Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-08-08

for her to take it home, so she abandon,
the thought of dinner tomorrow, anG
thinks Monday morning she will give al
her earnings to the landlord, which will
fall short of what she owes, but may
perhaps give her respite. As she takes
up Harry's little torn trousers to mend
her eyes fall upon a neatly tied package,
marked "Mrs. Lawrence" and thai
name sends her thoughts adrift, away
back to another Saturday when she had
watched and waited in vain, for the
coming of one of that name.
Presently she hears a mans step com
ing up stairs; her heart beats faster and
she holds her breath as it pauses before
the door; a second passes and ther
comes a knock; she is timid about open
ing the door. She half rises, then sink,
lack into her seat. The knock is re-
peated. Shall she open the door2 Who
can it be4 The landlord perhaps. With
this thought she rises just as the knock
is again repeated. With trembling hanG
and scared face she opens the door.
Her nerves are unstrung, and she al
most screams aloud, as she beholds Eu
gene Lawrence.
81 have come for some sewing of MI
mothers, " he begins, stepping across the
threshold; the light is in his face, and
he has not recognized her.
She closes the door without turnin.
around, trying to keep her face from him,
but as she has eaten nothing since the
day before, her step is rather uncer,
tain and she staggers forward as hei
hand leaves the knob; he springs to,
ward her and catches her arm.
Rose lagrange Is it possible9" he
eXclaims, in CONSERVATION.
"At your service" she returns, trying
to speak lightly, but sinking wearily in 0
chair.
"Has it come to this2" he asks, looking
around the room.
81 am not ashamed to work, " she says,
proudly.
"No, no! mol ashamed to! Oh, but
that you should be obliged Will you
tell me about yourself and how you came
here9"
'Be seated, please. If you care to hear,
I will tell you" and she resumes hei
mending involuntarily. "There is not
much to tell" she begins, she has been
sewing button on Harry's trousers
something drops out of the pocket and
falls on the floor, and as she discovers 8
hole in the pocket she empties it, in order
to mend it. She takes out some twine,
marbles, an old key, nails and many
other old traps and at the very bottom,
bit of crumpled dirty paper, she lay,
them on the table, and resumes her sew.
ing and her story.
He picks it up mechanically and alb
sently smoothes it out. It is a letter
sealed and stamped. Suddenly he be.
comes aware that he is reading the name
of ''Miss Rose Lagrange" in his own
handwriting. He hastily tears it open
and reads his own letter to her written
over year ago.
She is surprised at his behavior. ''Mr
Lawrence, you forget yourSelf!n she says.
"Will you be kind enough to read that
letter." he exclaims, excitedly, "it is
evident it never reached you.n
Sne takes1t wonuerlngiy, reaus IL SLOW
ly, then looks inquiringly into his eager
face.
"Do you understand p' he asks implor
ingly.
"Hardly," she returns; then reads it
over, light seems to break upon her,
for the tell-tale color rushes into her face
and betrays her.
Had you received it when it was due
what would you have said2"
''Come," she whispers.
"My darlingl my darling" he ex,
claims, catching her in his arms.
She falls limp upon his breast.
"What have done! have I killeo
herr" he cries, in alarm.
"No," she answers family. "I am only
faint and weak, it will pass presently"
"What is it, what is the matter?"
Nothing, nothing have had moth.
ing to eat since yesterday, and have been
working all day, and am little dizzy,
that is all"
"Great heavens that is enough! you
shall go to my mother tonight, | will
not leave you again alone. Oh, that you
should have come to this through me.
Fool that was not to have spoken when
I saw you, not to have trusted to luckr"
She smiled at his vehemence.
"Do you know. darling, it was all a
ruse, my going away2 I just told you
that to see if you cared, and / thought
you didn't"
Did you think would let you see, it
I did care2"
"And you missed me?"
at almost broke my heart"
ooh, what an idiot / have been"
~ am strong now," she says, releas,
ing herself from his embrace.
=" And you will go with me9" he
questions,
Yes" she answers, confdingly. ''But
wait, will wake Harry, we must take
him."
"I suppose so, he returns, laughing,
"the little heather, keeping that letter
hidden away in his pocket for over o
year."
When they are going home they ques-
ton Harry about the letter, but he re-
members nothing of it, After much
thinking he does recall one morning
when the postman gave him a letter to
take into the house and he put it into
his pocket and forgot it.
eff we had not been so poor" says
Rose, laughingly, "those old clothes
would have been thrown away long ago
and the letter with them. ."-Arkansdu
Irdoeler.
What the Rulers of France Get.
The men who govern France arc paid