Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-12-14


and.seek with the sunbeams through her soft
curls, and she vas happy. Long, long she
sat there, gaily humming over snatches Of
bird songs she had caught in the forest or
other, harder songs to sing, that Ruth had
taught her, when, glanoinR suddenly toward
the southwest she deserted a sail making
swiftly for the Kettle. On, on it came, nor
swerved its course until its PROV lay hardly
fifteen fathoms of from where she sat. And
then one spoke to her, a dark haired youth
Of manly men and soft speech who asked
the maid il they might land there where she
sat, aud gather drift-wood up among the
rocks; and while they idly gathered here and
there few fsggots for their fire, the hand
some stranger stopped to speak with her
He said Che sky was fair-the ocean very
blue-and told her that the clouds could net
bring rain because they were so white and
thin. He told her, too that her face remind
ed him Of a sweet, painted picture he had
seen years before and when he asked her
name, and she could only tell him Elsie, he
looked pleased, yet serious. He stood there
longer than the two men were gathering the
drift, and then he said he must go away, but
! promised to came again, sometime, and gath
er more drift wood. As he stepped into his
boat, and the men we're rowing him toward
the ship, she asked il they were fishermen, and
with smile he told her yes.
When they were out of sight, she quickly
climbed back to tho hut, and with pleased
| look, and breathless from her haste, told
granny all about the handsome stranger, who
had said the sky was fair, and that she re.
minded him of something beautiful that he
had seen before. Granny was very angry
and forbade her going there again, unless
| William went with her and she told fright
tul story about band of pirates who steal
young girls and carry them away so far they
can never return. Then she drew a cross
from Esie's bosom, and breaking the slender
chain to take it from her neck, told the girl
she would keep it for her till the day she
married William.
And now the maid no longer strsyed on
the sandy beach by the cove, but lay, instead,
in the sunlight, high up the cliffs, wearing
wreaths Of daisies and clovers, and looking
into the far southwestern fishermen. And
at last they came agan-these "fshermen"--
with clothing soiled and worn, and right be-
meath the cliff where the water was deepest,
they threw out their lines and fshed as they
gathered faggots, idly. Then the young man
came bounding up the narrow cleft between
the rocks, and told her all about the clouds
and the blue ocean once again, and whisper
ed that her face was farer than the pictured
| one that he had seen, though very, very like
| it. And while he recined, languidly, near
where she sat, for he was tired of fishing he
told her, the men below raised a shout and
called him down to them. He whispered he
would soon come back to her, and joining
his mates, learned that they had caught
large fish, and strangest Of all, in dressing it
had discovered in its stomach a gold cross
fastened to tiny broken chain. Returning
to the girl, the young man tossed the jewel
in her lap, asking if it was not a strange
thing TO find in such a place while Elsie,
more astonished than she knew how to ex.
press, told him it had belonged to her, and re-
lated how granny had taken it from her neck
the very day he first came there to gather
faggots.
Then he asked if he might keep it for her,
promising to take better care of it than gran
ny would, and gave her instead, ring which
he hung around her neck, using the tiny gold
chain from the cross for the purpose and
he charged her furthermore not to show it to
her granny, but to keep it always hidden in
her bosom.
Poor William had grown very sad and pale
in these last weeks, as Elsie avoided him now
altogether, for she was very tired of that
word love, which only seemed to mean sit
ting by the hour and being begged for KISSES
when she had none for him. About this time
the old farmer came to see granny about the
pasturage of the sheep, telling her if the girl
did not marry William very soon he must
ny was in great trouble, for she knew the
sheep we're her main dependence, and there
was no pasturage for them on the rough head
land, as the scanty soil scarce covered the
rocks, save where she made her little garden
So Elsie was told she must marry William
very soon and go to live in the farm-hou or
the sheep would all be taken by William s
father for their pasturage. The girl listened
respectfully, acting the same as when Will
/ GreN haw lanlr 4
and answering not word. Then granny
struck her with her fist, and told her when
the moon should fall again, that day would
see her Williams wife, or she would hurl ner
from the cliff down into the ocean.
A week passed. One evening" as the sun
was sinking, and the girl had strayed, mus
ingly, down the sandy crescent for the first
time in long weeks, the fishermen appeared,
suddenly, though she did not know their ship
was near. Then the dark haired handsome
one sprang from the boat, and running to her
side, took her hand in his so warmly that she
felt her cheeks were burning, though she
could not tell the reason. Nor did he loose
her hand, but held it long, and walked with
her up the slope toward the headland until
the path grew narrow, and together they came
slowly back again. She told him all about
her sheep, and the debt to Williams father,
and the horrible fate which awaited her by
ln6 next uOOu, IL bub COulu lbhIu DclOIt
that time to love William, when she did moi
even know the meaning of the word. The
young man smiled, and counting upon his fin
gers, told her ten more days were left to her.
Again he spoke of the picture, and whispered
that gown of silk, and jewels in her hair
would make her fairer than a saint.
And he asked her which of three things ht
could name would please her most-to tumble
headlong from the cliff, down to the curv,
| Al. f.. 1,
and grow sick and weary of life; or to sal
! away with these good fishermen, beyond thu
sea- and become fsirer, sweeter lady thar
the painted one that he had told her of 81
' many times. Again he showed her the cross
4 and some curious letters engraved upon 1t
and whispered that while Elsie was a prett!
A name, she had another and a sweeter one
' that he would tell to her sometime. Then she
, smiling, placed her hand timidly upon hi
i arm, and looking with her great brown eyet
into his kindly black ones, while he held tn
. other hand, told him she could not, InOud no
: go to William that everything was brigh
: and beautiful and she did not want to die, 81
. if he could take her-she would rather sal
away with him-and-she would try to lear
: what love meant-if-if-he knew how I
. teach her.
! He kissed her then, and telling her to coun
4 the ten days upon her fingers as they passed
d and meet him on the fiat rock at sun-down Q
Q the tenth, he sprang into the boat and sal
r ed away.
9 When he had gone she glanced up and sa'
It William standing beside her, with looks Q
Is fury in his face and fierce oath crossed hi
+ lips and she almost tainted. Then gram
came to her and rudely led her back to tn
is black hut on the cliff telling the frightene
n girl it was to be her dungeon for the next te
J. days, when William would provide anotht
/, somewhere else If need be.
y II was a sad time for the little sea bird, an
9 she huttered her wings against the bars {
her cage in such grief and terror, that whe
n the last day finally came she almost wished
1t die. She knew it was the day the fsherme
t. were coming, and she struggled hard to fire
b herself, but had not strength. She remen
r, bered the ring now, and kissing it fondl!
ls made many pretty wishes, wondering if II
ID giver had not power to find her even here.
Ig When granny brought her her dinner-t
" though she ever cared to eat again-the won
ID an told her the sea was rising, aud the clout
ID foreboded nothing good to mariners an
or when the wind grew fercer, and the stor
le came whistling wildly through the hemloel
ht and the dead pine branches, the girl trembl'
to with terror for her last hope was shattere
or Wilder howled the tempest, and when the dI
Ia 10. ,aa do