Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1897-05-17
3 FARM MORTGAGE

va ON her home
[E Ter the orchard into the meadow
Hly walked Esther. She was think
of the olden days-the days of hap
thildhood-when she and Roger had
.@Eihpered over that very meadow and
. VI Rnder the shade of yonder chestnut
I62. and she wondered how Roger
IA have changed so much and how
- years residence in the city could
@ZFR blotted out all of the sunny mem
Ick that We're now rushing back into
heart, and with all the yearning
|TF@ of a sister for an only brother she
/cIhimed-
oh, Roger, Rogerr'
ne thought, too, of Tom Wilson, the
|71panion of all their rambles, the
/4rer of all fun and frolic.
. That of Tom?
\ I'D he, too, forgotten?
4bm, who, in later years, had light
I'd for her many household burden,
Ill had wooed and won her, and whose
sfLe she had promised to be in the gold
N Years that were to come.
Elrely he had not forgotten the past,
Ithpugh years ago he had gone out
5uzh her presence with a frown upon
IH brow because she could not. dare
HI. leave her sick mother and accom-
~ him.
n lie would have followed him to the
NIL of the earth but for the sacred
tafge that had been committed to her
AuSt.
\ Ind she had never regretted the step
AZ had taken.
logger had been led away by evil COM
MONS He had been lured by them
gtb a course of extravaganza and dis
&pation that ruined himself, burdened
M Father, and which was now turning
M only sister homeless and penniless
',bn the world
B ut Tom was proud spirited and high
.inded.
lie would never stoop to be the slave
his associates.
'Perchance even now he was thinking
A her and deeply repenting of the hasty
bp which had divided them, perhaps
'rever.
i Thus thought and reasoned Esther
Ehe wandered from field to field, con-
hntly discovering something that
might another pang to her heart, and
MAS not until the sun had set and the
laflows of evening were shrouding the
|utlscape that she thought of turning
ri steps toward home.
.Homel 1t was no home of hers now.
lH had no place upon earth to call by
'At sweet name.
|HencefOrth strangers would gather
md the old hearthstone. and strange
yes would ring through the old cot
.4e that had shielded and sheltered her
'fancy
Thus solilcquizing Esther did not OBJ
I've stranger who had been watching
HI for some time, and who, on seeing
III come toward the orchard, had care
llly let down the bars of the gate and
W. stood waiting her approach.
With an exclamation of surprise she
Etted back and gazed full on the in
der.
NJ Esther, don't you know me?"
|Ah, yes, it needed not the broad
re of day to tell Esther who stood
We
|~Oh, Toni
This was all she could utter.
lie took her hand and led her to the
Ht under the old pear tree.
lie told her how long and how bitter
be had repented of his conduct to-
lid her; how utterly he had despised
Bself for his selfishness, and how
Inc and pride had so long kept him
t1n acknowledging his fault, and beg
Hg for her forgiveness. !
lie told her of all his wanderings,
HI how her spirit had followed him
Nj watched over him and strengthened
How he had struggled and toiIed and !
Ned only for her, and now returned !
fast himself upon her mercy, hum
NJ and truly penitent.
And Esther was satisfied.
|She spoke of all her trials and sor-
us during these long years.
|Df those who had been laid side by |
Ie in the little graveyard on the hill; !
Rogers neglect and want of sympa-
NJ with her in all her deep Affections.
FINALLY she told him of the letter
ht had broken the last link Of her
Ethly associations. and that she had
HI returned from bidding silent fare
iii to the dear, familiar haunts of /
5ldhood and youth.
Tom drew paper from his pocket /
MI laid it upon her lap.
IA the deepening twilight it was very
Hcult for Esther to make out its i'm /
re, but she read enough to learn that
Vas the mortgage which her father
u given to Mr.. Ely, and the whole
|th flashed across her mind.
Ii And SO it is yours now?" she said.
III Not mine, but ours, darling. Have
D forgotten?'
Nay, she had not forgotten the prom
of her girlhood, and tears of love |
b joy were mingled together as she |
hewed the vows that wOuld be ful- |