Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-04-21
VOL. 75.-3S36. NO. %.

future, no thought that trouble could come
to him in any way until misfortune overlook
his father. The good old man failed. The
mill was sold. There was nothing but anx-
iety at home. AT last worse came--his
father died, soon after his mother. He
was very sad he was poor, also but he
had hope, for he was beloved by the one be
loved.
"One day he went TO her for comfort.
He remembered the day ever after. The
low.built, old-fashioned house, the great
oaks, hower-garden, the girl in her white
dress and blue ribbons who came TO greet
him. He was full of life still, but that
night, when he turned away from the house,
he was ghost--the miserable ghost Of his
old self, for he no longer had any faith in
love.
"Standing before him, pale and sad,
and with tears in her eyes, it is true, he had
heard her who had made the world bright
for him say at is my fathers will that
we should part. I cannot disobey my old
parent"
"Then she had told him that she loved
him as well as ever, but he did not believe
her.
He thought this poverty had turned her
heart from him, that she had never felt ten
derly towards him, and he left her in anger,
believing all that had been said and written
about the falsehood Of women. Yes, he was
turned into a ghost
"He might have known she was as un-
happy as he was" said Miss Carney, from
| behind her handkerchief "but what can
| girl do when her father threatens to curse
her, and she the only child he has Only,
nothing could make her marry any one else
nothing. That she could do at least"
"But the poor ghost did not know that"
said the old man. at wandered away
broken-hearted. 1t found its way to the sea
first, and then into the battle. For years it
was wretched ghost, greatly to be pitied,
and only wishing to die but at last it grew
content, though never happy, and worked in
a great city at trade it had until it made
fortune.
"All the same, it was a miserable old
bachelor ghost, and never found a mate
and used to say, often and often, over and
over again to itself, that women were all
false, and that the woman he loved had been
utterly false to him. He supposed her mar
ried to some one else, and all this time he
grew older and older, and long years lay
between him and the happy time when he
was boy
"Long, long years." sighed Miss Carney,
"Long long years"
"But one day." proceeded the old gentle
man, Zone day there came to him out of the
past an old familiar face, and amidst the
whirl Of the great city this ghost talked to
it Of the green lanes and ripping streams of
the spot where he was born, and asked of
the house under the oaks and the girl who
| dwelt there once-the girl who had been, as
he thought, false to him. And this old
friend told him something that made him
feel suddenly that he might come to life
again.
, She never married. she said-it was a
; woman. She lives in the old house now.
= Other men loved her, but she never loved
: any other man but you. We all know that.
p "Aud then the ghost said to himself
. Forty years of life lost and went down
0 to the green country place to haunt his old
e love, and hear her say she was sorry to SEE
) him"
"Oh, dear oh, dear !" sighed the little
Y old lady in brown. How could she helT
e it All her beauty gone, all her youth
what could she feel but sorry, and just I
:. ghost herself ?"
8 She arose aud turned away. He arose ant
followed her, putting his arm about he
a waist.
|, "Priscy," he said, " you are the only womal
It | ever loved. Is not that something for
e man to say, when it is as true as gospel ?"
|, "Yes," said she; sand l almost believ
y you-for | never cared for anyone els
4 either"
$ "Then, why not do our best to be happ,
now, Priscy why not marry each other ant
" be living again, not two poor old ghosts ?"
!" "Well, because folks would call us tw
is old FOOLS" said she.
"Wsl "Wsflg ksii 1t thsRal saa sRii MD he DON, care