The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-11-28

I
fit of shy reserve prevented his asking
for an explanation when Grace returned,
but he puzzled over the question at in.
tervals during the night, and the wish
for a solution of the difficulty guided his
wandering steps the next morning to his
old nurses cabin, which stood on a green
hillside, some three miles from his home.
The old woman was sitting on her
doorstep knitting, and basking in the
sunshine. She looked up joyfully as
Gerald approached.
Master Gerald, alanna, thought |
was never going to set eyes Oh you again
What became Of you all this long while,
honcyW
II don't know nurse answered Ger
aid. 81 must have been busy, think. "
Busy said old Joan; "poor lamb.
sure it's you that'll never know what
being busy means; all the better for
you, maybe. Sit down there, alanna,
an I'll get yoa drink of milk.n
Gerald stretched himself at full length
upon the grass, and began to drink the
milk which Joan brought him in China
mug sacred to his own use.
GLOW is Miss Gracei' asked Joan.
81 don't know" answered Gerald;
''shc is unhappy, l think. Her ewes
were full of tears when she came in
from the garden last night. She thought
| did not see them, but | did Nurse
what is four-icaved Shamrock"
"a four leavcd shamrock, alanna2
Why, a shamrock that has four little
leaves instead of three"
II know that | mean, what is the
use of itl"
Well, people say that It's a fairy
charm that brings luck to them that
owns it. never saw one myself, but my
mother knew woman that found one
when she was milking her COW in the
meadow, an grew rich an prosperous
from that day out. Who was talking to
you about it. Master Fitzgerald"
"Gracc was singing about it last
night, and she said that she wished she
could find one. 1t had something to do
with Laurencc's uncle, / think"
All, yes said Joan. Il suppose
Miss Grace thinks that if she had one
she could make things up between Mas
ter Laurence an his uncle"
"And could she2'
"Who knows but she might? BY all
accounts there's wonderful power in
fourleavcd shamrock
- wonder if l could find one" said
Gerald.
" Perhaps you might. Sure it's to the
likes of you that the good people often
send their gifts. Look for it any way,
Alanna. lis pity to have Miss Grace
fretting.
Hcnccforth poor Gcrald's one dream
was to find the four leavcd shamrock,
which was to avert the anger of Laur-
ences terrible uncle and make Grace
happy.
Accordingly he wandered about, day
after day, telling no one of his purpose,
every meadow and every copse
where shamro ks grew, seeking the
magic quatrefoil destined to work such
spells
Such freaks of nature, however, though
they do occur, are very rare, and Gcrald's
quest was a fruitlcss one. lie had at
first avoided the neighborhood of Glen /.
allan Mills from an uncomfortable dread
of meeting the terrible Mr.. Latouche, /
whose stern face and iron. grey hair APP
pcared to poor Gerald the embodiment
of all that was awful.
At length, after days and weeks of pa /
tent search in other places. he so far
overcame his rcpugnance as to go-in the |
early morning-to large meadow /
through which the mill-stream flowed, |
and where the most luXuriant tufts of |
shamrock IN all the country round were
said to grow.
1t was too early yet for the mill to be
at work The immense wheel was at .
rest, and a slender thread of ripping
water flowed quietly on, giving no token .
Of the force pcnt in by the sluices, and |
only awaiting a liberatlng hand to come .
rushing down and give life and motion .
to the slumbering mill.
AS he neared the stream, which had .
steep, grassy banks, gay with many flow
ers, the great bell commenced ringing.
and the workmen were trooping into the .
courtyard. lie should abandon his /
search for that morning, since he would /
not risk meeting with Mr. Latouche.
lie was turning reluctantly away, when |
he perceived particularly large tuft of .
shamrock on the steep bank. Some sud .
den impulse determined him TO examine .
it closely, and ne stretched himself on
it.
His sight was wonderfully long and .
clear, so that he could distinguish every
eatlet in what to another person would .
have seemed but confused mass of .
green. At length, to his unspeakabe |
delight, he perceived the object of his
search-a leaf actually composed of four
divisions, at the end Of long, trailing
stem.
Grasping the heritage firmly with one
hand, he stretched the other toward his
prize. AS he did so, the sudden barking
of a dog, accompanied by loud shout,
startled him, and losing his hold, he /.
slipped down the steep bank into the
stream below.
At the same moment the gates of the
were o cncd, and the pent up
waters, released from their prison, came |
seething and foaming down, Selling on
poor Gerald's helpless form. and bearing
him swiftly toward the certain destruc- /.
ton of the pitiless wheel.