There is money
to be made there, they say. That's what
| told you so, said grandma.
| don't believe it, said I.
They've sold the house and gone to Liy-
erpool to take shipping; and YOU NAV
hnd The truth for yourself, if you choose
TO take the trouble. said Dame Coombs
IN no chatterboX, to go telling falseboods
about my neighbors. And away she went
in wrath.
And still would not believe it till had
walked across the moor and had seen the
shutters fast closed and the doors barred .
not sign of life about the place. Then /
gave up hope. went home all pale and
trembling, and sat down at grandmamma's
knee.
It's true, said /.
And for the sake of so false a lad you'
see your grandfather ruined, and break his
heart, and leave me that have nursed Won
from babe, widow.
looked at her as she sobbed, and found
strength to say:
Give me 10 whom you will, then, since
my own love does not want me.
And then | crept up stairs and sat down
upon my bedside, as weak as though |
\ had tainted. | would have thanked Heaven
for forgetfulness, just then, but it would
not come.
The next day Squire Turner was in the
parlor as my accepted lover. Eli! how
pleased he was, and how the color came
back into grandfather's old face? And
granne grew 50 proud and kind, and all
the house was aglow, and only sad. But
| couldn't forget Lvan-Evan whom had
loved so-sailed away from me without /,
word.
l suppose they saw l looked sad. The
Squire talked OF my health, and would
make me ride with him over the moor for
strength.
The old folks said nothing. They knew
what allied me; only our little Scotch maid
seemed to think there was aught wrong
On she said 10 me:
What als ye, missP your eye is dull and
your cheek is pale, and yonr Draw grand
lover Gamma make ye smile, ye are no that
ill., either.
No; am well enough. said.
She looked at me wstfully.
Gin ye'd tell me your all, might tell a
cure, she said.
But there was no cure for me in this
world, and could not open my heart to
simple little Jennie. So The days rolled
by and was close upon my marriage
eve, and grandmother and Dorothy Plume
were busy with my wedding robes.
wished it was my shroud they were work.
ing at, instead.
And one night the pain in my heart was
100 great and | went out among the pur-
pie heather ON the moor, and there knell
down under the stars and prayed to be- tax
en- from the world: for how Can l live
without Evan, said.
spoke the words aloud and then start
ed up in alright, for there at my side wa>
i'm cItish lutte figure, and heard IL Cry. that
at first scarcely thought could be earthly
Yet it was but Scotch Jennie, who had fol
lowed me.
Why do ye call for your true love now
said she; ye sent him fra ye for the sake o
the young Squire.
How dare You follow and watch me?
But she caught my sleeve
Dinna be vcxed, she said. just bide
wee, and answer what | speer. It's fo
love of you, for hae seen ye waste lik'
the snaw wrath in the sun sin the Squr,
wooed ye. Was it your will the lad tina
loved the ground We trod on should hav'
his ring again.
What do you meanP said.
I'll speak, gin lose my place. said Jen
ME. rode with the mistress to young
DR.. Lockes place past the moor, and Their
she lighted and gave him a ring, and wh,
she said know not, but it turned him thu
,, tint o de tn, and said he:
There's nh n drop of true blud in q
, woman kind gin she is false. And he turn
ed to the wall and covered his eyes, an
your granne rode home. There, It's all
! ken-will it doo
Ay, Jennie said Heaven bless you.
And had | wings on my feet could nc
have come TO the cottage door sooner.
| stood before my grandmother. trem
bling and white, and said: Oh, don't te
e,
: robbed me of my true love by lie. Dl
you steal the olh-ring from my neck an
give it back to Evan rs if from mep You
have loved and honored my life long-r
rather die than think OF it.
= She turned scarlet.
= True love? said she you've but one lov
now-Squire Turner.
You have done it | cried It's write
:, on your face.
u And she looked down at that, and fell t
weeping.
NV own true love was breaking h
> heart, she said. My husband and | ha
il loved for fifty years. did it to save hin
, Could let girls fancy, worth nothing
stand in my way, and see him a beggar
his old age? Oh, girl, girl!
= And then fell down at her feet like
, stone. l knew nothing for an hour {
more: but then, when ! was better. m
' they left me with Jennie, babe her feiC
J nv hood and cloak and her own. Away
went across the moor in the starlight
where the hall wincows were ablazc wit
u light, and asked the housekeeper to let N
. see The Squire.
e She stared at me for my boldness-an
IS no wonder- but called him. So in MI
g ment he stood before me in his eveniE
IL dress, with his cheeks flushed and h
eyes bright, and led me into little roc
> and seat me.
Agatha, my love, hope no mischan'
L brings YOU here, he began.
X n But stopped him..
y Not your love, Squire Turner, said.
n II thank you for thinking so well oil me b
n even after all that had passed. /
could say no more. He took my han
n Have | offended you, AgathaP he said.
II Not you. The otfense-the gullt-oh.
have been solely cheated! And all
'r could do was to sob and think he thoug
10 me mad.
At last strength came TO me. we
a back to the first and told him all-how
n had been plighled to each other, waltlr
l; only for better prospects to be wed, al
ID now, when he hunored me by the offer
e. his b md, angered my grandparents
a owning to the truth, and of the ring gra
g ME had stolen from my breast. and u
le false message that had sent my promls'
husband from me.
10 And though / never see Evan LOG
III again, said !, still / can never be anuth
ST. man q true love, for am his until die.