Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1881-03-30

took a cottage near and lived in it,
/ She could not leave the neighbour
hood where her darling's body lay,
and where his innocent soul had TAX
en- wing. Shut up in this secluded
! house, which to her was not home,
she abandoned herself to grief. But
after year had passed, she was OBJ
liged to rouse herself. Her health
was failing, and the good vicar, one
of her faithful friends, could no long
er refrain from reproof.
Mrs. Beaufort was not selfish, and
she was not irreligious. At the call
she lifted her head, looked about the
world outside her retreat, and saw
work enough to do. AT that sight,
her energy awoke, and she laid aside
her lamentations But no one could
see her white, sad face, without being
convinced that life held no charm for
her.
I And so four years passed. The
Beauforts of the manor had taken 10
notice of her; but some of the coun-
try families still visited her, and she
had many friends. Her means were
small, but all the poor blessed her
for her kind words and helping hand
were better than gold.
No one saw the lonely night when
she kissed those locks Of golden hair
and gazed at the miniature OF her
boys face.
One day the widow had been out
on an errand of mercy, and was stroll
ing slowly homeward in the soft, rich
! light of q June sunset. The blossom
ing hedges were full Of singing birds,
the trees bent over, the air was silent
and laden with sweet edors.
AS she walked slowly along the
road, strange gladness stirred in her
heart; for something pleasant had
happened that morning. She had
met the vicar that afternoon in her
visiting-not the first time by any
means; for Mr.. Vernon was kind to
the poor, and was also kind friend
to the bereaved lady. But some
thing new had shown itself in his
manner or, if not new, it was, at
least, shown in decided manner that
seemed new
The Rev. Mr.. Vernon had married
early in life, and his wife had lived
but a few years. His best friends
thought that the less said about the
latter the better. The gentleman had
been drawn into the marriage at an
early age when he should have been
at his studies, and it was happy
thing for him that the companionship
| had been brief. He had not cared to
repeat the experiment. With a large
circle of admiring friends, and quiet
well kept house, he said to himself
that he would be foolish to change.
And he had not wished to change till
now. His sympathy had been arous-
ed by the sorrows of tho lovely Mrs.
Beaufort, and his tenderness by the
beauty of her character But not till
within few weeks had he known how
deep that tenderness and sympathy
were, nor how sweet it would be to
have that fair face and form to adorn
his home, and be ever in sight.
To-day, for the first time, the truth
had broken out. 1t was but word.
Seeing her look paler than usual, the
young clergyman had asked impuI-
sively, "Are you i'll, Alice =
1t was the first time he had called
her by that name, and the color flash
ed over his face as soon as the word
had passed his lips. But his bright
eyes dwelt on her face as he saw the
answering blush, the sweet, sudden
smile, the swift uplook into his eyes
then the dropping glance.
"No, not ill.," she stammered 81
am very we'll"
Others came near, and both inter.
rupted and relieved them. Enough
had been said for that time. But
when they parted, Mr.. Vernon took
her hand in gentle clasp, and asked
permission to come to see her soon
and thanked her earnestly when per
mission was accorded.
That was all, but it was enough e
change all the world for this tender
lonely heart.
How good he is to think of me
who have nothing, when so many
younger and richer ladies would glad
ly have had his preference"
"There is little boy waiting to SCI
you, ma'am," the servant said, wher
she entered the cottage. "He has
letter for you"
"Who is hel" Mrs. Beaufort asked
"He is q stranger, ma'am, and
pretty lad. l think he is sailor like
but gentleman's son."
"You can send him to me" Mrs
Beaufort said.
) She entered the parlor, and in
few moments the messenger stood be
fore her. She merely glanced at him
scarcely moving, as he gave her tn
note, and stood, cap in hand, befor
her while she read.
1t was written coarsely by an ignor
ant person, and the name signed wa
that of a man servant who had livet
at the manor when she had beer
ousted, O retainer of her husband
relative. IL was dated Calcutta, AM