The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1893-03-17

had always been part Of each other. Ana II
the kiss that answered hers was not go 1er-
vent as her own, Serena IN ner Innocence
neither knew nor felt 1t. Nicholas had told
her mother that he loved her, that he wished
to marry ner. That was enough. Simple and
upsopbisticatsd, she asked no more. she
knew that she loved him she thrilled with
wild, sweet gadness, and felt that she would
have sacrificed herself in any way that was to
make him moments 10y. Her i h;sa was h ~
to the absence of bis, TO the sentiment OF calm
affection which regarded her with tenderness
but not with longing or with any sense OF
the necessity of her existence or OF her pos
session as his own. But her head upon his
shoulder, her heart beating on bis, ber sweet
breath upon his lips. all might have k'nded a
| less stolid soul. lie drew hertz himself with
a strength that made her tremble with delight
| TO he precious to Nicholas! The world had
no other joy left In 1t
Serena went singing about her work next
morning, blithe as bird, 80 rosy, SO smiling,
| it gave her mother new lease or Ire. Anu
| Nicholas drove the mower down In the bav-
Ing field as II the earth had been made for
him and Serena that day. de was quite salts
| fed and content; perhaps looking over tue
broad acres presently to be his helned NM.
And he had told Serena that mornlng that
there had better be a wedding as soon rs alt
the haying was over. And ne hau even worn 1
to come up behind her IN the dairy. after the
country fashion of counting, and put an arm
around her aud steal kiss.
He had dared too, to pinch her cheek that
afternoon after the first load was put 10.
when he came by the window where she
leaned, thinking no created beirg ever looked
quite a, Nicholas did, outlined against the
SKY. on top of that load of hay. And at
night.fall be sat on the door-stone with bis
arm about her waist, saying little. but on the
whole content 10 take the goods the gods al
lowed him.
Several thunder. showers and days of rain
ensuing made good deal of delay about the
haying.
III we don't get at that black grass. the
prasshoupers will eat 1t all up said Nicholas.
well begin on that high marsh tomorrow.
guess Pete Howes will lend us couple OF
days work.
And Pete Howes did. And along toward
noon there came series of high clear calls
that might have belonged to the hawks Wheel
ing overhead In splendid flight II the hawks
had been capable of music. for the calls re-
solved themselves into tune. And Nicholas
| heard II as if some one were calling himsei1,
and turned to see on the hummocks of the
swamp a figure poised. with short skirts
gathered In one hand, The wind bio wing out
the handkerchief tied around black hair that
streamed with 1t, a sparkle of black eyes, a
! flash OF white teeth, q flame OF red upon the
cheeks an apparition whose beauty smote
him Ike an electric shock, and made his very
heart tremble.
mine. stayinp TO our house. She's brought
nv dinner, and can't jump any further on the
bummocks, though she can jump most any
where's
And Nicholas and Peter started together
| for the hummock where she stood. and then
| She, had left the dinner pail and gone skir-
\ h,olx a sort OF vOUliOC tuuG as
She went, leaving vision OF scarlet end black
and white and laughter and music and life !;
| and Nicholas felt rs II he had never been alive
| before.
night on some errand about the gearing OF
the mower and the next noon. Belle Bur-
den, bringing the dinner pail, Nicholas took
her by another way around to avoid the wet
places, and In the morning, bright and early,
he was over at Peters again for an extra
hand, delaying half hour. after the sun was
up, for chatter with the girl.
And so It went on for week. Serena's
mother had an I'll turn and was so poorly that
1t occupied all OF the daughters snare tlme,so
that she took no note of Nicholas's absences.
Ii he returned her kiss In perfunctory mar
ner she thought he was absent minded about
the hay that was down and In danger from
rain. or that he was more concerned about
her mother than she herself was: and blam-
ing herself then for an unworthy child, she
redoubed her eXertions for the poor motf-
er's comfort and left Nicholas again at libel
ty.
been accustomed to his bonds to Serena to
fee! them. He took advantage OF this liberty
though, In little other way than with his eyes
at first, at any rate. He knew when Belle
Burden came into the vestlbule of the meeting
house and mounted the gallery stairs, almost
without turning his head. rush OF pleasure
Ia han, thox, ard
faced the SINGERS at the first hymn, other
hearts might be giving praise to heaven, but
his hearts praise was for Belle Burden, sing
Ing there like clarion. Serena stood beside
him in tina pew. raising her sweet little pipe
He never beard 1t.
Serena did not 20 to evening meeting being
nef ded by her mother. And Nicholas went
home with Belle Burder, a long. lettering
walk. long lingering at the gate, the ccquet-
fish holden using all her wiles, the maa eager
to afford her opportunity, and be walked
back IN q dream. And II the walk was many
times repeated In the next fortnight. Serena
was too much engrossed and too anxious
about her mother and too unsuspicious In hei
own candor 10 observe that there was aught
amlss.
The English bav and the back.grass were
all in, and It was time at last for making the
salt hay. The gundalow had gone down the
marsh creek with its crew OF young athletes
aboard, none of them finer nobler, ranIler,
to Serena's eyes. than Nicholas, bending back
from the pole. dark, strong and slnewy glow
ing With health and excitement,as the clumsy
craft swung into the current OF the broad,
fun tide, Then she went back to her duties,
the sweet Song In her heart singing itself out
!, on Der lips, as she went up the path, I'LL she
reached the door, and the thought OIL nef
mother silenced her. But even the pain OF
that thought was somewhat muifisd by The
, consciousness that she had Nicholas TO help
her bear IT and many time In the course OF
the day she looked out of the window and
sent heart throb CT innocent devotion after
, Nicholas swinging bis scvthe In The marshes,
1t was The end of the weeks moving down
, IN the coarse grass and ihatch. and the scow
! was loaded at last and slowly floating up the
. stream with the tide, the square set sail above
Its great mound, all black against the sunset
the long oars of the rowers, In lulls OF the soft
, | wind making ripples like the facets OF jewels
In the water that the skies had redeemed
They flo,te through the sunset into twilight
through the purple Of twilight INTO starlight
and then fne soft vapor crept up and
. wrapped them. and they felt their way along
, In the mist, or rested on their oars and wal
, Ell for its lifting. And suddenly out OF thu
. labyripth of gloom, voices hsiltd them from
: the other side of the creek. and Peter Howes
: his sa,l boat aground upon q muc-5ank, wa
hallooing for help, and they could hear Bell.
> Burdens clear clarion call TO be taken of
= Then there was more ballooing, polling auc
q pulling this way and that In the shadow; ant
. then Nicholas, IN bis long boots, was standing
: In the shsnow water and stretching up hii
i arms. and the moon just over the horizon
4 smo,e long glorifsing beam through tbs
T, mist full on the streaming black hair the facl
, with all its flush of color and sparkle of eye
; and then the mist rolled hack on put o.
wind, and in the darkness Nicholas hsd Belt