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

Very pale and fair and quiet, serena hh'S
had seemed to Nicholas Leavitt, like some
sweet remote being that hardly Delohseu W
earth: and the oftener that he thought OF her
AZ thus placed beyond his rea.h. the more ne
felt a vague wish to fssten her 10 eartn ny
some such spell as that which the knight iaio
upon Undine to win her out of her wafer
world or as the norman laid upon Margare-
TO win her into his water-world; only poor
Nicholas knew nothing Of Undine or OF mer'
men. and almost as little of his own emotions.
He felt that Serena was the purest, tenderesl'
gentIest of beings, and that there was happi'
ness In protecting her from The rest OF the
world: and be never saw her leaving the
church door or comldg into the light of the
scbooroom porch when singing was over,
while he stood on the space outside, without
wishing to put out his arm and sweep her
ayay from contact with the rude and gaping
thropg of which he was one.
Not that he thought he was IN love with
Serena. He knew he was not. He would
have said very distinctly. had it been suS-
gestea, that that was impossible. lie never
thought of home and fireside and future
spent with only her; he regarded her simply
as one regards pleasant and beaulllul opJect:
1t may be the picture of smiling anger or OF
a saint in shrine. she was DOL az al .no
kind of person he thought handsome wom-
an in her presence be never felt complete
freedom: and II be chose her from among the
al her rIrIa at the various mfsd festivities. "
was more because he did not want any one
else to have her than because he wanted her
;to flo m n o
farm. he had, perhaps, an instinct OF DUTY cue
her. as II he were her natural guardian: lou
may IMAGINE. then, that he was considerably
surprised at himself and at fate and AT serena,
too, when, one day. be found himself engaged
to be married to Serena.
The mother IF Serena had been ailing TOT
some months: but she was woman or ire
mepdous will, VIII, would hardly surrender
to the superior force of death. Dressed ana
downstairs every day, she bad OF late IAN
on the lounge in the sittine-r room 1or 'he
greater number of the hours, and one sunset
she sent for Nicholas.
II am going to die. Nicholas sue said.
He began some paliat1ng senteLce Oh oeh'a'
of the fact.
..No.v she continued, with determined
motion of her hand, indicating silence.
.I haven't siyen In to man or woman. But
there's some things conquer the best OF us
Death among the lot. I'm not worried al
that. I'm willing to take my chance. lle
bere's not been so pleasant that neea 10 iear
giving It up. But who's going to take care Oh
Sereny! -
She psused and the young man seemed TO
he transfixed on the points of her gltttering
81 be- he sold.
That's enough. then" said the mother,
"If you're going to marry Sereny, she's a.,
right, YOU'RE good man, Nicholas, and
render
thing. and needs care. And you'll 0e good to
her, Nicholas
This was more than Nicholas had thought
of. Marry Serena, Amazed aud bewildered
he was about to frame some eXPostulation
when the sick woman resumed:
"Sereny's fond Of you, Nicholas, Bn.
didn't know about the way yen felt. I'm
easier, now. She'll be good wife to YOU,
She won't come to you, either, without brlng'
Ing something with berthe farms the best
10 the county and there's the bank stock ana
mortgages. If do say It." she exclaimed
rising ON her elbow, "Serepy's good match.
And sbe-sbe's fond of you. Nicholas" she
added wistfully. 81 see 1t by the color In her
check and the light in her eye when you're
round. I'd die for her, NlchO'as, and she'd
die for you. / think you'd better be married
soon, Sereny. / say. Sereny. wish you'd
call her. Nicholas: she's In the buttery."
And then In answer to bis voice, which II
must be confessed had strange tone, Sere'
ma appeared, fresh and dewy and blushing as
o rose.
"Sereny." said her mother, to lose no time
'sNichol.s wants to take care of you after I'm
gone. We've been talking about II. Hell
make you KIDD husband. You'd better be
married right eff and let me feel easy about
you"
There was brief silence.
"If you hadn't "a he'd the farm and fbs
hank stocr I ouess he'd "a spOke' nm before '
r, sumed the mother. YOU'RE fond nj him
Amt YOU, Sereny Z" looking at ner with ten
der penetration, ard taking Der hand between
her own. 81 wouldn't want you to marry
! him II you don't love him-not for anyfhirs
that wouldn't make me any easier.'
didn't cross her mind that by any cbanc'
Nicholas might be the one without love
"You're fond of him. Serenv. desrg thinl
sight of Nicholas. You'll be good wife Il
I him Serepvy"
..Yes MOTHER said Screens, looking down
and oil at once as pale as she had been blush
ing.
.Then you go down to the orchsrd ard tab
Il over,- said the mother. Go right along.
/ And they went along. side by tide and u
silence, TIL they came to the big, nat rocl
where they sat down. and Nicholas put out
hand and took Serena's hard. almost feeliDI
IS il be were touching the high altar and Ser
ena turned and looked In bis face with ne
blue eyes; she wayered a moment Ike re
Election Ia the water. and then suddenly tn
sweet lips were on his own. the hands wer
casped atout his neck, and Nicholas wa
holding her In bis arms. with strange an'
new warmth coursing through bis veins. an,
a strange content IN his besrt that bad IN
no joy or excitement. feeling as II be am
Serena bad come into the world together an
81 ~ -. -. . ....4,.,.,, ,....usa q. rounes I,