Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-09-04
VOL. 73.-3751. NO. AZ.
"I told you so," said grandmother.
al don't believe il" aaid I

| II UOlu you SO, Sa1d grandmother.
al don't believe it," said l.
| "They've sold the house. and gone 10
Liverpool to take ship; and you may find
the truth for yourself, If you choose to take
the trouble said Dame Coombs "I'm no
chatterbox, to tell falsehoods about nv
neighbors." And she went away in wrath.
And still / would not believe it till
| had walked across the moor and bad seen
| the shutters fast closed and the door barred
and not a sign Of life about the place. Then
I gave up hope. went home all pale and
trembling, and sat down at grandmam-
mas knee.
It's true" said I.
"And for the sake Of so false lad you'll
see your grandfather ruined, and break his
| heart, and leave me that have nursed you
| from babe, a widow"
looked at her as she sobbed, and found
strength TO say:
"Give me to whom you will, then, since
my own love does not want me.
And then crept upstairs and sat down
on my bedside, weak as though I had
tainted. would have thanked heaven for
forgetfulness just then, but it wouldn't
come.
The next day Squire Turner was in the
parlor as my accepted lover. How pleased
he was, and how the color came back into
grsndfather's old face And grannie grew
so proud and kind, and all the house was
| aglow, and only sad. But I couldn't for
| get Evan-Evan whom had loved so-sail-
ing away from me without word.
suppose they all saw looked sad. The
Squire talked of my health, and would
make me ride with him over the moors for
strength
The old folks said nothing. Phey knew
what allied me; only our little Scotch maid
seemed to think there was aught wrong.
Once she said to me
"What ails ye, miss Your eye is dull
and your cheek is pale, and your Draw grand
lover Gamma make ye smile We are ma that
i'll, either"
"No I'm well enough" said l.
She looked at me wistfuly.
"Gin yed tell me your all, might tell
you cure" she said.
But there was no cure for me in this
world, and couldn't open my heart to sim
pie Jennie. So the days rolled by, and
was close on my marriage eve, aud grannie
and Dorothy Plume were busy with my
wedding robes. wished it was my shroud
they were working at, instead.
And one night the pain in my heart grew
too great, and | went out among the purple
heather on the moor, and there knelt down
under the stars and prayed to be taken from
the world "for how can | live without
Evan?" said.
spoke the words aloud, and then started
up in alright, for there at my side was an
elfsh little figure, and heard cry that at
first / scarce thought earthly. Yet it was
but Scotch Jennie, who had followed me.
"Why do ye call for your true love now2"
she said; eye sent him fra ye for sake O. the
Young Squire"
How dare you follow and watch me2
But she caught my sleeve.
"Dnna be vexed" she said "Just bide
wee, and answer what speer. It's for
love of you, for I've seen We waste like the
snaw wreath IN the sun sin the Squire wooed
We. Was it your will the lad that loved the
ground ye trod on should have his ring
again?"
"What do you mean? said.
"Ill speak gin | lose my place." said
Jennie. " | rode with the mistress to young
DR.. Locke's place past the moor and there
,he lighted and gave him ring, and what
she said I know not, but it turned him the
tint O. death, and said he; There's ma a
drop O. true blud in woman gin she is
false Aud he turned to the wall and COW
cred his eyes, an your grannie rode home.
mere, us all keU-WOll III 40
Gay, Jennie" said | "heaven bless youl"
Aud had wings on my feet | could not
have come to the cottage door sooner.
stood before my grandmother, trembling
and white and said "Oh, don't tell me,
grannie, you have cheated me and robbed
me of my true love by lie. Did you steal
the troth ring from my neck and give it
back to Evan, as if from me You I've
loved and honored my life long-Id rather
die than think it.
She turned scarlet
"True love 2" said she "you've but one
love uow-Squire Turner"
"You have done it" | cried. ats
written on your face"
And she looked down at that and fell to
weeping
MY own true love was breaking his
heart" she said. any husband and had
loved for fifty years. did it to save him.
Could let a girls fancy, worth nothing
stand in my way, aud see him a beggar in
his old age? Oh, girl, grill"
And then | fell down at her feet like a
stone | knew nothing for an hour or more;
but then, when was better, and they left
me with Jennie, bade her fetch my hood
and cloak and her own. Away went across
the moor in the starlight to where the hall
windows were ablaze with light, and asked
the housekeeper to let me see the Squire.
! She stared at me for my boldness no
wonder-but called him. So in a moment
he stood before me in his evening dress, with
his cheeks flushed and his eyes bright, and
led me into little room and seated me.
agatha, my love, hope no mischance
brings you here" he began.
But stopped him.
81 Not your love, Squire Turner" said.
/" I thank you for thinking so well of me,
but even after all that had passed. /"
| could say no more. He took my hand.
Have offended you, Agatha ?" he said.
"Not you. The offense-the guilt-oh,
have been sorely cheated" and all could
do was to sob and think he thought me mad
At last strength came to me. | went back
to the first and told him all-how we had
been plghted to each other, waiting only for
better prospects to be wed, and how, when
he honored me by the offer of his hand
angered my grandparents by owning to the
truth, and of the ring grannie had stolen
from my breast, and the false message that
had sent my promised husband from me.
"And though | never see Evan Locke
again." said |, " still can never be another
mans true love, for am his until die"
At last he arose and came to me,
"My little Agatha never loved me-" he
said. "Ah, me The news is bad
thought she did. This comes of vanity"
"Many higher and fairer have hearts to
give" said. "Mine had gone ere you saw
me-"
And then, kind and gentle as though had
not grieved him. he gave me his arm and
saw me across the moor, and at the gate
paused and whispered
81 Be at rest, Agatha. The Canadian ship
Golden George has not sailed yet"
liked him better than l had ever done
before that night when | told Grannie that
/ would never wed him.
Eli but he was fit to be king-the
grandest, kindest, best of living men who
rode away with the break of the morrow
and never stopped till he reached Liverpool,
and found Evan Locke Just ready to set foot
upon the Golden George, and told him tale
that made his heart light and sent him back
to me; but our young SquireP Heaven
bless him
And who was it that sent old grandfather
; the deed of gift that made the cottage his
own, and who spoke kind word to the gen
} try for young DIR. Locke that helped hin
into practice Still no one but 'Squir,
' Turner, whom we taught our children u
pray for every night For we were married
E and in few years had boys and girls at oui
knees and when the eldest was nigh two
4 tho thtnu I naadad 10 m Ala ma nn,ta he nm,