The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-03-06

position, must prevail with me. Dc
not then, O, do not press me with
questions like these. You know moi
the extent of my perplexities, and ]
may not explain. Besides, are these
the times to engage in such affairs,
when the next hour may lead to an
eternal separation, or place oar respec.
tive destinies rs wide as the poles
assunder?"
But will you not allow mo even
to hope for the future?" still persisted
the lover
why should ] bid you tantali2e
yourself with hopes 80 likely to prove
futile, when nobler thoughts should
engross your Look, Mr.. WOODBURY., {"
she said, pointing. with charming en- :
thusiasm, towards the distant SUBMITS
of Manchester, then beginning to be
dimly visible in the rays of the rising
moon, cast your eyes northward Be.
meath yon blue mountains is gathered
the council of your people. There
also rolls the recruiting drum Of your
brave Warner. who needs men like you :
or If, as you intimated, you are wait.
ing to engage in different corps,
which your council is expected to
raise, would not your attendance there
be more worthily bestowed, than in
adding to the perplexitles of one al
ready SO thickly surrounded with diff
ticulties, and one who, to your suit,
cannot say yea, while she would be
panied to say nay?"
Cruel girl but noble ia your
cruelty!" exclaimed WOODBURY., with
mingled disappointment and admira-
ton. ! will forbear to press my suit
for the present, but not forever. | will
heed the lesson OF patriotism you have
given me, but only to remember my
fair prompter with deeper devotion. "
'Hark - said the other, starting
| hear my fathers chiding voice in
the house for me- ] must go. Adieu,
Mr.. WOODBURY.. With this rendered
hand of friendship and gratitude,
adieu.
If il must be SO my precious. my
beautiful one, farewell to you also. "
Lips uttered no more, but the mute
pause that followed, while eye met
eye, and hand fingered in hand, was
not meaningless The fond lover was
not permitted however, to proong the
enhancing moment, which, as the
slightly returned pressure of the small
white hand, closely imprisoned in his
own, told him, had not been reluctantly
vouchsafed him: for, quickly arousing
herself, the maiden broke from his
clinging grasp, and tripped silently
away. leaving him gazing after her
retreating form, listening to the soft
and decreasing sound from her light
footsteps upon the grass till the jar of
ha ala n ttb inh oh huI
directed her devious course, made him
feel that he was alone, and that the
charm of the place was gone.
With sigh. he turned from the
spot, and soon gained the highway
when, taking the direction in which
his rival and foe had departed he
walked musingly onward, needless
alike of the cool and balmy air of the
evening, or the quietly reposing
beauties which the light of a full
moon, now beginning to peer over the
eastern hills, was gradually unfolding
around him, and intent only on the
dreamy images with which love and
his new fedged hope seemed conspir-
ing for "a while to amuse his willing
mind. At length. however, a quicken
ed pace. a tirmer tread, and prouder |
bearing, showed that different and
less peaceful train of thought was
springing up within.
80 this evil genius of mine, it
he muttered who forever
appears in my path to snatch from me
very prize | set my heart on, is
secretly an officer in the British ser
,ice. commissioned, probably, 10 head
, regiment of tories, whom he is now
~ his false statements and delusive
promises attempting to gather from
he weak and wavering of our over
WED people This must be Instant. /.