News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-10-02
The Faded Leaf.

1 can hardly believe it even now. Il
there was one person in the world whom
L should have thought safe from the re-
motest chance of matrimony, that per-
son was Aunt Hetty-dear, placid,
middle-aged Aunt Hetty. And yet I
have Just seen her drive away from the
door hand-in-hand with her handsome
husband, and looking as sweet and
bonny as any young bride of 19, not
withstanding her silver hair.
I have lived with Aunt Hetty ever
since mother died. When came to her
was quite little tot, and now I am
six-apdtwenty, so you may imagine it
is good many years ago. Auntie must
have been young women then, but
somehow she has always seemed middle
aged to me. She was always so calm
and gentle, and did everything in such
quiet, business like way that I re.
garded her as different kind of being
from my restless, excitable self. l have
have had my little Irritation now and
then, but Aunt Hetty seemed too grave,
too wise, too good altogether, ever tc
have been mixed up in anything Sc
frivolous as love affair. 1 remember,
almost as if it were yesterday, fancying
one day, about year ago, that auntie
was dressed more carefully than usual.
1 don't know what the difference was
only an extra bit of lace or ribbon, or
something of that sort. but said to her
for fun:
"Why, auntie, dear, how smart you
are One would think you were going
to weddingl'
"No, DEAR" she said. 'I am not go
ing to wedding, but this should have
been my own silver wedding day." And
the dear lip quivered for a moment and
tear came into the soft gray eyes.
but how was it, then, that you were
not married, after all, auntie ?" I in
quired. "But perhaps I ought not to
ask. Don't tell me if it pains you"
"No, DEAR" she said, SIT was painful
story once, but the pain has gone ont of
it now. And / think I should like to
tell it to you. Perhaps some day it
may save you from making such mis-
take as I did. 1t is very simple story,
just lovers quarrel, few hasty words
all said and over in five minutes; but
they altered my whole life. Sit here on
the hassock at my feet and 1 will tell
you my story. 1t won't take long"
L sat down accordingly and with her
hand resting on my shoulder and now
and then wandering lovingly over my
hair, she began:
''It happened when I was only 19-
younger than You, Rath, full of life and
spirit-very different from the faded old
maid you have always known me. Twas
engaged to be married. Ny lover was
four years older than myself; he was a
mate of ship and fine, dashing young
fellow named Edward Blake. We had
been engaged six months, and were to
be married a month later. The day
was fixed, and Edward had arranged to
give up the sea and take situation on
land. We were as happy as any two
young people could possibly be; but,
unluckily, just month before the time
fixed for our wedding day picnic was
got up by some of our friends and
Edward and I were of the party. There
was a handsome young fellow there
named Percy Sandys, the son of a
neighboring clergyman. He was fresh
from college and full of fun and frolic.
chanced to be placed next to him at
luncheon, and, not knowing, as after
ward discovered, that I was engaged, he
was especially attentive to me. 1 did
not care for his attentions in the least.
but was in high spirits and only bent
on the enjoyment of the moment, and 1
did not check him as, perhaps, [ ought
to have done. Presently l caught sight
of Edwards face, and saw he was looking