The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1878-10-10
short Of Il. wiuiired. We're 10 bad Il
bat Il eant be helped,
Bat you dos1 bate Willard

Mel like bin. Hes enc, manly
young fellow, sure to make bis mark in
The world. If be Is Rsmingios. ! hhvs
no fault TO hnd With him.
I Then, oh, Cousin Hiram | began,
Bot he interrupted me. laying heavy
+ hand upon nay arm,
I There's 40 use talking, Wiuiired. You
can tel me uo,hiug that | DO not know
already sm as sorry for all this rs you
can be. Is not Hope my own child! But
/ | am a man, aud cannot 20 back on my
own record. never shall consent TO
this marriage, unless some voice speaks
I 10 me out OF cloud aud says DO IL.
A Sudden thought struck me as
glanced up at the laden bougbs OF the
apple tree.
+ Then II miracle were wrought In their
favor, your pride might be persuaded TO
yiclds ! said, doubtless with little
iinge Of bitterness.
lie answered angrilY;
When 8 sign is sent to me direct from
beAyeu, IN give Hope to Willard Rem
( iBgton, bat not before.
I sat up late that night, but early the
next morning, when the gray dawn was
just Frightening in the east, ! stole softly
past Hopes door, down the stairs, that
creaked perversely despite all my caution,
opened the ball door as silently as a
dream, aud few down the garden path
aud over the wall into the orchard.
For some days things went on from
bad to worse. One evening Hope threw
a light cloud over her head, and wandered
of toward the little elump OF hemlocks
down by the falls. knew well enough
where she was going, and what she was
going for. Probably ber father knew
also. But II so he did not interfere. He
could trust her.
was In the ball when she came in.
Her face was white as marble, aud just
as set aud cold. Her eyes were fearless,
but heavy aud bloodshot. She went up
to her room and went to mine. She
had never spoken TO me OF Willard Rem
ington since that Sunday at church, and
respected her silence.
Tie next day at the post-ofiice heard
that he had gone back to bis Western
lite.
This was Tuesday. The next Thurs
day we were all out on the porch, when
neighbor, who was going by, stopped
for a chat, leaning with both arms upon
the gate.
By-the-by, he said, have you heard Of
the accident on the New York Central2
Cars ran of a bridge into fifteen feet of
water, and third Of the passengers
were killed. Willard Remington was on
board, and they say is among the miss
ing.
Hope raised one hand to her head, with
faint scream, and fell TO the floor as If a
ball had pierced her heart.
We carried her into the house aud laid
her upon the bed in her mothers room.
II was an hour before she gave signs of
returning consciousness. Then, when
the pale lips began TO quiver little, and
there was slight tremulous motion OF
the eyelids, Cousin Rhoda said, in a
hushed voice:
Go sway now, both of you. When
she comes 10 she will want to see no face
but her mothers. Hiram Gardner, ii
your pride has killed our child, may God
forgive you!
We went out of the back door, and fol.
lowed the little fool-path that led TO the
orchard, till we stood under the tree with
the spreading branches and golden fruit.
took long stick from the ground and
| pointed it 10 great crimson apple that
/ swung from The nearest bough, yet fat
above our heads There, in letters OF
pale green upon ruby ground, were the
words, Willard Hope.
1 He started violently. Ny Godl Win
/ fired, what does that mean? And The
inan's lips were white as askes.
/ II means, answered, perhaps with
/ lips a. coiorless as his, for the very depths
/ OF my being was stirred it means lhal
/ II Willard is alive hG belongs TO Hope,
aud you have 30 light TO keep them
apart
For full five minutes he stood beside
me with bis face buried in his hands.
! Then he looked up, with "a faint smlie
playing about hi. resoluie lips.
/ There is somc hocus.poeus about this
/ Winifred. We don't have miracles in the
nineteenth century. However | accept
the omen. am going over TO Mr.. Rem
4 ington's to ask if Willard was on The
train, or II be has been heard from
Don't touch that apple.
/ An hour afterward Cousin Hiram came
home, aud walked straight through the
sitting room into the bedroom where
Hope still lay with closed eyes, speechless
motioness-a white statue that scarcely
breathed. lie bent down and kissed her
lips.
have been over to Mr.. Remington's,
Hope, be said Willard has just tele'
graphed. lie was not on the train.
Open your eyes, my child aud look at me,
/ want you to send this apple 10 willard
and tell him that you belong TO him, aud
be TO you.
She just kissed him that was all.
Three years Afterward went up 70
/ Highland to meet Hope, who was home
on a visit. We were all out under the
spreading apple tree.
Now telIu all about il, Wibiiredi said
Cousin Hiram. ! know you can explain
the mystery Of the apple II you choose
No. / answered. laughing; that would