The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1880-03-11
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tasNN % AAe NEaAA AtAAe~ 1e@Ats*"
road opposite
Sbe wss apparently shout twenty-five
yesrs o. xge, with tofl gray eyes aud =
slssf, lhoSgh pale eonpleEion. Couid
,he hsye been transported to Chestnut
Street o. Broadway, With sbe AccompAni-
mgugt of erinps, rats, iurbaas aud pleas
act wing, abe might bAye passed for
scarcely twenty; but, here At bone, ln
Der sofi layendAr dress which harmonic.
sd 70 well with tho shining brown bsir
plainly braided back from ber face, and
The iiuy blue bow st her throat, the five
years seemed rather to be on the other
side. Bat ber ccunienance was not de-
pendent tor lie charm on either youth or
beSuty being one Of those quiet home
faces, which, As the years passed along,
gather by The eide OF sick beds, over
eradles--snd Il may be over graves
beauty which the svanescent glow Of
youth rarely equals. So at least sbooghi
DR.. Ashley, when, three years before, he
took Der from The village school, and the
tuition OF rough miners children, to bs
the light aud comfort Of bis home,
Il 10 for bin that she 10 slrainipg her
eyes with looking into the darkness, and
glad smile rises to her face as some
thing moves among the cedars, clatters
across the bridge In tho valley where the
village lights sre already twiykllug, and
a moment later the well-known gig rat.
ties up to the door.
HE was only rough old country doc.
tor, this husband Of Lucy Ashley, but, TO
her, he was hero -demigod The repre-
sentative OF all that is good and noble in
manhood And, indeed, we might make
heroes OF worse msterisl than some OF
these bropzed aud weatherbeaten disci-
oipes of the healing art, who, regsrdless
alike Of heat and cold, night or day,
speUd their lives 10 attending suffering
Humanity.
Watching, Lucyl cried the CHEEKY
voice, as having shaken of the festhery
suowfakes The doctor entered the case-
ment which she held open for him.
Il was a very plain room; deriving
most Of is charm from the white cur.
tains, fragrant plants, and neatly arranged
tea table, yet peryaded by 50 air Of com.
! forS which 10 more luxurious apartments
is often lacking.
Alter the pleasant tea was over, and
the doctor established In dressing.gown
and slippers by the freside "a position
which he might possibly hold throughout
the evening, but from whence 1t was
more probable that he would be called to
drive six or eight miles over the mount
ains,) Lucy brought her low chair and
knitting and eat beside him. Evidently
she bad something OF importance to say,
for her work progressed ftfully, till
at last, throwing 1t down in desperation
and raising her eyes, she exclaimed, hur-
ridly, as though the subject was disagree.
able and must be gotten through quickly.
Robert, another letter came to-day
from Mrs. Hervey.
Toyou?
Yes; at least II was addressed TO me,
though Of couTse IT concerns you more
nearly. mr. bring it.
No, said be, OBTAINING her. ] don't care
TO see it.. i suppose Il is only reasser-
tioB Of Der husbands innoceBce7
Yes, principally that; she says that bis
last words were, Ask Cousin Robert 10
forgive me for the'e years Of estrange-
ment, aud tell him on the word Of a dY-
ing mau, that know nothing Of the deed
which has occasoned all the trouble.
I've heard all that beforel Had the
woman seui the deed, il would have made
a difference but as she WON'T, why should
she presume 10 trouble you about III
suppose she thought that ] could
plead her eAcse moro freely than herself |
aud Indeed, Robert. cannot help think
ing hat there might have been some mis-
take. Another reason is, she ssy', that
abe herself is sinking rapidly, that she has
no relations In the world. and ssks us 10 |
receive Der little boy who 10 your name
sake. She adds that II abe could only get
your forgiveness to carry with her to her
husband, she would be willing to travel
on foot from Philadelphia, lay her baby
iu my arms, and die.
Nonsense exclaimed the doctor.
She need do nothing more melodrsmat-
ic then sending on the deed. And as for
her husband, II be has Gods forgiveness
be does not need mine tell you Lucy
that man injured me more than you can
understand but for bin, might now be
in possession Of a lucrative city practice,
instead OF dragging out beggarly exist
enee among the hills.
But I would never have known you,
then, said Lucy, laying her clasped hands
on bic knee.
Which mesns, ! suppose, be rsjoined
smiling aud shooting back 9 stray tress
from her face, that | would never have
known you; but should pet; would
have found you out somehow, aud then
you might have had elk dresses, and ali
manner Of 6ne things As other ladies have.
don't wsn. them, she answered quiet
ly. | would much rather that you would
let me have that little baby boy.
That is perfectly ridiculous be sxclsim-
ed Why should you wish 10 take upon
yourself that barden7 Bu, polieipg the
expression OF her face (he bad seen too
much Of The maternal instinct 10 his pro-
fession not 10 know What il meaHt) be re-
lented. Well, ms dear, ss you desire il
20 much Wsh VOC could bAVe bin
Whs,eFcF mskes tie woman 50 stubborn 4