The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-07-31
UNCLE PAUL'S WIFE.

the rain still fell on the gravel walk be-
meath the window, while through the
| dark old pines at the back of the house
went the continual mournful soughing of
the east wind.
was weary of all indoor occupations,
| and could not resort to invcctives against
the weather, for had no listeners.
My uncle, DR.. Paul Eastman, had gone
three miles through the wind and ram to
visit patient in the almshouse, little
boy whose life was nearly ended, and
Mrs. Eastman was visiting her friends in
a distant State.
In an idle, half dreaming mood, lay
on the sofa in the pleasant library to
await my uncle's coming.
The cheerful freight sending its warm
bright glow overthe geraniums and roses
in the deep bay window, over the few
pictures on the walls and the well filled
book shelves. banished all thought of
the wintry desolation without. Above
the shaded lamp, on the little study
table, was portrait. 1t had hung there
for many years, the old housekeeper said.
| cannot describe that pictured face, so
nobly, so serenely beautiful. Would you
try to describe the look which the one
you love wears for you? Neither will |
try to paint with words that face, which
was the full realization of my thought of
those messengers who come from the un-
seen world to strengthen and bless the
weak and suffering among mortals.
Was she Uncle Paurs first love--the
fair young girl whose loss has darkened
all the wears of his early manbood2 7
had heard sometime Of the o,eat sorrow
which had clouded those Years. and of
one whose life of beauty had kept her
memory fresh in the hearts Of many
had heard two. of the tenderness with
which Uncle Paul took TO his home
which should have been hers berinvalid
mother and little brother. and cared for
them till tbe mother went to ioin the
daughter and the bows were fitted for
commercial or professional life Rut
there was n mystery in his life. fhe had
loved and lost the one whose face was
nicturcd there on tbe canvas how could
| he ever have Given the place that would
have been hers to the respectable com.
monplace person whom have known fo1
five wears as Mrs. Eastman
The LONGER I watched the sweet face
looking down upon me the greater seemed
4L 49,, y
asleep.
A voice awakened me. All! Mlilall'
dreaming :"
yes, uncle; dreaming Oh tnac lace
above your study table.
lie walked across the room anu m stooo
silently before IL long time. men M
came to me. III Is very lKe her, NIT
lam; and she was as pure ana gooo Us I'M
angels. ,
"Can you tell me OF her, uncle ma
was her name u
lhen, after snort sllence' ne tolo nle
his early sorrow ana revealed the secre
OF the mystery that perplexed me.
Her name was Grace HYDE. one wa
elghteen ana was twehty,onc "!ieil si
promised to be my wife. was Just I'm
ishing my professional studies, and hat
my own way to make in the world, but
was strong to do my work and TO hSh
my battles, for Grace was awaiting tn
result. Her love would strengthen m
and her hand would reward my victory
" Il will not fetter you, Paul, she SAID
I know how the promise of many youn
, lives has been unfulfilled because tn
daily needs of life and the necessity OF
practical answer to the questions: "Wha
shall we eat, and what shall we drink
and wherewithal shall we be clothed
have wearied the spirit not yet ready fc
its life-work, crippled its energies, an
chained it to an ignoble service, Will
the nobler work it might have done, wait
) for another. Give all the time you nee
to the highest culture, the fullest deve
opment of your intellectual strength, fin
J, for yourself fitting sphere of labor, an
n then, Paul. i will go with you, and t.
J, gether we will make life beautiful
IS ~ could not combat her resolution
" She was firm, and her father said 'Grat
: is right; in the future you will acknow
= edge it,
a $50 | finished my studies in the un
IS versity and went to Paris. Grace, pa
}. and fearful, with her little hands in min
l. said: BE worthy of your best self, an
m NAV God forever guide and bless yo
dear Paul And then we parted.
81 had not been away three month
when letter from Grace announced h
, fathers attack. San attack of apoplex,
I sbe wrote sPoor mother II is a terrib
blow to her; | know not how she W
bear it. prav that may help her, al
that God will give me power to comic
her, After that her letters were not sa
: but there was a subdued cheerfulness,
It might have been an effort to be chez
full. and there was an impatient lookil
forward TO nv return. She had SUI
trust in me such noble ambition (
me. 7 was alwav, stronger and bett
after readino her words Her infuen
was around me continually. and t
MS foundations of PARIS life were all DOW,
al less. I could not disappoint her tru
r. 7 would trv TO he worthy of her
'' ~ had Ieen in Paris nearly two yea
. and was prenarino to return. when O