Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1891-06-25

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not remain, and returned as soon as his
business was accomplished, to bask again
in light and sweetness of Mary Morron's
presence. Mr.. Shelton was himself quite
alone in the world; his only sis ter-a
companion of Mrs. M. in childhood-had
died during the war, and he hungered,
now that peace had come, for con- pam
ionship, and never had he met with one
whose thoughts and tastes 80 sympa-
thized with and responded to his own.
Already she seemed restored part of
himself.
Is it surprising that with Mary Nor
ton also life had worn different aspect
from her first meeting in his manly
years, with Paul Shelton? More than
the old sunshine smiled upon her path.
His refinement and delicacy of taste, his
quick response to all that was beautiful
and good, was what she had long craved.
No wonder then that in his society she
was fascinated and her heart made cap
tive as in the tolls that were dreamed of
in other days.
1t so happened that party of friends
proposed drive to Monadnock, and
Mary Morton and Colonel Shelton were
among the number invited. The morn
ing was beautiful. AS they gained the
mountain soft, delicious haze blending
with the sunshine, EMBODIED nature as in
a golden veil, which, to them, seemed in
wondrous harmony with what was pas
sing in their own hearts. 1t was an
eventful day-a day that brought
change to the whole current of their
lives; for words of love were spoken,
and their hearts beat with joy which
neither could utter. And veto Mary
Morton there would come a dread-al-
most at times trembling sense of some
thing which she could not name-as she
asked herself, "What if Henry Morton
is still living?" She did not know. She
strove to Danish the thought as she lifted
her eyes to Paul Shelton's and read there
the love and devotion that filled his
manly heart. Then, Henry Morton was
to her as one dead, and the strange re-
newal of their child love was made
sweeter by the very shadow of dread
that had fallen upon it. But she could
not be rid of the shadow altogether!
Whether wronged or not she could not
tell. All that she knew was that she
had suffered and yet, she lived to long
and hunger for what she had found only
in the love of Paul Shelton. The power
of what was looked upon as childish
romance in her old Kentucky home came
upon her-strengthened by her maturer
: strengthened in the paths where she
strewed flowers as a girl, and heard the
!. sweet music of southern birds, she now
; knelt beneath their hallowed shadow
ings, in all the sacred devotion of
womanhoOd.
A few weeks after those eventful hours
. among the hills at the foot of the noun
:. tain, friend and neighbor of Mrs. Nor
r ton, Mr.. Wentworth, while purchasing
int no nil rI
Quire for a street and number, the resi-
dence of family for which he had let
r tiers and messages from friend living in
the town of Marysville, Cal. The name
of the town had never been connected in
his mind with the name of Morton, and
g yet he felt impressed to inquire of the
! gentleman if he had ever heard or known
of such person in that locality?
] The gentleman answered at once !:
4 s' Henry Morton? Yes, l know him we'll,
!. and finer man never lived; but he
moved from our town few years since,
I and had been, hear, much prospered in
business, but he met with rever-"
"What, is he alive?" inquired Mr..
Wentworth, eagerly.
I "He was," replied Mr.. Nichols, "a
!, few months since, and L have not heard
Of his DEATH"
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!, hearing this news.
On making further inquiries it was
;. learned that Mr.. Morton supposed his
g wife to be dead. He had received no
2 tidings from her for years.
! Mr.. Wentworth took Mr.. Nichols adj
: dress, and on his return to M fastened
l to see Mrs. Morton and told her of the
interview in Boston. She did not hear
one word of the supposition on the part
: of Mr.. Morton that she was dead,-that
there must be, back of all, some explain
alton of supposition that was mutual,
and had been the cause of so much suf-
fering to both. The simple tidings that
Mr.. Morton was living was all that she
listened to, and the news came to her as
to one in dream.
Mr.. Wentworth hardly dared to pro-
! coed; but as Mrs. Morton composed her.
! self and listened further to him, she
could not doubt. Her first feeling was
that of indignation that she had been so
9 long neglected Why had not
: her letters been answered? She had be-
lieved him to be dead, and love- that
this mystery might be lifted"
Her next thought was of Paul Shelton.
, What tide of feeling came rushing
through her heart. How could she give
I him up, and he?-how would he bear
: such crushing newsstand could she
;, meet him again?
These conflicting emotions-this strug-
!, gle-was more than she could bear, and
she sank exhausted and fainting. Mr..
Wentworth did not expect this in one
who had borne her long trial with so
much quiet firmness. He could not COM
, prehend fully the nature of loving but
neglected wOman's heart.
1t was some time before Mrs. Morton
recovered, but then,-it was to rouse all
the energies of her nature, and she looked
at the startling and now confirmed facts
l in the light which they demanded. She
must see and talk with Mr.. Nichols. who
had given the information to Mr.. Went
! worth.
But Paul Shelton,-how she longed for
: his sympathy. He had been away two
days. On his return the news struck his
heart like lead. 1t was worse than
battle. There he could have born any
fate like soldier. Scan it be true?''
"No," was the reply, "there must be
Z, some mistake" He must hasten to
Mary He wOu1d haliaua If oplx fro,,