News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-04-05
YEARS TO REPENT.
BY J. W. VAN KIRK
GA beautiful night, Nettie." "

BY J. W. VAN KIRK.
GA beautiful night, Nettie."
"Ah, yes, grandIy beautiful
J GA night for poets and philosophers
do you not think, Nettie ?"
"Yes, and for all who feel the beauti
ful-the mysterious power of nature"
1t was, indeed, as they said, beautl
ful night. The moon, Just rising over thu
tops of the eastern hills, cast a soft glIm
mer of light through the screen of morn
ing glOries that shaded the piazza of the
old farm house where the speakers were
standing. The wind Just stirring the
leaves of the balsam tree in the yarC
seemed gentle breeze carrying the
breath of peace to all.
a night for lovers also, Nettie, and
the ann of the speaker was laid caress-
ingly around the shoulder of the delicate,
high-bred girl at his side.
do you think so, Ross ?" she in
quired, lifting her face toward his, and
then lowering it suddenly as she caught
his eyes bent so admiringly upon her.
"'Think SOP" he echoed, 81 am sure
of it. And, oh, Nettie, love you-wor-
ship you! Do you not love me, little
one ? VIII you be my wife?"
| For an instant the girl seemed to
waver-for an instant she seemed as if
about to give the questiOner the answer
that would make him the happiest of
men, and then drawing herself from his
embrace, she spoke i'll icy tones:
! Ross, [ thought we were too good
friends for any such nonsense"
"NOnsense Do you call my love for
you nonsense Nettie Nettie 1t is
the one passion of my life, and-and I
| thought you loved me. D."
| " | am not marrying farmer"
Stop, stopr" he exclaimed. 81 can
not understand. An hour agO-yes, Just
a few minutes-you led me to believe
that you cared for me, and now you
treat me with contempt. What has
caused you to change, Nettie? What
have done to offend; tell me, that [
may make amends"
Again the girl seemed to hesitate, but
she soon conquered all feeling of tender
| ness for the man, if she entertained any,
and answered:
Il am not aware that YOU have done
anything; but as l said before, I am not
marrying a farmer
The face of the man grew white and
haggard as she ceased speaking, and he
grOped with his hands as if trying to
steady himself When he spoke his
voice was unlike his Own-being hollow
and sharp.
"And [ believed you true-believed
you above the common class of women,
and, instead, find you-oh, Nettie, why
did you try to win my heart to break it ?"
You appear to be laboring under a
delusion, Ross, and shall not listen to
you any longer
He laughed hollow sort of laugh.
"Would it were delusiOn. To me it
is only too true. Go back to your friends
in the city and tell them how you
destroyed the life of one who is as far
above them as king is above his lowest
subject. Tell them how nice you firted
with him, and then cast him aside.
NevermOre can | believe a woman true. "
Before he had ceased speaking the
girl turned as if to enter the house.
Before entering, however, she stopped
and turned her head, but the man was
gone. d" !tnss, Ross !" she called softly
'cOme back, come back I've conquered
pride"
The only answer to her appeal was the
rustic of the baIsam leaves as the wind
stirred among its branches.
col - she said to herself, chow
could talk so to you when love you
better than my life. Oh, pride, pride, "
she continued, "yOu have been the
means of causing me many unhappy
hours" She entered the house and
seated herself by the window, saying as
'When he comes back, I Will tell him
how foolish [ have been, and ask him to
forgive me"
Soon she heard voices approaching the
house, and upon going to the door she
was startled by seeing several men carry
ing something between them, step up on
the porch.
BEG pardon, Miss" says one, "but
there's been an accident, and this gentle
man is badly hurt, would you allow us
to bring him in your house,"
She gave one look at the pale face of
the injured man, and with the cry of
"Ross - fell senseless to the floor.
A few weeks previous to the opening
of our story Mr.. Clifton had engaged
boarding for himself and daughter.
Nettie, at Mrs. Summers, the mother of
Ross.
The husband of Mrs. Sumner had
been dead for some years, and Ross
titled the farm that had been the sole
legacy of his father Ross preferred the
city as being more congenial to his tastes,
but his mother, not wishing to leave the
place where she had spent her happy
welded life, persuaded him to stay with
her and farm. The farm being situated
in picturesque neighborhood, they had
been in the habit Of taking boarders.
With the first meeting between Miss
Clifton and Ross, the latter fell in love
with the bright, winsome girl, and the
seemed mutual, but when he
asked her to be his wife, his proposal was
met with scorn, though, as the reader
knows, his love was returned.
The funeral was over. Mrs. Sumner,
broken down by her great grief for her
son, sold the farm and went to live with
her sister.
Nettie, her brown hair already turning
gray, returned to her home. She never
married; but lived sad, lonely woman
many Years, to repent her sin of leaving
pride conquer love.