The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-04-30
FROM THE GRAVE.
ny ANNA SHIELDS.

Ieft OF TINS earths weary pilgrimage.
] write out the experience that has
made me a poor man and lonely one,
though, humbly trust, not useless
one.
Nearly rs years ago | settled in
Gresham, a village then, and taking its
name from the founder. who was also
my uncle, Peter Gresham. He had
written to me, when | graduated from
the medical college, where he had paid
all my expenses MS a student, that he
would give me cottage in the village
and $500 In money, but after that must
make my own way.
The offer was a generous continu-.
ance Of kindness shown to me from boy
hood, when | was left an orphan and
penniless. ! gladly accepted it, and
went at once to Gresham, where my
only rival was practitioner nearly so
years old, DR.. Farnell, who occupied
a cottage directly opposite to mine.
Being in easy circumstances and very
ing to send me patients, until, gradual
ly, found he had transferred the whole
practice of the village to my care.
He took from the first a friendly in
terest in my welfare, and gave me much
useful advice and information, his long
experience rendering all he impaired
of great value to young physician.
Scarcely an evening passed but found
me at his cottage to discuss the cases
of the day, in each and all of which he
took keen professional interest.
But, before | had been year in
Gresham. found my professional talks
formed but secondary interest in
my visits to DR.. Farnell's cottage.
When these were over. and the aged
doctor dozed in his chair, or nodded
over a book, Leonie Farnell, his grand
laughter and housekeeper, would touch
the piano keys to accompany her sweet,
clear voice in my favorite songs, or
would talk to me in her womanly way
Of the patients. who were all friends
Of her own. many OF them her pension
ers. Let me try, looking through the
clouds that rolled soon between us, to
picture Leonie Farnell as she was in
that first year OF my love for her. My
love, say. for IT sprang into my heart
strong and undying the first time her
soft, brown eyes met mine in shy greet
ing.
She was pretty, but no wonder of
beauty, her great charm lying in her
grace of movements, her low, sweet
voice and gentle, refined modesty.
She had been carefully educated, but
had no brilliant accomplishments un-
less gift OF making home an altogeth-
er charming place may rank in that cat
egory. Orphaned in infancy, she had
been the darling of her grandfathers
heart, but, dearly as he loved her. be
Was never averse to my suit. He read
my hearts secret even before guessed
It's depth, and in his quiet way favored
the friendship between Leonie and my
self.
A year, the one bright year IN my
solitary life, passed away, and pre-
pared to speak to Leonie OF my love.
| had waited until felt secure OF my
position at Gresham. and l hoped to
waken some warmer token OF love on
Leonie's part. For even then guessed
dimly, what know, and soon knew GER
tainly, that ] had won only calm. SIS
terry aHection IN return 1or the aosorp-
ing devotion OF my heart.
nave SAID nothHnS YET OF my lnuer-
course with my Uncle Gresham' the
grandee OF the little village whose
large, handsome house was the center
OF attraction to all strangers and whose
income was supposed to be something
OF almost fabulous extent, ana really
was that OF very wealthy man.
During that first bright year OF my
life In the village he had started, my
intercourse with my uncle was as pleas
ant as all other parts OF my lite, anu
! was frequent and welcome visitor
at his house.
But in one brief sentence may re-
cord the event that wrought change
in all-my love, my friendships, my
welcome at Gresham Place. My cousin
Sidney. Uncle Gresham's only child,
came home from Europe. where he had
been travelling for five years.
From that time | marked a change
in my reception at the house, where
| had been assured OF most cordial wei
come, and my visits soon became those
exacted by my gratitude only. 1t hurt
me cruelty to see that my uncle's atfec-
ton was being won from me- but there
was far more bitter cup soon to be
placed at my reluctant lips.
Sidney came to Dr. Farners as q
guest sure of welcome. to renew n
friendship only interrupted since boy
hood by his travels. And the first time
saw him with Leonie knew why my
love had failed to meet its return. q
childish friendship had grown by that
long separation into lfe love. The
eyes that had ever met niue with the
frankness of friendship dropped shyly
beneath Sdney's gaze. while the cheek
raall = no ''