Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-02-21
CHAPTER III.

The Misunderstanding Of unayowed lovers
are of all others mot persistent. least COM
prehcnsible, and least open to happy solu-
ton.
Amos H,dley and Hope Wolsingham saw
Just so much OF each other as served to widen
the gap between them and not enough to
bridge it over; yet, with the peryerse incon-
sisteucy Of human nature, the attachment of
each became stronger as there seemed less
likelihood of mutual understanding.
Servants both with set duties and hard
work before them from one weeks end to an
other, they had no leisure to ruminate with
folded hands and grow morbidly sentimental
but the htartache was not the less real and
deep. The few days intercourse at the farm
when the man helpless and the woman
tenderly hopeful, had raised hopes which on
ly lacked confirmation.
Alas, for hope! Their first meeting set
doubt in its place, aud doubt is nn enemy not
easily dislodgod.
The brown and crimson leaves OF October
had grown dngy under the chilly breath Of
young November, and lay in sodden heaps
under the dripping trees when the light frost
gave way before mist aud rain.
Amos. in attendance on Sir William, came
and went from the park to the noors, the
nearest way TO which rounded the corner Of
the farm-y yard and crossed the Applegarth
meadows, and bad frequent opportunities to
say n word in passing to whomsOeycr Glanced
TO he about aud as they mostly passed at
milking-tmc, whether morning or evening,
and the dogs gave notice Of their approach,
it needed little coutriyance TO bring Hope
within speaking distance on these occasions.
But rs milking time came close upon feeding
and foddcring time, big Geordie Applegarth
was generally there also with his pitchfork, or
pals of swill for the porkcrs, and being fond
of a gossip, cfectually prevented any private
ttte-A-tttc.
Gcorlie was suh'imely unconscious of in
trusicn, but Amos =, I'D in his constant pres.
ence AN intentional intervention and super
vision of Hope only compatible with ulterior
designs of his own, and r scented it taccording-
ly.
He had carried the bright ribbons in hi!
pocket hoping to find favorable moment for
their presentation hut uncertain how Lis Of
fermg might be received. he could not risk it
with that raw -bou,d fellow st her elbow, So
the silken love-Sift came and went away with
him. until III high displsasure at George
Applegartls association with Hope, he began
to pass without glancing toward the farm
gate even when alone. Nay, if Gypsy were
with him, and tvinccd a desire to run beneath
the bars aud have little quiet frolic with
Hope whose plump hand was always tt ady
to stroke his head. a shrill md prolonged
whistle summoned the grateful animal away
before he could lick her hand in return.
Under this fresh slight Hope decided TINT
Amos was ungrateful, that he was not wort,
thinking about and that she would not waste
another thought upon him. But she thought
of little Else. True, she kept out of sight
when he was near, but she watched for his
coming from behind the dairy lattice and
sighed when be was gone.
Hers was not fading color, but its bright
ness paled she lost her spirits and her appe-
tite, and then Dame Applegarth took notice
of the change.
Hope insisted it was only due TO the wealth
or, bnt the good dame thought otherwise, and
decided that her maid should have holiday
for the purpose of consulting her grandmoth-
or, the doctress, and bringing back such herbs
and simples as their own garden might not af-
ford
Betty Wolsingham, when at home, which
was but seldom, occupied n small cottage in
a sort of rift. high on the side Of Black Fell
Other cottages, chiefly inhabited by pitmen
and their families, were scattered here and
there, singy or in groups. Hers stood alone
and loof under the shelter of gray rock, and
was distinguished by Il small patch of garden
ground, in which Betty reared few vegeta-
bl,s and such medicinal herbs rs would flour
ish with little cultivation.
A clear spring of pure water trlckled from
the rock behind, and ran away in thin rillet
down the hillside, loaping in spray here and
there until it lost itself in Il wider burn, inky
as the coal deposits whence it flowed.
Buruhead was little more than three miles
from Derwentside, but three miles of rugged,
painless road over moor and fell, interseeted
with yawning caverns in the shape of old and
abandoned coal pits, with gorse and whin to
impede progress if the "blind-path' be de-
serted-three miles, | say, of such road might
well count as six. So Dame Applegarth must
have felt when she filled with fresh butter,
new-laid eggs a piece of bacon, and pie,
basket for Hope to carry to her grandmother,
and hurried the girl of early on the Saturday
afternoon, with strict injunctions not to re-
turn until the next day, when she was to start
early from Burnhead, lest the mists of eve
ming should overtake her before she got
home.
Hope took the basket and trudged of, hard
ly feeling its weight perhaps her heart was
the heavier of the two, for as she left the
house-doOr she saw Amos Hedley atthe cOpse-