Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-03-12
The Old Well.

laQ romance! SdlQ Aunt MdTSd-
ret, leaning back in her easy chair.
with a mild, reflective look upon her
peaceful face. eyes, something did
happen to me once that may seem
like one to you, though I never
thought of calling it by that name.'
"Let's hear it, auntie, please" I
answered, pushing the velvet hassock
nearer to her, and giving an extra
shake to the bright coal fire.
The night was somewhat cold and
clustering outside, but that only
made Aunt Margaret's room, with its
warm-hued furniture, its softly-cush-
ioned easy chairs, its glowing fire
and shaded astral lamp, look all the
more inviting.
She was distant relative who had
come to pay MS a long-promised visit,
and from my first glance at her fine,
stately figure and her noble, placid
countenance, knowing that she never
married, I got the idea into my head
that she must have had a romance.
Her hair was still brown and abund-
ant, while her eyes shone clear and
blue as young girls. And yet
Aunt Margaret was past fifty.
"Well, my DEAR she began,
smiling softly, .'once upon a time,
as the story-books say, was young,
and considered rather pretty"
ooh, no need to tell me that, Aunt
Margaret" I interrupted, gazing
with unfeigned admiration at the
handsome face into which a delicate
rose-color came so brightly at the
memory of her girlish loveliness.
'You might easily carry off the palm
of beauty from US now, if you felt so
inclined"
She smiled again as she saw how
sincere was my tribute to her charms
and resumed her story:
Il had of course my share of adj
mirers among the village youth, and
was a great favorite at balls, quilting
parties, husking bees, and all of the
other entertainments of the village
society; yet / reached the age of
twenty, heart-whole and fancy-free,
still keeping house for my widowed
father, as l had done almost from
childhood and never caring to make
any change -
Because the right one hadn't
come along, auntle," | said, eagerly,
thinking of my 'bonnie Charlie"
with his curly locks and lightsome
heart, and wondering how girls in
any age of the world could have low
ed, married and lived happily without
ever having known the sunlight of
his presence.
ssWen, Madge, he came at last"
continued Aunt Margaret, with a
gentle sigh which seemed to watt her
back into the happy past, land the
manner of his coming was one that |
can never forget. Our house stood
at one end of the street, and in
far corner of the lot stood the old well,
neglected and unused for years, save
by us silly girls, who found it ro-
mantle spot to try our fortunes by on
Halloween. But it was very danger
Gus, being unprotected by curb or
fence, and standing, as it did, close
to the public road, | had often beg
ged my father to make it more Sc
cure, but he neglected it until my
prophecy of danger from it was at
last fulfilled.
| Zone dark, starless evening in
October, returning from visit to a
neighbours, / was passing the old
well, when suddenly low groan of
agony caught my ear. Instantly
realized the awful truth that some
traveller had fallen into the dark and
dangerous pit, and my heart stood
still with horror. But only for a mo-
ment. / saw the need of instant ac-
ton, and, leaning over the edge of
the black, yawning hole, called
loudly to the person within not to
despair, for / would soon bring him
assistance.
s'Then rushing to the house, and
calling wildly at every step for help,
l began an eagar, trembling search
for rope, which / soon had knotted
firmly around a stout, crooked old
. pear tree standing near the well.
called again to the poor, groaning
| victim below. / bade him grasp the
: rope tightly and let me pull him up
But it was no use. My only answer
was another moan, so low and deeI
that | thought the poor wretch wa'
dying.
ssWhat to do / did not know. n,
i help had come and feared to lose
moment by going after it. But
was young and strong and nerves
. with the courage of desperation, so
+ did not hesitate long. How / man
e aged it successfully | never coul
tell, but l let myself down by tn
/ rope until / reached the bottom O
S the dark abyss, and found the help
g less being, whom | thought Prov
:. dence had sent me to rescue. to
much injured to move limb.
IS ''As gently and quickly as 1 could
y in that awful situation, / fastene
d the rope around his body and lifte
ls him in a more convenient position
: be drawn up; then, hand over hanc