Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-01-12

homeward way, and he had attained |
The position of head overseer of the
works.
MY little girl made the best Sc
lection for me, after ALL" Mr.. Haw-
thorne would often say ON receiving
congratulatlon on the efficiency of
his young assistant.
Occasionally he would read him a
scrap or kind message from his daugh-
ter's letters; but Alex received them
all in silence. He had lost the little
golden-haired child forever. She
would return woman, grown cold,
naughty and proud, perhaps refusing
to cast even smile across the vast so
1lbl gulf yawning between them.
One morning-he had been absent
a few days on business-he returned
to find difficult piece of machinery
about to be adjusted in one of the
mills, which required his superlntend-
ence. Directing the man he saw that
not only his eye, but his hand, could
do better work than the others, and
SO, seizing workman's blouse that
was hanging near, he slipped it on,
and in another moment had his shoul-
der to the wheel.
A half-hour later, soiled and be-
grimed, he heard the rustic of silk
en- dress, and the silvery ripple of
woman's laugh.
He glanced up quickly.
A gay party was passing through
the works, with one among them
seeming a princess surrounded by
her followers. The gold still flecked
her hair, and the dark lashes still
swept the cheek of purest ivory.
Time had but made her more beautl-
full.
She glanced idly, indifferently,
among the little gronp of men, of
which he formed one.
81 see no one here / recognize"
she said, in the old. sweet, soft voice,
and passed on. She had come home,
then, during his absence. He had
seen her. The seven years waiting
were over. What had they brought?"
The machinery slipped into its
place, but Alex Vernon, with a
strange pallor on his face, went out
silently from the mills. Not as once
before, to find relief in tears. He
was man now. He only knew that
bitter disappointment, to which he
could give no name, had ovetaken
him.
Far out into the open country he
walked with great strides, knowing
neither fatigue nor consciousness
that it was unnatural that he should
not tire.
Suddenly, on the road behind him,
came a horse's quick hoofs. He
stepped aside for it to pass, but the
rider drew rein at his side.
ssIt is Alex" said sweet voice
quite near him. 81 know that | am
not mistaken" !"
And, rs in a dream, he saw held
out 10 him a tiny, gauntleted hand.
He looked at his own. Not even
had he washed away the traces of his
recent toll. He would soil by his
touch even her glove, although the
fair whiteness of her skin was there.
by protected.
She saw his hesitation, and drew
back.
s'Am I wrong?" she questioned
in little surprise. 81 thought yor
would be glad to see me !''
s'Pardon me-" he answered; "my
hands are stained
"Oh !" she said.
Then, after; moments pause, sh,
added:
"When you have washed then
clean come to see me-.
And, touching her horse with he
silver-handled whip, she dashed pas
him out of sight.
The next week he was invited tt
dine at her fathers table. Mr.. Haw
thorne would accept no excuse.
cit is in our country an honor tt
be self-made man. I have no guest.
of whom I shall be more proud"
But when he entered the elegantly
appointed drawing-rooms, Miss Haw
thorne gave him simply a courteous
bow of recognition and made no ef-
fort TO approach him.
Once or twice during the meal be
found her eyes fastened on his face
as he was drawn on to speak on this
or that topic as it was presented
while one and another mingled in the
discussion, referring to his opinions
as to those of a man who understood
himself.
The ice was broken, he met her of
ten, but never once had their hands
touched.
He was admitted even into her cir
Gle now. He went only that ht
might see her, listen 70 her voice.
With her, he never forgot the cole
night. the driving snow, the senseless
inanimate form she had brought back
to life, and light, and consciousness
He gave no name either to his pair
or his exquisite happiness of being
near her, he was in the malstrom
| let it hurl him where it would.
The summer came, and on it's wings
it brought the whisper that Miss
Hawthorne was to be married in the
! autumn.