The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-08-12


intensely, more burningly; and, as
though drawn against her will, Dora
turned her face to him.
In that moment was sure l saw her
eyes answer his, and the next she tore
them away, and, turning from him,
opened her lips.
81, Theodore" she began, then fall
tered, wavered, and, flinging herself on
her knees before her aunt, she chung to
her, crying wildly: 81 cannot do It'll
Oh, cannot, l cannotl
Friend Moore rose from among the
men, and crossed oyer to her.
"Dora," he said, sternly, ais thee
mad? Thee has heard naught against
Friend Rolf"
"No, no." she sobbed, "but there is
something within me that tells me i'll of
him, and / dare not marry him."
Dora" began her uncle, still more
sternly, but Richard interrupted him.
Nay, Friend Moore, thee shall not
force the maid"
His voice was strained and harsh, his
face gray, and the veins showed large
on his temples; but the composure of
the young fanatic was perfect. If
l.
must bear it as man may. Who can
say how black his own SOULS sins are?
If mine be so deeply stained that the
Spirit warns pure maid to beware of
me, then it is best that l should know
the truth"
l heard a quick breath drawn close
by me, and my heart gave throb as
turned and looked at Cynthia.
She was standing; the Cynthia of
Sunday night. There was the same
soft flush on her cheek, the same eager
eyes-none of the Quaker cloak left.
She was always lovely, but now
heavens, how beautiful she wasl Her
voice, when she spoke, thrilled me un-
speakably.
1t had the tenderness of mother to
her child, of woman to her lover.
Richard, she is deceiving thee. 1t
is not the Spirit moving her. l am as
pure maid as she, and nothing tells
me ill of thee. l would not fear to
marry thee this hour"
Observation-Disclosures now was
Richards composure?
Striding across the room, he caught
Cynthia by the wrists, his glowing face
and excited demeanor contrasting
strangely with his Quaker garb
Cynthia" he whispered, almost
fiercely, does thee mean it? Will
thee prove it by doing so? l have been
as one possessed. Can thee ever pos
sibly forgiven"
Thee knows it, Richard"
And thee will really marry me, and
now?n
GAS thee wills, Richard"
"Then know all present that /,
Richard, take Cynthia for my welded
wife"
And almost before we had recovered
from the shock of the surprise, the
brief religious ceremony was begun
and ended, and Richard and Cynthia
were man and wife.
"Well, eff dat dom beat all--dat pore,
pretty chilel l reckon Cynthy won
cry none"
| moved quickly to the kitchen door
when / heard these words the morning
after Cynthia's strange marriage.
"What is it, Uncle Sam?" l asked
anXiously.
"Dat pore little Dora run away,
honey" answered Uncle Sam, the
news-gatherer.
" Run away?"
eyes, honey; let herself and her
closes down outen der winder las
night"
l began to see light.
ITO whom did she let herself down"
''To dat emery city cousin o. hern.
He bin a-hangin' roun' ever sence de
chile cum from town. Dey say ole man
Moore lun him off at las, but he war
down to de weddin' unexpected yes
tiddy, an now he done got her, and
what he gwine to keep her on, de Lord
knows. She air as pretty as a pigeon she
air, but she carn't fly aroun' a-feedin'
of herself like dey do. Nav, indeedp'
So this was the spirit which had
moved poor Dora. Cynthia had not
been mistaken, nor had | been over
ready in surprising meaning glances;
for that the cousin and the mysterious
wording of yesterday were one and
the same l could not doubt. | hoped
that he might belle his looks for the
sake of the pretty rebellious girl, but
my heart was too full of Cynthia to
think much of Dora's fate.
l felt that had played large part,
though behind the scenes, in that little
drama just enacted, and was anything
but comfortable in my self-imposed re.
sponsibility.
knew so little, and had spoken sc
strongly.
Suppose Richard were really un.
worthy!
had certainly striven to prove tC
Cynthia that he was not, but then, how
could | guess that a new character
would be introduced at the last mo
ment-that the actors would throw
their lines to the winds and speak &C
cording to their own wills? And, above
all, that Cynthia should play so unex
pected a part and improvise so amaz
ingly!
l longed to know if she were happy
or if she already repented her rash act
Only once had she shown me he
heart, and but once more was / to lool
into its pure and lovely depths, ant
then for moment only.
In few days l was to leave tn,
mountains forever, and | felt that