Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-07-24
RECONSTRUCTED.

"I don't want TO be inquisitive auntie
but would SO like to know what separat-
ed you long ago, she said suddenly.
Mrs. Hunt started little, then smiled
''I'm afraid it would only spoil the ro-
nance for you," she replied, 1.-THE circum-
stances were SO prosaic. Yet it Is the lit
Gle things of life that go to makeup the
49, 1877 M .p--+ ,-.'u ar --o-,
what you wish to know. Major Townley
and 1 were schoolmates when we were
young, and cannot remember the time
when we were not attached " each other.
We graduated at the same time at the
town academy, where we got little tine
ture Of Latin. 1t Is said that a little
learning is dangerous thing Certain
| " it was in our case. After we left school
we kept up our studies together. One
evening we got into q discussion about a
certain line of Virgil. We could not agree
about the translation and were unwise
enough to argue the matter too long and
too warmly Neither would admit be-
ing in the wrong. The result was that
unkind words were spoken, and our en-
gagement was broken off. You must re-
member that we were both young-I only
18 and he not yet Fl.
Mrs Hunt had been a widow for some
years, and the gentleman in question had
lost his wife a couple Of years before, so
that mutual friends, knowing Of their for
mer romance, had been perhaps little too
officious in their efforts to effect a recon-
Citation They argued that time brings
wisdom, and it was presumable that in
the light of score of years they had la
mented the impetuosity Of youth, which
had barred the way to satisfactory expla-
nation.
Three months later, one dreafy Deem
Der day, there was storm very nearly
akin to blizzard raging in the western
states. The air was laden with sleet that
seemed armed with needles and carried
by the gale with force and rapidity that
threatened to impede locomotlon. Travel
was suspended, and telegraph wires were
down.
On a snow bound train in Indiana we
find our friend Mrs. Hunt, who had been
summoned by telegram to the bedside Of
her sick sister and had run right into the
teeth of the approaching storm.
Six hours ago the huge iron horse had
halted in sheer discouragement, and the
snow banks might have been walls of ada
mant separating the belated travellers from
their homes. Apprehension was followed
by anxiety as night settled down on the
weird, white scene. A squad of laborers,
brought into strong relief against the
white background by the headlight of the
engine, worked vigorously in the biting
blast. The blockade had occurred near a
village, and through the storm the glimmer-
ing of friendly lights told of rural peace
and plenty cheering, If unattainable.
But as the hours wore away even those
disappeared and left the night prey to
snow and cold and sleet and bowling
winds. Within the car there was grow
ing sense of cold physically and forebod-
ing thoughts mentally.
Mrs. Hunt thought sadly Of her sister.
Perhaps she would die, not knowing how.
near her Nellie was, and tears forced them
selves through the closed lids. A little
childs cough sounded through the car.
What place for a sick babyl She prompt
ly rendered her assistance and in helping
another in trouble forgot her own dis
comfort and anxieties.
The night wore away, as nights will,
however uncomfortable, and, as old Sol
condescended to favor the travellers with
his smile, answering smiles seemed less
difficult. 1t was a white, trackless world
the sun looked down upon-very cold and
forbidding in it's beauty, and conveying
to Mrs. Hunt that sense of breadth, of
wide, level distances, which always strikes
New Highlander with sense of surprise
when the prairies are seen for the first
time. Soon there doomed into view an OK
team with q snowplow, in various direc-
lions spades were piled with vigor, and
anon there arrived on the train an aroma
of hot coffee, very tempting to benighted
beings many miles from the home dining
room.
| A man of about 80 years of age, with
dark hair and mustache and q singulajly
winning smile, was followed by stout
mulatto boy, with huge pail and loaded
basket, dispensing coffee and sandwiches.
AS they made the tour of the train each
car cheered the caterers. AS the gentle
man approached the little woman in wild
owls weeds he gave little start, which,
however, was unobserved by her.
AS she took the proffered refreshment
she said impulsively:
"This restores my faith In western hos
pitality."
Had you lost 1t, madam" he asked,
and without pausing for reply passed on.
It was Mrs. Hunts turn to start That
voicel Where had she heard it beforei
Directly memory took her back score OF
years. A New England village came tc
view. A cold, white moonlit evening, and
she looking from the window of ram.
bling old farmhouse, watching tall, slen-
der young man as he hurried down the
country road.
She watched him out Of sight, thinking
he might look back. He did not, and she
had never spoken to him again-for he
left the village and went west-until now,
He had faded out of her sight in a bank
of snowdrifts lining the road. He had
come back to her again out Of the white
drifts which had blocked her way and
brought him to her. She was called bach
from her reverie by the low spoken word,
"Nellie."
A quick flush suffused her face as she
said:
"You know me thenp
"When 1 first saw you," he replied.
Taking a scat near her, low converse
ton ensued They talked and laughed
over the dear old days With saddene6
voices they spoke of griefs which had come
TO each of them in the long years of sepa
ration. A softened light came into theil
faces, and the misunderstanding Of tht
past faded out naturally, without need Of
explanation. 2~