Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-09-04

piled Ralph Crantieli. hurricdly. "and will
make known my decision within three
days
After a few more words. the village dig
nitafy and his companions took their leave.
But to Craniield's fancy their images were
still present. and became more and more
invested with the dim vfulnes, of figures
which had first appeared to him in a dream.
and afterwards had shown themselves in
his waking moments. assuming homely as
poets among familiar things. His mind
| dwet upon the features Of the squire. till
| they grew confused with those Of the Wis
| ionary sage. and one appeared hut the shad-
| ow of the other. The same vsagc. he now
! thought, had looked forth upon him from
! the Pyramid of Chcops: the same form had
! beckoned to him among the colonnades of
! the Alhamhra. the same figure had mistly
revealed itself through the ascending steam
of the Great Geyser. At every effort of
/ his memory he recognized some trait of the
dreamy messenger of destiny. in this pom
! pouS. buStlin-. Self-important. little great
man of the village. Amid such musings
| Ralph Cranield sat all day i'm the cottage
scarcely hearing and vaguely answering his
mothers thousand questions about his
travels and ventures. AtsunSet he rou,-
ed himself 10 take a stroll and. passing the
aged elm-trcr. his eye was then caught by
the scmblance of a hand, pointing down
ward at the half-obliterated inscription.
As Cnntield walked down the street of
| the village. the level sunbeamS threw his
shadow far before him: AMI he fannicd
that as his shadow walked anon! distant
objects. SO had there leen a presentimrut
stalking in advance of him throughout his
life. And when he drew near each object.
over which his tall sha low la preceded
him. still it proved to be one of ,he familiar
recollections OF his infane, AMI youth.
Every crook in the pathway was remem-
bered. Even the more traH>ijory character
| isticS of the scene wee the same a. i'm
by-gone days. \ company OF COWS were
grazing on the grassy roadside. and refresh
ed him with their fragrant breath. 1T is
Sweeter.' thought he. ethan the perfume
which was waited 10 our ship from the
Spice islands. The round little figure Of a
child rolled from doorway. and Law laugh
ing almost beneath Cranteld's feet. The
dark and stately man stopped down. and.
lifting the infant. restored him to his
mothers arms. The children" said he
to himself.-and sighed. and smiled. the
children are to be my charge And while
a flow of natural feeling gushed like we'll
spring in his heart. be came to a dwelling
which he could now,e forhear to enter.
a sweet voice. which seemed 10 come from
a deep and tender soul, was warblug a
plaintive little air within
He bent his head. and passed through
the lowly door A. his foot sounded upon
the threshold. n Young woman advanced
from the dusky interior of the house. at
first hastily and then with more uncer-
tain step. till they met face TO face There
41,-. .
he dark and WcturcSque.-one who had
battlcd with the world.-whum all suns
had shonc upon. and whom all winds had
blown on varied course: she neat come
ly, and quiet.-quiet even in her agitation.
AS if all her emotions had been subdurd
To the peaceful tenor of her life. Yet their
faces, all unlike a. they We're. had an eN-
preston that seemed not so alien.-a glow
of kindred feeling. flashing upward anew
from half-eNtingui>hrd cmbers.
You are welcome home" said Faith
Egerton.
But Crantitld did not Immediately an
swer: for his eye had been caught by an
ornament in the shape of a heart. which
Faith wore as a brooch upon her bosom.
The material was the ordinary white quartz.
and he recollected having himself shaped
il out of one of those Indian arrow-heads.
which are so often found in the ancient
haunts of the red men. 1t was precisely
on the pattern Of that worn by the vision
AIRY maid. When Cranfeld departed on his
shadowy search he had bestowed this
brooch in a gold setting. as parting gift
to Faith Egerton.
$50, Faith. you have kept the heart
said he. at length.
Yes said she, blushing deeply: then,
more gayly. ''and what else have YOU
brought me from beyond the sea-
Path" replied Ralph Cranfeld. utter
ing the fated words by an uncomfortable
impulse, Il have brought you nothing but
a heavy heart. May rest its weight on
! you?"
This token, which have worn so long"
said Faith, resting her tremulous finger on
the heart is the assurance that YOU may
Path. Faith cried Cranfeld. clasp
ing her in his arms, you have interpreted
my wild and weary dream
Yes, the wild dreamer was awake at last
| To find the mysterious treasure, he was 10
till the earth around his mother dwelling.
and reap its products. Instead of warike
command or regal or religious sway. he
was to rule over the village children. And
now the visionary maid had faded from his
fancy, and in her place he saw the play
mate of his childhood. Would all. who
cherish such wild wishes. but look around
them, they would oftenest find their sphere
OF duty, Of prosperity. and happiness. with
in those precincts. and in that station,
| where Providence itself has cast her lot
Happy they who read the riddle. without
a weary world-search, or a lifetime spent
in vain!