The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-11-06
CONTENT AT LAST.

Fresh as a rose looked Harry Morny
MS she came in from the woods, on
that clear autumn afternoon, with her
apron full of wild grapes, and her hat
garlanded around with scarlet-veined
autumn leaves.
Her husband, sitting in his study,
glanced up at her bright, flushed face,
with sombre eyes full of past memo
ries.
"1s the world eoming to an end?"
saucily demanded Harry. as she flung
the purple cluster on the table-"for 1
am sure that nothing else can account
for such a solemn face as yours,
Julian"
He tried to smile.
"You have been in the woods all
day, Harry?" he said.
"Where else should 1 be?" retorted
the young wife, whom he had married
because she was such an embodied
sunbeam. "You don't catch me polk
ing myself up in the house when all
the world is 50 full Of brightness"
But she looked half Ioubtfully at
him as she spoke.
"Now you are going to scold mer'
she said, with pretty uplifting Of her
hands, as if to ward off some verbal
onslaught. 81 can see the stern words
rising up to your lips"
"Am I, then, 50 storm with you?"
he altered. eff so, it is quite unin-
territorial. No, Harry, am not going
to scold you"
For he remembered that Harry was
only eighteen, and that he was eight
and-thirty.
Harry came and perched herself on
his knee.
Julian" she said, with a sudden
burst of penitence, 81 am sorry!' j..
"SorrY!-and for what?"
He put his hand caressingly on her
blonde curls, as he might have stroked
pretty infants head.
II meant to practice to-day she
pleaded, "and to read whole chaptsr
in Macaulay's History of England,
and to darn your stockings in the con-
vent stitch that Aunt Prudence taught
me; but when l got out in the sun
shine l forgot it all. Oh, Julian,
shall never learn to be companion tc
you'll"
And she glanced ruefully around at
the drifts Of paper and open folios on
the desk, and her radiant face gloomed
over suddenly, as she caught sight o1
tiny photograph lying close by his
inkstand.
Julian she exclaimed, abruptly
why did you marry me?"
SIS that so hard to guess, little
one?"
eyes, but why?" she persisted "a
am so silly and shallow that is ex
actly what Mrs. Meredith calls me-
and my poor little groveling soul car
never reach up to the height of yours
Oh, don't try to comfort mel un
derstand it ALL" with another sidelons
glance at the photograph. "You loved
her! She was truo wife to you. 1 an
only playth ng"
"Have l ever said so, Harry
"a score of times" cried Harry, get.
ting more and more excited, while the
deep roses burned vividly on her cheeks
Not in actual words perhaps, but
Oh, Julian, why did l ever marry
q widower? She is as much nv
rival now as if she was living and
breathing woman. Julian, hate her!"
Harry Harryl'
"Give me that pictured" cried the
young wife, snatching the photograph
from the desk, and retreating pace
or two, as if she feared to be pursued.
at shall not lie beside you at your
wors You shall not carry it next
yoal heart when you 60 out of the
rOomw
She paused as if expecting volley
of remonstrances perhaps stern re-
proof-but he never spoke word.
He only looked at her with sad. grave
eyes.
Julian" she hesitated, more en-.
treatingly, ''may l have 1.-THE photo
graphY"
"Yes," he answered. 81 can remem.
ber how she looked, without any
counterfeit presentment. Yes, you
may have it, Harry. if that is your de-
sife.'