Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-05-26

IEOullre tnhi NOu IL never leave MIN,
and that you II take good care Of him. "
And Cynthy had solemnly said. 81
will" Faithfully did she fulfill that
promise. She simply gave her life up
TO her brother Sam. but that young
man somehow did not seem TO appre-
ciate the sacrifice. neither did he care
10 spend all his evenings at home with
his sister. nor il he went 10 "husk-
ing" or ''sociable" did he care TO be al
ways tiled TO her apron strings. as he
expressed it.
Later on. when she learned that Sam
was paying attention" TO that "shilly-
shally Lizy Walker. great was her in
dignation. and many were the lectures
given TO the younger brother. who felt
himself too near 10 manhood TO be treat
ed like a child. especially when Cynthy
was but two years older than he. Sharp
and bitter words passed between them
at times. although often Sam tried to
make il no with his sister and tried also
to convince her that Lily was absolutely
needed at the farmhouse but il was Of
no use. So one day Sam and pretty it
tie Lizy took matters into their own
hands. drove ten miles TO R, across
the state line. and were married.
Sam Immediately made the news
known 10 Cynthy, who was at first in
consolable. She wept over Sam as il he
had been badly used At first she for
bade them both the house; but, remem-
bering her promise to her mother, she
at last made him fetch Mrs. White
home. and she'd do as we'll by her as
could be expected under the circum-
stances
! So they came TO the farmhouse 10
| live. and Cynthy. true TO her promise,
| did we'll by them as far as food and
kindred comforts go, but never by any
! possible chance was there any relaIa-
tion of the stern lines about her mouth,
and Lizy often cried mp stairs in the
/ spare room from sheer loneliness.
About two years later the war fever
of 1851 broke out at tie Corners, and
Sam White was one of the first TO catch
the infection. sam had "settled down
/ during the past two years, so all the
! Corners folks said. and was a strong,
sturdy specimen Of young manhood.
| When he came home and broke the
news of his enlistment to Lily and
/ Cynthy, the little wife's face grew rale
as death, and she clasped her laughing
! baby more closely to her, but said never
a word
But Cynthy-her voice rose to per
go. Sam; you mustn't, you cant. III
never give my consent. Don't You new
er mention it again.
But as Sans resolution did not
waver she left off commanding and be-
gan entreating instead: "Oh. Sam, you
won't 20, please don't, couldn't bea,
it; don't got"
And when to this pitiful pleading
Sam only answered, II must, Cynthy
I've promised, Cynthy arose and,
standing before Lizy. who was strug
CLING with her tears. said. BEG him not
70 go. Lizy; he'll hear to you. Tell him
you cant get on without him.
II cant. Cynthy. was the tearfu
reply. "If he's promised to 90, any
thing | could say wouldn't stop him.
And. besides. Sam knows best If it's
his duty. won stand in the way. II
say, Go, and God bless you!
Brave little womanl" cried Sam.
But Cynthy. facing her with blazing
eyes. said fercely: IF you let him go
I'll never speak to you again. Beg hin
not to Quick, say! l mean it!
"Cynthy!" cried Sam.
IL mean it" she went on. 1T ht
goes, it's your fault, and I'll never for
give you.
Sam, as we'll as Cynthy, was not pre-
pared for the resolute look on the little
wife's face. as. rising. her baby in hel
arms, she faced the angry woman, say
ing II shall n 4 bid him stay II he
given his word. III not bid him be {
coward for my sake He must do wha
he thinks is right.
Cynthy turned and left the room
while Lizy burst into tears. hiding then
on Sans broad shoulders.
So it was settled.
But Cynthy moved about like a WON
an of stcne, never apparently seeing
Lizy. but doing all in her power fol
Sam Lizy decided to go home to hel
parents during his absence. to which
decision Cynthy agreed. with satisfied
nod of her erect head.
G., So,, 70 tho ftuv uou
TO her old home. and Cynthy was lief
desolate
Before many months had passed new
came to the Corners that great battle
had been fought and won for the Union
but that among the wounded were many
of their relations and friends, while OF
the list Of the dead was the name o.
Sam White. and few days after hi
body was brought home to the Corners
and given soldiers burial. and wei
he deserved his honors, for he had beer
a brave soldier and true.
So he had lain all these years on tht
hillside, and all these years Cynthy ha(
dwelt in her lonely cottage. nursing
her grief for Sam and her anger towart
Lizy. who had lived on in the littl,
house left her by her father.
Her one child had grown mp and mar
ried, unhappily it proved, and had re
turned to her mother with two little
ones of her own.
The years had proved cruel TO Lily
She had worked hard to keep the vol
from the door, but it had sometime
been hard struggle, and since he,
daughter and little grandchildren hat
returned to her she had been obliged
to mortgage her little home to procure
ready money, as Susy was an invalit
and must have medicine and nourish
ing food. Lack of work and sickness
had prevented the earning of money t.
pay the interest, and the mortgage wa
to he foreclosed the 3Oth of May. an(
there was no place left for them bu
Al. IL l.