Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-06-04

and studded with precious stones
| which must have cost a fabulous sum.
Beside the bracelet lay tiny book,
| richly gilded, giving the history OF
these rare stones and what each one
symbolized. We're such gems to be
mine? What could I say? I tried to
thank the dear old general, but could
not command my voice. At last he
spoke to me:
"Ma rec, with this ring and brace
let is linked sad, sad story. Listen
to it. [ was young when [ met and
loved Claire Travers. She loved me
in return and our lives were as happy
as our hopes were bright. But my
sweet girl was taken away the very
week she was to become my bride.
Oh, God! thought I could not live,
but did. 1 thought I could never
love again, and did not till my hair
was white and my heart weary Of long
desolation.
"Then [ met the pretty young crea-
ture whom [ married, Mary Gray. 1t
was a foolish thing on my part, a
wicked one on hers. I loved-she
did not. She was already pledged to
a young lover, but did not know it.
s.She was so fair and seemed SO
guiltless could not keep my old heart
from futtering when I met her, and
at last it told her that [ loved her.
"She knew I was rich and could
make her life a glittering one, so she
gave ap her young lover for my gold,
though she made me believe she low
ed me. I ought to have known
better, but love turned my
head, as often happens with old men.
''I built this lovely house for my
Mary. She had been in it but a few
days when I noticed that she smiled
but little. l feared she was disap-
pointed, that I was too old for her.
Once Or twice found Mary in tears,
then I knew something was wrong.
eve had been married about two
months when I came home one night
and found my little wife gone. She
left a note telling me how wretched
she was, and that she could not en-
dure my presence another day. She
begged ne to pity and forgive her
and to make no effort to bring her
back. [ loved the young thing to
we'll to break her heart, and I allowed
her to be legally freed from me. Mary
married her young lover and is hap
Ply, while Lob, God, my poor lonely
heart -
The old gentleman wept, and I wept
with him. Then he went on:
'EMa rec, I give you these jewels
because you have always reminded
me of my pure and gentle Claire.
Wear them for my sake, and take this
advice from an old man. Deal fairly
with whoever asks you to be his wife.
''Ma-ree, I have been a soldier,
brave they said, but the hardest bat
tie for any man is with a wounded,
desolate heart. IT'S lonely to live
love; tits lonely to die with
out love. Who will kiss my cold lips
when lay in my coffin, Ma-ree?
81, dear general, and now, too -
Isprang to his side and held his
dear old weeping face against my
cheek. Iwept with him for a few
then glided from the room,
still hearing his sobs.
[ passed the day in tears and in
looking at my jewels, thinking Of the
TWO who wore them, of heaven when
I touched the ring, of false sordid
motives when gazed upon the brace
ct.
The old general did not seem we'll
hat day, and when night came retir
ID early. The next morning before I
rot dressed heard from my father
he wild cry:
''My God, he is dead !"
The wounded heart was at rest, and
rom the peaceful smile over his face
e must have joined Claire in heaven.