The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-02-13

was there before fair night-she shud-
dered to think what her life would be
after that, until he should come, with
pointing fingers and cruel sneers fol-
lowing wherever she went, And if he
should never comel Her heart stood
still with sudden fear. "You'll come
to me. Alan, dearie, deariel " she half
sobbed under her breath. SO intent
was the pleading in her voice that it
seemed as though he must hear and
answer, were he at the other side of
the world. Involuntary she put out
her arms, seeing nothing, hearing moth
ing, in the anguish of that sudden
doubt. Suddenly she ran against some
thing unseen through her binding tears,
and harsh voice exclaimed What
mean ye, girl, iinnin' against peace
able folks in such manner? Haze We
no. zen your head? Gae hame to your
guide aunt, and DIR. Mackenzie says
she's negectin' her duty. Pm hearin'
strange an wicked tales o. ye, Mar
gurth."
1t was dusk when she reached the
little cottage. How long she had wan
dered in her crushing grief she did
not know. The door stood open, and
as she crossed the threshold her foot
touched PROSTATE figure. 1t moaned
as she bent over it, and Margurth cried,
in sudden horror, Aunt, aunt?"
BY great exertion she succeeded in
getting her on the bed, and then she
threw her little shawl over her head
and started for the village. The way
had never been so long before, yet she
had never gone so fast. At last she
stood before the house of the English
doctor who had recently come there,
and hurriedly rang the bell. She could
not go to DR.. Mackenzie, who had
dosed her aunt with harmless pills for
years. The doctor was at home, and
looked sharply at her as she made
known her errand.
"You are cold and tired, my GIRL"
he said, "come in and rest"
"Na, ma, Icanna," she cried, breath
lessly.
Haste, guide mon, oh, make haste
she's like to die?"
1t seemed to her almost as though
she was in some way to blame for her
aunt's seizure.
The doctor shook his head when he
saw the patient. She might live a
month, he said, and she might live
only till morning. He gave Margurth
some medicine for her, and then went
away, promising to look in again next
day.
One week, two weeks passed, and
then the stern soul was forever at rest.
1t was not until after the funeral that
Margurth had time to think of herself
and her own future. The events of
that afternoon had so faded before the
tragedy that followed that it was not
until now that she remembered how
fair night had come. Her mind was in
agony of hope and fear, belief and
foreboding. Her days were full of
waking terrors, her nights of fearsome
dreams. The minister called to advise
with her as to her future, and was
willing enough to receive her into his
own family, her aunt having left her
the little wealth accumulated by years
of toll, but Margurth seemed scarcely
to hear him, and only said, wait a
wee, sir, an let me speir VII my sell
afore say ay' or 'na.'"
/" am fearful, Margurth, that what
the evil tongues say has some founda-
ton o. truth. l will return to you when
you are acquent wiz your own mind, ="
said the good man, half angrily, AS he
took his leave. {" shall send my sister
to be VII you till yon haze decidt"
Twas fair day fast sinking into night.
All day long knots of girls had gath
cred among the booths or the trees at
the edge of the grounds-discussing
some project which seemed to cause
mirth for all, and TO which one fair
haired girl cried SHANE "a cry which
was drowned in laughter As the dusk
deepened they stealthily left the place
and in the early dark gathered around a
little cottage in the outskirts of the vii
lage. AT first there was laughing and
rapping at the doors, and cries of
Margurth!" then one or two stopped
and threw handfuls of mud at the
shining windows, and finally one, more
bold than the rest, pushed open the
door and led them in to wreak their
chast sement on the unhappy girl
within.
But Margurth was not there.
1t was a beautiful night-soft and
dark, lit only by the stars that winked
merrily at the dark river flowing heavily
by. Two forms were outlined against
the star-lit sky, sitting hand in hand on
the balcony above; third crouched
stealthily below. The man was speak
ing, and there was no installing the love
that quivered through his earnest tones.
The listener below shivered with NOR
tai cold
There is one incident in my life,
| hot I ha Cd 10 toll
His companion turned her soft eyes on
him in wondering surprise. " But
now that our wedding day is so near"
he continued, :" feel that | must tell
you, and so be able to bring to you a
clear conscience. More than year ago |
was in Scotland, as you know, and while
there little Scotch lassie fell in love
with me. III admit | was fiattered,
too, and-well, to tell the truth, | sup
pose l made love to her, and finally
went through the Scotch custom of