News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-09-13


separation, / am not so welded to Eng
land that I could not have followed yo-
elsewhere"
knew that Margaret often had re
ceived letters from France, but suppose,
them to be from a lady whose marriag
had compelled her residence there. an,
who, 1 supposed, still kept up her cor
respOndence. Once I had even said
when handing her letter, Chow mucI
Mary Raymond's husband writes Iik,
Albert Thornton" II was q passing re
mark, and she went out of the room tc
read her letter, and I never thought o-
it again. In our young days Margaret
wished me to love Mary Raymond; and
now we rarely spoke of her, because ]
felt that I had disappointed my sister in
not foncying her favorite.
did not attempt to conso lie Margaret
I knew too well, from my own expert
enge, how little even the dearest friends
can do, except to utter the common
place and stereotyped words of conso-
lation, and how little those words avail
to reach the mourner's heart; how cold
ly come the voices of sympathy while
that heart is bleeding inwardly, and
how we turn away from all, with the
feeling that it ''knoweth its own bitter
ness" and must not be intermeddIed
with, by even a brother or sister.
That sorrow has pressed heavily upon
other hearts before, does not Tighten our
own; we do not suffer less because an
other has also suffered; and, feeling this,
I would not bring up to my sisters
mind the remembrance of my own des-
olatiOn.
In a few days, the violence of NIarga-
ret's grief subsided; but her former Ian
guor had returned. I expected to see
her droop and fade away daily before
my eyes, and almost dreaded to return
home at night, lest I should find her ly-
ing upon the bed from which she might
never arise. 1t was altogether a sad ep-
isode in our peaceful summer.
There was one thing which uncon-
sciously cheered me in this hour of trial.
Our near neighbors, the LeightOns, con-
trary to our intention of making ac-
had forced themselves upon
US, although in a perfectly delicate way.
They had noticed my sisters feebleness
when we first came, and had watched
her through the slight opening in the
trees, as she passed from the door to her
favorite seat; and they had begun the
acquaintance by sending her baskets of
delicious fruit, the first of their splendid
flowers, and choice vegetables of every
kind.
Margaret could only accept and ac-
knowledge, and the result was an in
timacy with Flora Leighton, the only
daughter of the family, whose manners
the attraction which her
beauty began; so at least thought Mar |
yaret I heard much of Flora Leighton,
M olthnI some curiosity to SEQ the being
y1G, mad SO Won upon MARGARET, but she
vas always out OF sight before 1 came
nome, and I never, by any chance, had
seen the bright eyes and pleasant smile !
which my sister had described to me. I
called her the invisible; but I saw all her |
fairy gifts, which Margaret always left !
until 1 came home that !
[ might see the perfect elegance of
her friends taste. Itwas quite a study.
the artistic arrangement OF those floral
and the fruit which she brought
Margaret was generally shaded by its ap-
leaf; but the hand itself that
fashioned the gift, remained, to me, III
visible.
Margaret rose up from that great suf-
fering sooner than had hoped or i'm
agiued. If she still morned for Al
bert. it was in silence; and on her cheek
there was no trace of tears when [ came
home. 1 was engrossed with the cares
Of business through the day; but still
found time to think of her, and to rejoice
that she had companion such as she
described Flora Leighton. She had
told Flora all, and was startled, and
perhaps gladdened by finding that she
was the daughter Of Mrs. Thornton's
sister. Albert Thornton was therefore
the playmate of FIora's childhood, and
the friend of her girlhood's days. She
too mourned his death with the sorrow
of a tender heart that resembles those
dear ones with an added love, ''when
IC,-a iS ipiDn1 tO 1aqtb -
1t was near the close of summer.
People were focking home from the
country, frightened at the first cool
morning breeze; but Margaret begged
for longer stay, and gladly consented.
We had learned to love this quiet re-
treat, and any change struck us IN
pleasantly. The whole neighborhood
around us, too, had assumed less star
ing and comfortless appearance. 1t had
mellOwcd into an older and more sub
dued look; and others had followed our
example in Identifying and adjoining
their homes. The house occupied by
Nj. Leighton was precisely like our own,
and separated only by a slender fence,
which the girls had not long suffered to
remain. At least, Margaret told me that
it was Flora Leighton's superior strength
which had taken down the barrier; but
remember, Flora Leighton was still a
mere fabulous person to me. l did not
believe in her, and cndcavored to make
Narqaret confess that she whose praises
L. H., ,,g, I,,c, Cnun1inor In my oars
had really no existence at all except in
her own brain. Something like pres
ence, a spirit in human form had ap-
paared to Margarct's vision, and She
called it Flora leighton. ! bantercd
her so much that she declared that
should not see her.
did not care to see her If Mar
naret was soothed or comforted, or mel
time HghtencI by anything ike com
forter. I cared not who the comforter
was. My sister was my only object oI
solicitude; and to save her an hours
loneliness or grief, | would sacrifice any
thing on earth. They only, who's,
affections are narrowed down to {
single object, cun appreciate my de-
votion to my sister. \ mother coul'
not be more tendcrIy careful OF hel
! than | was, subduing my stern man''
nature to feminine watchfuln"sS
averting from her every sha Tow OF evil
or even annoyance. And not less deel
and strong was her affection for me