Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1895-11-22

child with pale little face like flower.
She had been motherless for a wear.
He took her on his knee and drew ont
the little story of her day; then he
told her fairy tales-dainty fancies,
exquisite testing that older and less
intimate listeners would have been
amazed to hear from the keen.tongued
lawyer. Then the little ones ayah
came to carry her to bed
Miss Barbara was walking slowly
homeward through the dusk. Faded
leaves dropped softly about her and
the mellow air was smoky with bon
fires. These Indian summer DAYS
heralded the approach OF Thanksgiv-
ing, but the remembrance gave her no
pleasure. For some reason-she at
tributed it to Sylvia's recent romance
her thoughts persistently reverted
to long-gone Thanksgiving Day that
had begun for her with happiness and
ended with sorrow. On that Thanks
giving had arisen the never settled
quarrel that had parted her and her
young lover. He had gone immedi.
ately abroad and hastily married there.
Not until then did Miss Barbara dis
miss the man he had accounted his
rival. Their world had held her
blameworthy in the aifair-perhaps
she had held herself SO. Certainly life
had looked darker to her in those DAYS
than 1t looked now. She went slowly
mp the steps of her pleasant home.
Far within girlish voice sang happily
and the rooms were CHEEKY with mel
low lamp.light that revealed Miss Bar.
bara a fitting mistress for the lovely
old house. Suddenly Sylvia's head
cleaned in distant doorway.
There's letter for you, auntie. "
she called softly; "such a queer look.
ing tbing-I laid it on the piano.
1t was a foreign-looking letter, and
bore traces of long journey. Miss
Barbara examined the postmarks curl
ously. When she carried the letter to
her room Il moment later her face
looked pale. Behind her locked door
the next moment she sat down to read
it, With deliberate care she opened
the envelope. 1t contained many thin
sheets written over in clear, manly
hand. She sought methodicallv for
the signature, and read the name that
had once been dear to her. A strange,
familiar look it wore. Much was
written between the lines of the story
he told briefly. He had left his native
land hot with passion and the smart
of their broken engagement. Shortly
after his arrival in India a report of
her marriage had reached him, and,
not doubling the truth of it, he paid
court to and hastily married the
pretty but shallow daughter of an
English Colonel stationed there. Dur
ing the years that followed he had |
striven to bear the consequences OF |
his own mistake, and he had borne
them until the burden fell from his
shoulders at grave. He spoke of
his child in words that brought tears
to the readers eyes and then he
turned passionately to the old days, |
and questioned her of the future.
The letter fell from her fingers. She
felt as one must feel with the earth
under foot. Was the old love
dead in her heart - dead like the
mother of his child? She thought of
that gIave under the Indian palms, and
a feeling rose slow and strong out of
her heart. No-his part in her life
had ended years before. She did not
hold herself blameless, but she had
once; she had no wish to suf-
fer again. She could not change the
pleasant, settled boundaries of her
life. Toward him and toward that lit
tie child of his her thoughts would
ever go kindly-but his part in her
life was over. She sent her answer
before she slept; and life went on as
if it had not paused. On the evening
before Thanksgiving Sylvia went ear.
Iy to choir practice, and Miss Barbara
sat down to read the city paper, which
had just arrived. A glowing fire
snapped in the CRATE, half dozen car.
nations scented the air, and Ophelia.
the cat, purred lazily at intervals.
Outside round full moon shone high
in the sky, and the frosty ground
'parkled in its radiance.
Fire fire fire shouted n voice in
The street. Miss Barbara rushed to the
before she reached it the de-
nonlac shrek of the fire whistle, pro-
Ionged and awful, smote upon her
ears. Then came the sound of run
ming feet. Snatching up a shawl, she
hastily locked the door and Joined in
Wild race toward the swelling muir.
nurs that rose unanimously in the
air. She was soon in the midst of the