Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-09-12

As Caroline entered the porch the
Merritts' portion of the cottage was
quite still and dark. On the other side
the lattice was thrown open on garden
crowded with fragrant plants, and
faint light cleaned out. The light was
burning in the chamber, where, after a
word with the sinking sufferer and the
mother enfeebled by grief, Caroline de-
cided to remain all night.
EaBefore midnight the purpose for which
the mistress of Deerfeld was summoned
was duly confded to her ear; and then
sleep fell on the sufferer, and Caroline,
having dismissed the aged watcher, was
alone, She turned the lamp low, and
drew her chair by the window, where
the perfume of the garden floated in, the
mingled breath of earnation and rose.
For years after that night the scent of
these precious flowers sent faintness to
Carries heart and a. pallor to her lips
like the poison of deadly plants.
Near midnight, when all was still save
the midsummer insects humming in the
trees, and the distant ripping of the
brook, approaching voices were heard.
Two people were coming along the
lane toward the cottage. Words in
distinct at first grew clear as they came
near. They were lovers voices and low
ers' words.
" Mag, my darlingi"
"Oh, Charlie. if it were not for that"
If it were not for that, you would go
with me; we would fly to the far West,
to California. You would be a queen,
Mag, in the eunconventional New World.
We would go together to-morrow-yes,
tomorrow, my love, my only love-"
Tomorrow, dear boy, if it were not
for that"
"And when you know so well that
do not love her; that never have loved
her; that il is a made match--a mar
riage for money! Oh, Mag, how can you
be so unreasonable"
6 But she loves you," said the wonan's
voice, now close at Caroline's ear, under
the roof of the porch.
es, she loves me; there's the rub.
That rather hurts fellow; he doesn't
want to be hard on a girl who loves him,
and has loved him all his life. Buttheh,
you see, cannot return her affection
the kind of affection she wants. And
she's spirited creature, Mag; ought |
to marry her as feel nowp fit hadn't
l.
come to care for her in time But, Mag,
I'm a changed man, now l know what
love is; | dread my marriage day like IL
funeral"
A pause-a little rustling pause. Then
a whisper unheard; Il louder whisper
distinct; "Oh, Mag, my darling! my
darling! say yes"
"I cannot, Charlie. with that woman s
image before me. 1t would haunt us
till our dying"
Caroline heard no more. When next
asound reached her, it was the sound of
the work-a-day world. A market wagon
had broken near the lane, and the harsh
voice of the driver was wreaking upon
his horses the anger reused by the dis
aster. Tie moon had set; it was nearly
day.
There is nothing so desolate as the
breaking of daylight upon new and
overwhelming grief. Night has wing
of its own to fold about the sorrowfu,, ;
but the fearful eyes, the crushed spirit,
shrink from the brazen gaze, the un-
daunted front, of day.
Caroline before noon sent letter to
Charlie Evans that made him q free
man:
Something tells me that | cannot
possibly be your wife. | am sorry that
circumstances have SO shaped them
selves, but am compelled to withdraw
my promise. Do not see me. shall re-
fuse an interview. When year has
passed, and we meet again-if we meet
again-let us meet as friends.
CAROLINE"
Charlie Evans used his freedom. He
obtained, not by strictly honorable
means, a sufficient sum of money to ven
ture fortune-seeking in California. He
was married to Mag Merritt on his way
to the West; and his friends, indignant
at therunaway match, bitterly blamed
Caroline.
Caroline bitterly blamed herself, but
never for any act toward Charlie Evans
Her thoughts flew to her faithful lover
whom she had mercilessly tritl.d with
and dismissed at last cruelty. She felt
now what pangs she had inflicted upor
the earnest-hearted Joe. She, who wa;
so quickly alive to all animal wants
who really suffered sympathetically will
the pains and aches, the tolls and hun
gers, of dumb creatures, had never
given one sigh of compassion to thu
pangs equally dumb, but infinitely
keener-the aches, the hungers, theover
| burdened sighs of that silent angel, tht
human soul. She had no patience will
the shrinking victims of the "slings anC
arrows of outrageous fortune" Sht
had laughed to scorn "the pangs of un
requited love-" Now she would Civ,
years of her life to call back the past ant
be kinder girl to her faithful friend
seldom from Joe, and after her uncle
death the unfrequent tldings altOgethe
ceased. Now she wrote to Belle, VIII,
lived abroad, to send her some word O
cher old friend"
Belle wrote saying she was ashamed
to confess how ignorant she was, bu
the last she heard Joe was making
furor with his wonderful paintings; h
had settled himself in Rome, and sh
believed he had married the daughter c
an American consul to one of the Medi
terranean ports.
Misfortune followed Caroline. BY
series of culpable mismanagements b
people in trust Caroline's inheritanc
was lost. Before she had enjoyed fc
three years the possession of her believe
Deersfield that noble place was otfere
at public sale. Since the day of her gres
sorrow Caroline had met no trial lik
this. Indeed, her heart had flown to a
that was dear in her country home q
refuge from its bitter loneliness. No
this refuge was gone.
The day of the sale, after having o.
dered the preparation of the house an
grounds with care of every detail, Care
line mounted her favorite riding -hors
and rode far off into the wood path
! She returned after sunset in the twiligl
dusk.
She knew as she entered the hou
that all was over; she felt that the hon
was no lon ger hers She felt hraVe ar