The Princeton union., 1892-05-26
I she and I would sit together at the

| last visit to the tree that sheltered the
grave! The night was black; and
now when such a night comes / fancy
that it is the despairing and damned
soul of once bright day.
We were sitting by the fire. mother
and ]. The day had been wild, and
the few showers of rain that had fallen
seemed as tears wrung in agony from
the clouds / could see that she was
even weaker than she had been the
day before.
Milton. she said. II cannot be
with you much longer"
Don't talk that way, mother.
I'VE should face the truth. my son.
I do not fear to die but :"
But what motherp'
She leaned over, put her arms about
my neck and said:
MY son. it almost breaks my heart
to think that | shall die and leave
you determined to keep your awful
oath"
said nothing Her tears were upon
my cheeks "
Milton, why don't you speaker
because do not know what to say,
mother" ~ ...,. -.
Say something, my darling
Il am Bronson. I replied.
She arose with difficulty. and TAX
ing down the lamp told me to follow
her. We went out into the night and
toward the grave Of my father She
carried the light above her head. How
like an angel she looked. the dark
ness parting to let her pass. One
week from that night l visited the
tree again. There were two graves
| under it.
Then came my school days and then
my days at college. I had studied
hard and had read many books but
was a Bronson. l wore my oath in
an inner pocket of my undershirt,
next to my heart and I carried the
knife no matter whittier 1 went I
had no particular aim in life-that is,
with regard to what calling I should
follow. Everything was subservient
to the fultillmenr of my vow. A voice
from the grave was constantly sound
ing in my ears. [ wrote to friend who
lived near my old home and asked if
Sam Olney were still alive. He ans
wered that Olney had long ago left
the neighborhood and that no one
knew whittier he had gone
One night when / was within
twenty five miles OF the town where
was to settle as lawyer, furious
rain storm burst upon me. There
was no shelter to be found; and as it
was more dangerous to turn aside in
to the woods than to stay in the road
| continued to fight my way though
the road was exceedingly rough. l
remember that my horse stumbled
violently. was in house. The
girl. noticing my look of inquiring as
| tonishment said:
We found you on the road where
your horse had fallen. and brought
you here. That was night before last.
Do you feel very bad?" ....~..
Il don't feel very we'll " I answered.
HAS doctor seen me?" 49,. ........
Yes"
'Did he say I was badly hurt?"
Yes. Several of your ribs and
| your right leg are broken.'
She was a lovely creature. Her
beauty made me forget my injuries,
and she was Sam Oluey's daughter
The days were long and 1 was now
able to walk, but did not go hunt
ing. I did not want to see that gun.
Once 1 thought, Il will take it out
and kill him with it." but then I
thought that the knife would be bet
|
his startled eyes should catch it's
CLEAN of death. E
l could not tell the girl that I loved
her. for, in attempting to caress her,
verify believe that. 1 should have
choked her to death. Had my vow
maddened me to insanity?
| One evening said to myself-'.To-
morrow morning I will kill him.
Early at morning I will go into his
room and awake him with a startling
exclamation" I hai read my oath
! over and over of late-had gazed at
the paper while sitting in the woods.
although every word of it was written
on my heart. .s.,....- =. =. =.
can never forget that night I do
not want to forget it. l sat on log
in the woods. The day had been cold
and cloudy. Suddenly became aware
Of sweetest and softest music. I
looked up startled. Snow was falling
on the dead leaves Long I sat there.
soothed and softened by that music.
Oh what an appeal on the soul! l
returned 70 the house. Everything
was quiet. went to my room and sat
down in the dark I still heard the
music of the snow. my God! /
suddenly thought. .'am I losing my
mind?' I heard someone outside. l
looked out of the window and saw
Mary walking in the -feathered
darkness. carrying a light high above
her head. I thought OF my mother,
and in a gasp breathed of Mary.
How like an angel the darkness
dividing to let her pass. -
Il cannot find him." heard her
say to herself when she stepped into
the hallway separated by a thin par
titlon from the window where I stood.
She had been carrying the light look
ing for me.
/ lay down. but did not try to sleen