Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-06-07

her heart. The mother, whom she
loved so fondly, and who seemed the
only dear one left to her, was called
to come up higher. And then the
farm was sold, for the aged father
cared not to stay, now the loved
companion was gone, and father and
daughter went with Charlie to his
western home. Mabel had been ed
ucated as teacher, and now in one
of those great western cities, which
grow up like mushroom, in night,
she again resumed her labors. She
worked hard she went into society;
she was fattered and much sought
after; but was she happy? The eye
once so bright and sparkling began
to look hollow and sad the rosy
cheeks were pale and thin. Charlie
scolded daily, and declared she was
killing herself with school work.
Her father watched her anxiously,
and Charles mother planned num-
berless dainties to tempt her failing
appetite, but all to no purpose.
1t was the closing day of her Sec
ond year at H Academy. All
day long memories of the past had
haunted her. All day long she had
seen amid the sea of faces around
her, only the phantom of well-re-
membered form. Now she answers
the good-bys and kisses, as teacher
and pupils separate for vacation, and
turns the key in the lock with a sigh
of relief. The next morning finds
her too i'll to rise. "Tired. Oh, so
tired is her reply to the anxious in
quiries. And day after day she grew
weaker and weaker, and hope grew
faint in their hearts as they watched
her.
1t was June again, and on that
particular June day Mabel lay with
folded hands upon the coverlet,
and watched with half-closed eyes
the sunlight, gllstening through a
tree which shaded her window. She
was thinking of that other June day,
three years ago.
''The old sweet love of long ago,
The joy that might have BEEN"
Mrs. Bowers came softly into the
room saying. "Mabel, here Is letter
that [ found in the lining of an old
coat of Charles. The superscrip-
ton is entirely defaced but the seal is
unbroken. Where do you suppose
it is? The postmark is not all here,
but should think it was from some
where in New Hampshire. Careless
boy. 1t must have been there long
time"
"Let me see it, auntle, please,
said Mabel, with a wild beating at
her heart that almost choked her.
Tremblingly she broke the seal, and
there in the well-known handwriting
of Harry Rowland she read the fol-
lowing:
Dear Mab,-You left me rather
unceremoniously the other afternoon,
did you not? went over to see you
that evening, but did not find you.
Will you forgive me, darling, for the
many disagreeable things | said to
you that day, and be once more my
own dear Queen Nab? Please write
me just one little word to tell me |
may come to you. Ever your loving
HARRY.
Mabel lay back among her pillows
so white and still that Mrs. Bowers
was frightened, and hastily ran for
restoratives. But Mabel did not faint.
"It was my letter, aunt" she said.
"Oh! Charlie, Charlie! You little
know what your carelessness has
caused. Give me MY writing desk,
auntie, and leave me alone for a
little"
"But you cannot write my child.
You are not strong enough. Let me
write for you
"No aunt. l must do it myself.
II will not harm me in the least"
Mrs. Bowers brought the pretty in
laid writing desk from the table and
opened it ready for use, and then
went softly down stairs and left Ma
bel alone.
With trembling fingers Mabel
grasped ner pen and wrote:
Oh Harry Your letter was lost,
and / never knew you wrote to me
until to-day. Is it too late to ask
you to forgive me? [ should be more
reconciled to death could | know
that you had forgiven me. NAB.
Almost illegible were the charac-
ters her hand had traced. She fold
ed and sealed her letter and waited
| for her aunt to return.
"Will you address this, auntie, to
Harry Rowland. Sunapee, N. H..
and give it to the postman
Utterly exhausted, Mabel lay back
among the pillows to rest. The let
ter was duly dispatched, and then
followed days of weary waiting.
One day something was carried in
for her inspection wrapped in an old
newspaper, and left upon her bed.
Carelessly looking at it she saw
name that fixed her attention. 1t
was an eastern paper, and among the
local items was the following:
'sHarry Howland is making extern
sive repairs upon Lake Cottage, and
we surmise it will soon have a young
mistress"
The rosy visions of the past few