The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-04-05
SELECTED STORY.


on country read leading from the
drowsy little town of Hallowell. A
winding, stony road it was, but it led
over picturesque BRIDES and clear
rivers, throu- h woods that were dark
and cool, and fragrant with the breath
of pines, out again past comfortable
farm-hcusts, and suddenly up steep
hills from whose tops charming land
scape was visible.
The air was clear and full of GER
tain brec ng quality that makes Maine
a delightful sojourning place in sum-
mer.
SO at least il seemed to Mark Hough-
ton, as he breath ed the air of his native
state for the first time in twenty-five
years. He had lurposely left his com
ing unannounced, that be might enjoy
the luxury of a walk over the old road,
whose every scene had once been so
familiar to him. M,mory plays strange
pranks with the most strait-laced of us
at times, and assuredly it was only her
magic that made this New York lawyer
enjoy dusty country walk for auld
Lang syne.
A sudden turn and he came upon the
little school-house, just where it used
to stand, and but little changed in out
ward look by the inevitable wear and
tear of years.
I" 1t holds its own better than had
hoped" thought the lawyer, and
moved by sudden impulse he turned
from the road and went up to the door.
1t was locked, and in a moment he
stood inside. Here he saw numerous
changes that altered the aspect of the
place. Desks and seats of a more mod
ern style replaced the rude benches he
remembered, and the walls were COW
cred with blackboards and maps. Walk
ing over to the teachers chair, he sat
down and thoughtfully regarded the
little room, which had the desolate look
peculiar to empty school-rooms.
Here he bad learned his first les
sons in days that returned to his
memory only in fragments and half
remembered incidents. Here, as he
grew to be larger lad, he had wrestled
with many knotty example, or sur
reptitously planned frolics for recess.
He recalled, too, some of his boyish
day-dreams of great things to do by
and-by w." and smile d half bitterly as he
contrasted them with the prosaic, self
centred life Of his after years.
Then there were the later days when,
as young collegiap, he came back to
sperd his vacation, and taught the lit
tie school himself to help meet expenses
at college. What a humdrum life it
was, to be sure, sitting there through
the long sun mer days and hearing the
rural lads and lassies stumble through
their lessons! What stupid lot of
pupils they were-all but one of them.
And here Mark Houghton came chron-
ologically to the thought that had been
running with more or less self-assertion
all through his musings-the thought of
Leah Hastings. She was the brightest
of his older pupils, and had even shared
with him some of the studies he was
trying to "make up" during the sum-
mer. But it was not as his pupil that
he remembered Leah. 1t was as the
gay and light.hearted yet womanly girl,
with her great, serious eyes and frank
smile.
"A curious mixture she was, indie ed, .
thought the lawyer. "Our love seems
like some PARKWAY dream, some bright
idyll. wonder, if We had not quar-
relied, how she would have changed my
life, with her high ideals and happy
nature?''
A slight sound at the open door
startled him; he turned his head and
saw woman standing there, half hes.
itating, on The threshold.
81 beg your PARDON" she began, 81
thought but something in the mans
face stopped her.
As for him, he knew from the first
moment that it was Leah Hastings
With all the changes that time had
wrought in her-and they were not
few-he could not mistake that long.
remembered face. In moment
she, too, recognized him, doubtfully al
first, but with growing certainty in
her face as she studied his.
He realized with some satisfaction
that he had the advantage of her il
self-poss session, since she could have nc
thought of seeing him, while the meet
ing was to him quite within the realm
OF possibilities when he arrived il
Maine.
Well, Miss Hastings" he began
"t this is indeed an unexpe cted pleasure
Who could have thought that yours
would be the first familiar face | SHOULD
see on my return to the old placer"
AS he spoke he advanced toward her
holding out his hand. She put hers il
it, saying composedly:
" Am | indeed the first? Your com
ing is unexpected, then"
"You do not say that you are glad t.
welcome me back. But / remembe
that you never would be conventional, ;
he said, taking subtle pleasure in thu
confusion which he could see she wa
trying hard to conceal.
But those few words, half in mockery
half in challenge, put Leah at her ease
Looking him directly in the face, sh
responded:
Why should we be expected to wei
come people whom we have long learne,
to live without, and whom we neve
expected to see again? 1t is like tn
sudden stopping of a train; it gives yo1
a backward jerk that isn't altogethe
agreeable"
True, he answered, rather sadly
suppose Ive lost all claim to an
ones interest down this way. | onl
hone INV hrnth mon1t thipk tor