The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-09-07

parted without word OF plighted troth,
Ralph clasped around my arm circlet
of gold, starred with q gem; | have
worn it ever since, and-I think they
will not break the clasp when l am
dead" And with touch tender as a
caress, Miss Margaret's finger rested
on the old-fashioned keepsake, the only
ornament she ever wore. Then she
was silent for while.
Looking at her Maud wondered if
she had forgotten the present, was she
living in the past, or in the future,
which?
Presently she resumed her narrative,
saying: "When l reached Boston the
streets were crowded The air palpi-
tated with the beat of drums and mar
tial music. Flags and streamers of red :,
white and blue, foated from public
buildings and private residences. The
entire city was attuned to war. Regi-
ments tramped up one street and down
another; at every corner progress was
impeded. When at last the carriage
stopped, the clock on neighboring
church tower pointed to five minutes of
the hour Ralph Gordon had named as
the only time he would be free to come
for the farewell. Grandfather met me
on the doorstep. He was hurrying
away to address a militia regiment l
had just seen entering the Common.
Nevertheless, he fingered to reply to
my eager question by a CHEEKY assur-
ance that had arrived Sin time AT
the words, my heart beat high with
rush of thankfulness. 1 sped through
the hall, up the wide staircase to grand
mothers morning-room. l remember
every detail; even now, can ecall the
sound of old Hannibal's greeting words,
and his repeated powerful glad to see
de young missis, powerful glad The
words follow me like an echo, but alas,
they failed to waken warning memory
until too late-too late. | had but
crossed the threshold of my grand
mothers ROOM" Miss Margaret con-
tinued, "when L heard the hall door
shut violently, and a second later the
quick beat of horses hoofs galloping
swiftly away. Instinctively l knew
what had happened. With wild cry,
l flew down the stairs and out into the
street. caught sight of manly fig.
ure, and then horse and rider were
hidden and lost in the crowds" Miss
Margaret's voice was mournful as cry,
and yet she was very calm as she added:
"We never met again-but we will
oh, yes; l know we will believe in
the resurrection.
Again there was silence in the room,
only broken by the sing-song hum of
the smoudering driftwood fire and the
distant murmur of the sea waves.
Maud's voice trembled with emotion as
SNff pt,A eos1 VII .
happen?" Margaret Raymond was not
considered by her friends demonstra-
tive woman, but she kissed Maud's fair
brow for the second time that evening
as she answered: "The explanation is
simple. 1t was my own fault; during
former visit at grandfather's l had
striven to overcome Hannibal's right
eous repugnance against telling what
assured him was only harmless white
lie.' AT last persuaded him to accept
the formula not at home as polite
manner of refusing admittance to
morning callers. But while Hannibal
yielded in obedience to my wish, he
never reported the false use of the
words without adding: Pears like de
truth is better How much better,
child, l learned that day. Hannibal
had never seen Ralph Gordon, he was
morning caller-the old serving-man
thought he was doing me service, when
according to my false training he said
Not at home,' even though few min
utes before he had seen me enter the
house. Ralph, of course, never thought
that l, Margaret Raymond, his ideal
maiden, would teach servant to tell
lie, to save myself from interruption,
or because it was considered a less
formal refusal than a chilling Beg to
be excused Hence Ralph understood
the words to mean that had not ar
rived. He could not wait; as it was, he
only reached the station in time to
spring from his horse on to the train,
already starting slowly out of the
depot" For moment Miss Margaret
seemed to forget Maud's presence, and
as though thinking aloud, she MUIR
INJURED: 81 wish the jewel in my brace.
let would not CLEAN as l tell the story;
it shines like a tear, never wiped away"
This forgetfulness of Maud was but
brief; then Miss Margaret's voice
sounded again, calm and low Time
sped on" she said; "we were within
week of Ralph's furlough. l counted
tne hours, the minutes. The week
was prefaced by September Sabbath,
a day beautiful as dream. l remem-
Der it all so well; the air was keen and
sunny; the sea blue and ripping; the
wooded hillsides were touched with a
hint of autumn glory. l could not tell
why, but Ralph seemed so near that
morning. | felt his presence as one
feels the nearness of friend expected
the next hour. Was he near? Do
earthly miles separate hearts that love?"
Not waiting for reply, Miss Mar
garet continued: "a blank comes
now, it was all beyond words. After
wards, long afterwards, 1 heard the
history of that day on Maryland
Heights. Years followed, the war
ended, they said peace reigned. But
there was no peace in my heart; l was
so slow in learning submission, l
seemed to smell the lesson backward.