Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-04-28

let the western fever influence him
when he was doing so well at home.
Better let well enough alone. But |
understand he has sold out everything,
leased the farm and started out anew.
He gives no reasons to anyone. I'm
sorry, for / always liked the lad" and
good old Farmer Hayes, rising fort
night later from the breakfast table,
shook his head with wise shake.
Poor Mrs. Hayes! AS she listened,
her ford face grew pale. Perhaps she
had made a mistake, after all, and at
the memory of that white envelope,
hidden away somewhere in some deep
pocket. weight of iron was resting
on her heart. She stole stealthy
glance at her niece. Her cheek had lost
its color, her hand trembled a little as
she raised cup of coffee to her lips,
but otherwise she gave no sign.
That evening Squire Arnold called,
and when he left he carried with him
Marjorie Hayes promise to become his
wife. Thus Mrs. Hayes ambition was
fulfilled. but vainly did she console her
self with the thought. Something with
in forbade self-congratulation and the
ruddy color often left her cheek at
some forbidden memory. Squire Ar
mold had no cause to complain OF
capricious behavior. No spice of CO.
quetry tinged Marjorie's manner now.
With quiet calm she moved about the
old house. busy with preparations for
the now disappointing nuptials;
but, OH what would Mrs. Hayes have
given for one mischievous glance as OF
old. one ripple of merry girlish laugh
ter. one burst of happy song.
Days merged into weeks. until one
bright. beautiful morning in May. Mar
iorie rose to the consciousness that her
wedding day had come. There was
strange tenderness in Mrs. Hayes man
ner. as she helped robe the bride. II
was as though she prepared lamb for
the sacrifice. hut IL was too late now.
she whispered ever to herself. and so
hustled here and there in busy prepara-
ton. so that none noticed how seldom
she smiled or how wan and pale she
looked.
1t was over at last. Marjorie had gone
through II all as in a dream. scarcely
needing the words which bound her 10
another. or hearing her own voice in re-
Spouse. Then came congratulations
and farewells. and she hadleft her child
hoods home a wife. Then she awoke
from dream life to reality. then for the
first time knew how stern q duty she
had imposed upon herself. and she won
dered IL her strength would not desert
her.
But Squire Arnold was too proud 10
her possession to dream her another
than satisfied. and for six months she
did her duty well. Then a sudden. sharp
illness Frustrated her husband. and be-
fore the new year opened she stood.
clad in widows weeds. beside his grave.
But when she went back to her desc
late home she missed even the Duties.
and as she realized how dread and
empty life was. a new. hard feeling
crept into her heart against the man
who had. in his stern. unrelenting an
ger. worked her this misery.
No word came from the wanderer.
He seemed TO have passed forever from
their lives. but in the spring her aunt'sI
strength failed. and she gladly obeyed
the summons to her side which allowed
her 70 close the great. lonely house
where she dweit alone. and 60 back 10
the dear old farm. 10 the place her aunt
so long had filed
Soon would il be empty. With q
great start. the girl first saw the awful
change which had taken place. She
rarely spoke. but Marjorie wondered