Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-01-22
MY DAY.

How long is that Of most people, |
wonder? Some perhaps can number the
full six hundred and thirteen thousand
six hundred and eight hours of the al
lotted threescore years and ten, while
others outlast the pre-Adamic day of the
geologist, and cover all eternity. But
mine was just the ordinary daylight one,
the shortest in the year, too, for it was
the 21st of December.
And even short as it was, had already
wasted some hours of it. Had | thought
1t would have set so soon | might have
been up at its dawning, though usually I
hold, with Lever, that the sun looks best
AS every one else does-when he's up
and dressed for the day, and that its a
piece Of impertinent curiosity to peep at
him when he's raising and at his toilet;
he has not rubbed the clouds out Of his
eyes, or you dared not look at him.
But when ones sun shines such a little
while as mine, might not one be pardoned
for rushing to the levee at an unfashion-
able hour.
Yet it was noon before was out in the
bright glow, trudging down the lane with
yesterdays fall of snow crisping under
my feet, and last nights sleet clashing
overhead, as the wind caught at the
struggling, overgrown hedge-row boughs
and sent them ringing together with
such an icy jeweled flash and splendor
OF green and gold and red and blue
as summer with all her wealth of
leaves and blossoms, could not rival
The very splcndor promised the glitter
ing mockery but short life; the sun is a
traitor with his kisses, and the warmth of
them would soon wither away the snow
wreaths, making their delicate mimicrv
OF the white May and the hawthorn in
the hedge. But meantime they were very
far, and the snow lay light and white
under the great peach orchards that had
their icy sparkle too, as they swept away,
with gentle undulations, right and left of
the still lane. And the blue sky had
the merest snowflake of cloud drifting
along, and the sun was shining full upon
me, and somehow CLINT of it had GOT
into my heart, though there was nothing
in particular to bring it there. Yet did
not intend to NOPE. Aunt Margaret and
the girls were friendly and kind, and the
least | could do would be to put aside the
shadow of my Grape, and show them
contented face. And So
Perhaps something more than content
flashed into it just then, when that
thought of mine was broken short off by
a clatter of those hedge-row boughs, and
some one sprang down through the gap,
bringing with him a little catter of fall
Ing 1cicles into the road before me. For.
! as we shook hands, there was a pleased
look in his eyes, and he said, with some
abruptness:
"1ou are little glad to see me? You
won't mind my finishing your walk with
you"
tried to answer carelessly, though it
was not so easy, under that gaze of his.
"Oh, if you are of geological turn this
morning, [ am going in search of foxtail
and crowfoot marked quite splendid
bed down by the brook in the woods in a
sheltered spot where / dare say this light
snow has not covered it. The girls tell
me they are not in the habit of putting
eyergreens about the house, but always
did it at home, and-n
He understood me at once. He said.
with his rare gentleness: "And YOU arc
trying hard to keep some of the old feel
ing about you. You must forgive me if
| cannot help seeing something Of your
brave struggle, and yearning to help you
in it."
Yearning! 1t was strong word, but
his eyes made it stronger, as I could not
help glancing up to see. And before in
my confusion, I could drop mine again,
somehow my muff was on the snow at our
feet, and both my hands were in his.
Miss Deane-Annie--I can help you
with my whole life, ANNIE"
And, after that, is it any wonder if the
sun shone straight into my heart?
| don't think our researches would
have added much to the cause of either
zoology or botany that day. On the lat
ter especially my lover would have made
strange confusion, insisting that we were
passing under quite a number of mistle-
toe boughs, if my superior knowledge of
the science had not set him right We
did find the crowfoot, however, and, as I
had expected, not too deep in the snow.
But when he had torn up a long spray of
| ~ "iiNt h'iS IL lldlilllS ONCl my Slu'blNtl'
/ stayed his hand Madge and I could
come another day for some-thcre was
plenty of time--but to-day's in-gather-
mgs | meant to keep all to myself.
At least for this one day, told him,
when we had reached the house, and
paused together in the porch. For this
one day we would not call in any one,
however friendly, to see what it had
brought me but tonight, when he was
gone, then ] would tell Aunt Margaret
that | was to be his wife said the
word in a little futter as we stood to-
gether, for already he had been asking
me how long meant to keep his own
from him. AS said it, glanced up
shyly at him, and it would have discom-
fitted me to see how his face changed pal
ing at that word, if his hand had not
closed on mine with Tightening grasp
which made me ashamed of dawning
doubt that he wanted it,
annie"
The voice, full of strange pain,
| startled me- Could this day have any
pain in it 2
Perhaps he read that thought. was