Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-01-22


strengthened and raised me above
every petty annoyance; and when |
contrasted my wealth with her pow
erty, my cultivated intellect with her
want of capacity, did not grudge
her what compensation nature had
given her in the blonde prettiness of
her face or the 1.-THE grace of her pc
te,fgure.
And so spring came again, and an
other event happened. Mrs. Whit
ney who had been ailing for some
weeks, grew much worse and the doc
tor ordered her to a change of air.
So / resolved to send her for few
weeks to my farm; and Frank, with
his usual kindness, saw everything
prepared for her comfort, and then
took her and Rose out there. This
was the first break in a charmed
length of days which had been all
perfect happiness. Every one knows
how one change brings another. and
therefore / was more sad than aston
ished when Frank made an engage
ment which demanded much of his
time, and put stop to our pleasant
evening amusements. Still l linger-
ed in the city, staying at home every
night, for fear of missing a chance
visit from him; and, as time went
on, growing half resentful of his long
absences, and more than doubtful as
to their necessity. One week about
the beginning of May, / was unusu-
ally lonely and weary, for Frank had
disappointed me every night, and l
could settle to no work, nor yet make
any plans for the summer. All the
long warm days, and far into the
dusky evenings, l sat doing nothing,
thinking, thinking, thinking the same
soft, sad fancies born of love, and
such, s'such silken-folded idleness."
Saturday morning | reused myself
suddenly.
II will 90 out to the farm" |
said, land if Mrs. Whitney is able,
we will return on Monday, and then
60 somewhere, anywhere out of New
York. If Frank loves me, he will
come to seek me; if not, then the
sooner | awake to the truth the bet
ter
After breakfast l still held myself
to this resolution, and so | arrived at
Woodside farm in time for dinner.
Mrs. Whitney and Rose were
out the servant said; 'they had
gone to the lake, but would be back
very soon.''
So | went to my room to rest and
dress, and being overcome with the
heat and fatigue, fell sound asleep
on the large old-fashioned couch,
When 1 opened my eyes it was get
ting dusk, and there was a pleasant
sound of glass and china and other
preparations for dinner in the little
house; while toward it, born upon
the wind, l heard coming Roses
light laugh and ripping flow of
words. / aroused myself hastily,
and went to the window. Slowly,
but merrily, up the little avenue, lin
ed with blossomiug cherry trees,
came Mrs. Whitney and Rose-and
Frank Ellers.
/ was almost shocked and yet,
why should | be? I.dressed myself
slowly and carefully, feeling just
bitter enough to make them all un-
derstand | was mistress and must be
waited for. Then, when | went
down was sorry l had done so, for
Mrs. Whitney and Rose were so glad
to see me, and Frank said she had
been up to-street IN the morning
to ask me to drive, and finding where
/ had gone, he had made bold to fol.
low"
| asked no questions. / was only
to readily satisfied and pleased
though all the evening noticed
Frank was pre-occupied and thought
full. Next day being Sunday, we al
went to the little Dutch church in tn,
morning and, after an early dinner
Rose, Frank and | went to the lake
1t was little sheet of water, o
small circumference and marrow
width, but it was shaded with trees
and in some places of great depth
l do not know what possessed me,
suggested sail. The boat lay a
the little jetty quite convenient, ant
Frank took an oar and Rose the 9th
er. AS for me, / sat and watches
the shadows on the lake and Of
Franks face, and listened the Will
vaguely to their voices, minglin
with the sounds of country life an
the rush of an approaching train
AS it came near, Rose jumped up, i
her pretty impulsive way, ''to see
shoot in and out among the trees,
she said, and somehow can't sa
why or wherefore-but we were a
in the water.
Neither Rose or l could swim, an
was too proud to call Frank. Fl
) hesitated just a second and then b
caught Rose. And / heard-wel
no matter what-it was only tw
: words, but they seemed cruel as
t death warrant. / sank twice befor
f Frank could place Rose in safety an
t return for me, but / did not feel a b
] grateful for his efforts just then; fo