The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1892-10-07

WV MAINTAINING iooih. iiuW hA"hl
carols had we sung to its music! As !
passed my foot struck one of the legs,
and the rickety structure groaned rs If
it We're coming TO pieces. thrust out
my hand to steady it, but at my touch
the velvet covering of the lid came off
and the tiny gilt ornaments ratified
downward.
By now the full moonlight pierced
the window and Quivered on the floor
As gazed on the tremulous pattern il
changed into quaint devices of hearts,
daggers, rings and a thousand other TO-
kens. All suddenly another object
glided among them so quickly that ]
wondered whether my eyes had been at
fault-a tiny satin shoe, stained crimson
across the lappets. A revulsion of feel
ing came to my soul and drove away all
my fear. had seen that self same shoe
white and unsoiled twenty years before,
when vain, vain Rose danced among
her reapers at the harvest home. And
my voice cried out in ecstasy: "Rose,
heart of mine! Delight of all the worlds
delights"
She stood before me, wondering,
amazed. Alas, so changed! The red and
yellow silk shawl still covered her shout
ders; her hair still hung in those eldritch
curls. But the beautiful face had grown
wan and tired, and across the forehead
were drawn lines like silver threads. She
threw her arms around my neck, and
pressing her bosom heavily on mine
sobbed so piteously that l grew afraid
for her and drew back the long masses
of hair which had fallen forward, and
kissed again and again those lips that
were too lovely for smile. Never came
a word of Gliding from them. "Love,"
she said, when she had regained her
breath, "the past struggle was sharp and
torturing-the future struggle will be
crueler still. What great love yours
was to wait and trust for so long! Would
that mine had been as powerful! Poor,
weak heart that l could not endureV'
The tones of a wild fear throbbed
through all her speech strongly, but yet
with insufficient power to prevent her
from feeling the tenderness of those mo-
ments. Often timorously raising her
head from my shoulder she looked
around, and then turned with a soft,
inarticulate and glad murmur to hide
her face on my bosom. | spoke fer
yently; told of the years spent away
from her; how, when working in the
diamond fields, she had ever been pres
ent in my fancy; how at night her name
had fallen from my lips in my only
prayer; how had dreamed of her among
the greatest in the land-the richest
and dare swear the loveliest woman in
the world.
grew warmer still. All the gladness
| which had been constrained for so long
now burst wildly from my lips; myriad
| of rich ideas resolved into words which,
being spoken, wove one long and deli
cious fit of passion. As we stood to
| gether the moon frightened and filled
the chamber with light like the days.
The ridges of the surrounding moorland
stood out in sharp relief.
Rose drank in my declarations thirst
lily, but soon interrupted me with a
heavy sigh "Come away" she said
softly. 81 no longer live in this house.
You must stay with me tonight. This
place is so wretched now, fer time, that
in you and me has only strengthened
| love, has wrought much ruin here"
Half leaning on me she led me from
the precincts of Breton hall. We
walked in silence over the waste that
crowns the valley of the Whitelands,
and being near the verge of the rocks
saw the great pine wood sloping down
ward, lighted near us by the moon, but
soon lost in density. Along the mysteri.
GUS line where the light changed into
gloom, intricate shadows of withered
summer bracken struck and receded in
mimic battle. Before up lay the
| Priests cliff. The moon was yelled
here by grove of elms, whose ever
swaying branches alternately increased
and lessened her brightness. This was
a place of notoriety-a veritable Col
gotha-a haunt fit only for demons
Murder and theft had been punished
here, and to this day fireside stories are
told of evil women dancing around that
Druids' circle, carrying hearts plucked
from gibbeted bodies.
"Rose," whispered. "why have you
brought me here?"
She made no reply, but pressed he1
head more closely to my shoulder
Scarcely had my lips closed than ,
sound like hiss of half stranglet
snake vibrated among the trees. 1t grew
| louder and louder. A monstrous shadow
| lowered above.
Rose from my bosom murlnured
Glove is strong as death! Love is strone
as death!''
| locked her in my arms so Tight,
that she grew breathless. Hold me,
she painted. you are strong"
A cold hand touched our foreheads, 81
that benumbed we sank together TO til,
ground, to fall instantly into dream
less slumber.
When awoke the clear gray light O
the early morning had spread over til,
country. Beyond the hall garden tn
sun was just bursting through tn
clouds and had already spread Il lon;
golden haze along the horizon. TIL,
babbling of the streamlet that runs dow
to Halkton was so distinct that it seemed
| almost at my side. How sweetly tn
wild thyme smelled! Filled with the ten
der recollections of the night, withou
turning called Rose Pascal from he
sleep.
Sweetheart, sweetheart, waken! wax
en-! waken! See how glad the worlt
looks-see the omens of a happy future!
No answer came. l sat up, and look
ing around me saw that was alone.
square stone lay near. When the SUI
was high crept to read the inscription
carved thereon, Here, at four eros
paths, lieih, with stake through thu
bosom, the body of Rose Pascal, Who il
her sixteenth year willfully cast away
the life God gave. "-R. Murray Gil
christ in National Observer.
Arnica and Oil Linimcnt is the hes
remedy known for stiff joints,
1 ~ s5i{ N - n