Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-07-12

VHidSe hau IcCelVcu as SOou d uiu-
sical education as herself.
The music was, indeed, a credit to
her, and many a chance visitor from
the city turned in surprise, as the
glorious old anthems rolled over
their heads. More than one heart
felt little futter of expectancy, as
tall, slender man rose in the pulpit
to address them.
He did not preach dry sermon
about the old patriarchs, or some
knotty problem in theology. He
talked to them as if be knew every
ones secret grief, and by his deli
cate sympathy healed the sore heart.
He pictured what a true, beautiful
life they might lead, until Violet tho't
of the past-her frivolous, useless
life. The old wound re-opened, and
she wildly wished she could bring
back to life, the one son of that wld-
owed mother, who eight years before
had blotted out his life for her sake.
She had solo in the closing an
them, and many turned to look at
her as her mellow voice floated up
ward. 1t seemed to have a new
tone, that touched the heart like
prayer for forgiveness.
Ralph Armstrong, as he sat in the
pulpit, looked across the little church
into that face of an angel.
There were several matters to
speak about to the organist after
church, and it was some time before
Violet descended the stairs, where,
to her surprise, she found her aunt
with the minister's hand in hers,
while she seemed almost in hyster-
les. Fastening to her side, she
heard her say:
"To think you are the son of my
old friend, John Armstrong Such a
surprise and pleasure. Violet, do
tell him to come home to dinner with
u.s.
''Pray introduce me, aunt, and |
certainly will" said her niece, laugh
ing, for Aunt Martha certainly look
ed very funny, half embracing the
young man, while score of people
looked on in wonderment.
Violet's repentant mood had gone.
1t vanished as she saw glance of
admiration in the dark eyes of the
young man turned upon her. Dur
Ing the homeward drive and the din
ner following, Aunt Martha would
have liked to have labelled her dam
gerous. She certainly had never
seemed more attractive, and the
young man would need to pray for
strength if he wished to resist.
"Violet," said her aunt sternly, as
she looked into her room to say
goodnight, ''That young man is the
son of the dearest friend of my youth.
l will have no trifing with his heart. y
In the year following, think Vio-
let Sturtevant received all the pun
ishment she deserved. 1t was at
once the happiest and most wretched
year of her life. Happiest, because
she had at last learned to love, and
hung with rapture on every word ut
tered by the one who had won her
heart. The most wretched, be-
cause although she tried every fas-
cination in her power, he seemed per-
fectly indifferent to her. At times
her heat would eXult over some lit
tie attention, only to grow cold as,
perhaps the same day, she would see
the same attention offered some one
else. She could not accuse him OF
being firt. He was simply courte.
Gus to all alike. He often came to
see Aunt Martha, as his father
friend, and Violet could not complain
of lack Of opportunity to win his re-
gard. Feeling him hard to please
only made her the more anxious to
succeed. She would see him some
times looking at her as one might at
beautiful picture, with pleasure and
admiration; but through it all SUBJ
tie coIdness that chilled her heart.
He was not engaged she learned IN
thousand ways that he was gener-
Gus and warm hearted; but the year
went by, and he was still cool and
Indifferent, paying more attention to
the village maidens than to herself
and, as she felt that her case was
hopeless, she suffered more than
even Aunt Martha, who watched her
closely, imagined.
Once she thought, she thinks me
too gay" and forthwith donned a
simpler attire, and sang softer airs,
only to see him studying her with an
amused curiosity that nettled her. A
dozen times she vowed to overcome
this foolish infatuation, and avoided
his presence; but it all ended the
same way. After declining to come
down and help Aunt Martha enter
tain him, she would kneel at the win
dow in the darkness just to hear his
footsteps as he left the house, mur-
muring, "Ralph! Ralph over and
over. If he could only have heard
the passion and despair of that faint
cry!
At last she felt she could bear it
no longer. She would go away un-
til she could conquer herself, when
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