Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-09-19

Will Keep tHeIl, nalla, as femem-
brance of your words. And now have
something to tell you. Since your Uncle
told me the other day, that after this
week, my services would be no longer
needed, have received a communica-
tion from Ireland, which has decided me
to go there at once. 1t is a letter from
an uncle of whose existence until now |
have been ignorant. But read it for
yourself.
This is what Thalia reads:
"MY DEAR NEPHEW: | have only inst
learned, after long inquiry, that my sister
left son, and that he and you are one and
the same. This letter will undoubtedly prevc
surprise to you, as, from my sisters solemn
VOW, made to me as she left her nome,
know that you never can have heard my
name. Let ME explain: At an early age
your mother and myself were left orphans
Time went by, ard your mother met and be-
came attached to one wholl beyond all others
disl Ike |, and for just cause
"They were engaged and married, in de-
spite of my vehement protestations | re-
fused to sanction the marriage or be present
at the ceremony. Margaret had to the full
the impetuous character of our family. On
the eve of her departure for her future home
she came to me and said: Stephen, hence
forth do not ever expect to hear aught of
me or mine You have chosen TO wound me
In the tenderest feelings of my nature, and to
insult him who is my husband. l shall never
forget you. Never again to my dying day
shall your name, or any allusion to you, pass
my lips. | sever the connection between us.
Should have children, they shall grow up in
ignorance of any relatives save those upon
their fathers side l have pledged my hus-
band to a like vow, and it shall be kept.
as / haf
im2lacable words caused she had gone. That
was the last time | ever saw her.
Now, my nephew, your mothers VOW was
wrong, and | have no doubt that ere she died
she would have gladly recalled it. am old
and alone in the world and in sad need. You
are young and strong and to you l turn.
inplore you, as the last of my family, the
only one living upon whom / have any claim,
to come to my succor if it be possible for you
to do So Your uncle,
"STEPHEN HARTLEY"
HMr. Henry Holmes"
II am glad you are going, Harry"
Thalia said, as she finished reading.
''Poor old man, all alone in the world
and needing aid-his is a sad lot"
81 knew you would feel so, my dar-
ling" Harry answers; and then, the letter
forgotten, they talk as lovers delight to
do, until the moments, flying by, bring
at last the dreaded time of parting.
"Who is the drone now, Thalia Rivers,
should like to be informed?" exclaims
Ida one evening coming into her cousins
room fully arrayed in an exquisite ball
costume. cit is almost time to be going,
and here you sit with that everlasting
picture in your hand Thalia! Thalia
haven't you forgotten that nonsense
YETI"
No, Thalia has not forgotten, although
the last three years have been a bewilder-
ing time to the girls shrinking, retiring
nature, She is growing more accustomed
to the thousand demands and forms OF
society, but they weary her infinitely.
Not one word since their parting has
she heard from her lover; but, as she
had truly told him, "neither time noI
place can change her heart" and deep
down in its pure recesses is still enshrined
one handsome, dark face, with grave
brow and speaking eyes.
"What do you think Renie Andrews
told me this morning3" Ida says, a month
later.
'Im sure l do not know" Thalia re-
plies, looking up from the book she is
reading.
"Well, what would you say if my cor
oneted destiny were even now on his way
to England9 Renie tells me that her
cousin from Ireland is to arrive in time
for her fete, and that with him is to
come a veritable Cr9sus and heir to a
prospective title. Renie says that he is
handsome, too, for she has seen his pic
ture. tell you what, Thalia, feel it
in my bones-as nurse used to say-that
this young stranger will not return TO
his ancestral acres as unencumbered as
he comes. Some English girl will Ger
tainly captivate him; and why should it
not be your humble servant?"
By the time her cousin finishes, Tha-
lia's face is full of the amusement she
cannot repress; but Ida is too much en-
crossed with her pleasant fancies ~
notice or be offended. That same after
noon the postman brings letter to Thalia,
addressed in bold, manly characters. She
has never seen Harry's writing, and yet
her fingers tremble, and her soft cheek
fushes, as she opens the envelope; foI
something tells her whose hand penned
her name. Inside are only few lines
DARLING THALIA-Gf I may still call you
so)-This day in which | write brings you
your twenty first birthday, and the end of the
period Of your probation. If you remember
and still adhere to the words you said AS we
parted, send to me a cluster of flowers like tc
those took from you as remembrance, and
which have worn ever since close to the
heart that beats now as fervently for you
and you only, as it did then, three years ago.
HARRY"
An address follows. The next mai
bears with it Thalia's answer. What il
is the reader may surmise.
The weeks glide by, and at length, to
Ida's delight, the day of the looked for
ward-to garden fete dawns. Ida looks
regally handsome. Thalia's quaint sim.
plicity of dress suits the girlish style we'll.
The afternoon is waning, and as yet nc
distinguished stranger has made his ap-
pearance.
1t is warm, and. little tired by game
of lawn tennis, Thalia strolls off to rus.
tic seat. Throwing aside her hat, she leans
her head upon her hand and for awhile
loses herself in happy day dream. Sud.
denly step approaches, and well-re
membered voice speaks her name.
With startled eyes, Thalia springs tc
her feet to find herself drawn to a warm
ly-beating heart.
"Do you know me, Thalia?"
eyes" she whispered; "it is my
lover come back to me-"
He laughs-a joyous laugh.
My constant darling he murmurcd.
"And you still are ready and willing to
leave you luxurious home'and become @
poor mans wife"
owe will not be poor, Harry, for we
shall be rich in love-"