Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-09-06

llnBefeu over Iut1 COuce, IeCdllnB ull bOflh
of delightful memories of travel, and chatting
with easy familiarity Of a score Of places
whose names were only dreams OF romance
to little Faith and me. She, poor girl, sat
drinking it in with unconscious delight her
cheeks flushed and her lips parted like
child's. Neither she nor | Lad ever heard
Harry talk like that before. l do not think
she once remembered when we rose from
the table at last, that he had not addressed
one word to her through all the meal The
ladies' went into the parlor, and it was but
natural that Harry should join them there,
while Faith busted herself helpfully about the
house, as usual.
speak of this morning thus particularly,
because it was the first of many similar ones.
You can imagine how it all happened. The
new comers were included now in all the lit
tie plans of pleasure. They must be shown
the pretty walks about the shore, or driven to
Roaring Rock" and the Ledge - they must
sail in the little boat which Harry had bought,
and timid Mrs. Gray must be supported in
her struggles with the surf. The quiet strolls
with Faith grew fewer, and the poor little
Scotch songs on the veranda ut evening were
replaced by Edith Gray's guitar and the Won
derful tones of n voice which might have
coined for its owner uncounted gold upon the
stage.
l was restless, i'll at case all the more be-
cause l. too, felt the subtle charm because
knew in my heart that Edith Gray was good
and pure as she was beautiful that she was
all my poor Faith could be, and more-a
thousand times more-in all those acquired
graces of mind aud person which Harry VIII
loughby's wife ought TO wear l say 'ought,"
for knew him, though unconsciously to HIM
self yet by birth and natural instincts an aris-
tocrat. | could not trust the quiet undem-
onstrative affection which bad been born in
the patient, grateful weakness of his sick
chamber. l feared the waking of that pas
sionate heart. The danger he was in seemed
all the more terrible because l knew he was
drifting unconsciously upon it like ship
with all sails set
watched Faith narrowly. There was no
change at first, but after time l noticed
slight heaviness about her eyes, as if she had
not slept She sang no more at her work,
and oftener and oftener she excused herself
gently from Harry's call She was calm,
cheerful, helpful but something indefnable
seemed to have gone from her 1 longed to
speak to her, but as often rs l would have
opened my lips, something-I think now, it
was the magnetism of the girls own will
held me dumb.
One morning. Just after breakfast Harry's
voice sounded through the open window !:
Come Faith, are you ready? And please
tell the ladies that the carriage will be here in
a moment"
Yes, Harry, viii call them, heard her
answer, but you will excuse me from going
for l have promised to do an errand for Mrs.
Fairly"
She ran up stairs, and Il moment later,
heard the footsteps and voices of Mrs. Gray
and Edith descending. / went hastily to look
for Faith, and to tell her that the errand could
be deferred without Inconvenience.
She was standing at the hall window, con-
cealed from outside view by the shadow of the
curtain. Her hands were clenched tightly to-
gether, her cheek showed startlingly thin and
pale against the crimson cloth, and her whole
attitude was one Of hopeless misery. Her
great, fearless eyes looked down upon the gay
seiu mule raa' s-, iI'lai5 5fs'4fly I.- ~
side her.
a sudden storm of indignation shock me.
Faith darling" l cried, this is shame
full! 1t shall not be will speak to him my
self :"
She started violently at the sound of my
voice Sparks seemed to fash from her eyes
and her whole figure dilated. She put up her
hand with such an expression as | had never
seen her wear.
Indeed, you shall MT speak to him" she
cried Then, for a moment, she sank on her
knees before me in IA passion of remorseful
tears, covering my hands with kisses. 20
Mrs Fairly forgive me forgive me'' she
sobbed Il did not mean it did not know
what said But Mrs. Fairly if you have
any love, for me- not one word to Harry
Promise me o promise me-"
l raised her up and held her close to my
breast. My own tears We're falling fast. What
could do?
30 Mrs Fairly say that you forgive me.''
My child, | have nothing to forgive ~
said. And l will promise whatever you
wish"
She kissed me again and again, then she
went into her own little chamber and shut the
door When she came out, few hours later,
her face was calm as ever.
| shall never forget that evening. 4 land
breeze had blown for hours, and the afternoon
had been hot and sitting, but now the wind
changed, and we all went outside for breath
No one seemed inclined to talk.
Sing, Faith" said Harry, suddenly.
felt her start. 1t had been long since Ii,
asked her last. There was little pause, and
she began:
'tShe's game to we'll in heaven, my lassie!
she's game to dwell in heaven!
Ye're owre pure, que the voice Of GOD,
For dwellin' out O. heaven!
80 whatn she do 10 heaven, mylassie?
wbat'n she do in heaven?
She'll mix her ain thoughts wi angels sangs,
An make them malr meet for heaven"
There was u strange sweetness in her voice
unlike anything ever heard, as of one be
yond all earthly pain and passion. tremble'
while listened.
'Thy lips were ruddy and calm, my lAssel
Thy lips ruddy aud calm
But game was the holy breath o. heaven,
To sing the evening psam!'
No one spoke when she had done but Edit
Gray bent and kissed her on the lips.
A sail and lunch at Eagle Island had beei
planned for next day. We were all to go, bu
when morning came Mrs Gray was suffering
from headache Edith would have Remained
with her but she insisted that she only wish
ed to be quiet, so it was arranged that l shoul'
stay at home, in case of her needing any at
tention, and Harry take Miss Gray and Faitl
in the boat. Harry and Edith were chatting
gaily as they set off for the landing, but Faitl
was very still. The same new calm was IN he
face, which had worn since yesterday. "Th
mountains shall bring peace" came to m
mind, as l looked at her
/ They started quite early, for Miss Gray wa
anxious to collect some pretty varieties o
, shells whicA Harry had told her abounde
along little cove on the lee of the island
The day was beautiful and felt no anxiety
for Harry was good sailor, and with Faitl
at the tiller, felt wholly at home upon the wa
ter.
Alas! how little we know what the mex
hour may bring Do you know what whit
squalr' means A summer day, a cloudles
sky, sea flowing smooth as liquid glass, sail
r all set to the light breeze, ripping foam part
ed about the prov and meeting in Ion
, wake of light behind the rocking boat then
in a moment in the twinkling of an eye, wit
5 no warning from above or beneath save on
I white crest of spray away to the windward
| sweeping down with the rush of the hurrican
the tempest has past and behind 1t ar
g splintered masts and shivered sails, and, toe
t often, a capsized boat and poor souls struG
= Cling in the yeasty sea
Thus it was with the little craft that hel
our three precious lives. do not like eve
I now to think of that hour 1t is all like
a horrible dream, the running to and fro c
helpless women-for the fishermen who live
, nearest were all away for their days work