The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-06-25

youth that had been hers. She couldn't
help thinking how its light had been
extinguished just as relentlessly as the
darkness was quenching the last bit of
the days sunshine.
She thought, too, OF. John, her
precious boy and how his young, SEN
sitive soul was going to be forced to
grapple with work for which he had no
heart, just because Josiah Bell-his
father-her husband, was a tyrant and
would have his own way; just because
money was his god, and he demanded
that his god should be worshiped.
The thought would comet was
wicked one" What if Josiah Bell
should die? Then these broad acres
would be Johns and hers to do with as
they pleased. How different every
thing could be! They could have their
way then, and there'd be no more
drudgery for her and John. Ali
John, her John, the dear, beautiful
soul -
Just then the first stroke of the toll
ing bell fell upon her ear. 1t reused
her to life-to herself.
What is ii? Who is dead? Who is
the bell tolling for? Can it be that
JOsiah-Ive Just been wishing it--oh,
my God, can it be that Josiah is dead?'
She never thought of Neighbor
Green. She remembered that she last
saw her husband more than an hour
ago going down the garden path. Had
he come ir? If so, where was he?
She flew to his room. Perhaps he
had gone to bed. He often did so
liza Ia
She ran to the porch, then to the stable,
then upstairs and down, calling all the
while, yet hearing no return, only the
echo of her own frightened voice.
Then down the garden path she fed,
nor stopped moment, until, nearing
the russell apple-tree she heard voice
voice in prayer, and there upon his
knees-could she believe her eyes?-she
saw Josiah, her husband. Could it be
possible? Josiah Bell, whose will had
never yielded either to the love of wife
or children, giving up to God?
She knelt upon the grass; but Josiah
heard not the rustic of her garments,
for his soul was uplifted in the first
rapture of divine love. The bell tolled
on, stroke after stroke, with solemn,
measured sound, but each stroke for
her was like the music of the heavenly
hosts when the plains of Bethlehem re-
sounded with the news of the Savior's
birth.
Are We there. Mary?'
A voice-nOt JOsiah's of this morn
ing, yesterday, or of the long, hard,
weary, grasping, grudging years of her
married life-but the voice of the lover
who had wooed and won her young heart
and life.
" Yes Josiah" she answered, softly.
"The tolling of the bell frightened me.
You were gone so long, | was afraid
it-might Observation-Disclosures"
She answered, half apologetically and
quite timidiy, as had been her wont to
address him.
9 1t was, Mary, it was tolling for old
Josiah Bella mean, miserable old ty-
rant, as hasn't been with yer worrin'
fer an yer lovin'. Mebbv We havn't
any objection ter havin' new hus-
band-one that's going to live fer We
an John an the rest on 'em, accordin'
ter the contract I've made with the
Lord: if We hain't sorry fer it, We'll
have new weddin' an the deacon here
shall tie the knot
Here, Mary, give me yer right han
an may the Lord hold me clus ter my
bargain"
With bowed heads, and hands tenderly
clasped, the old couple stood while the
deacon leaned across the top rail of the
garden fence, the tears streaming down
his cheeks. He invoked the blessing of
the Father upon the waiting pair and
the new life upon which they were
about to enter.
The bridegroom's lips touched rev.
erently the fair, though wrinkled fore
head of the bride, and as they walked
hand-in-hand up the garden path the
holy stars looked down upon the new
and the true wedding. 4. G.
Le,ciS, IN Ladies' Home Journal.