The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-11-29
An Idyl of ~ X
HardStOne District.
BY THOMAS s. COLLIER.
THE hot beams of an August sun fell

IT HE hot beams of an August sun fell
almost perpendicularly on the
red clay road, that ran through Hard
stone district, "a sterile and shadeless
reelection of much-tilled and small
producing farms on the seacoast of our
land. The only good feature about
the place was its sea breeze, rich with
the aroma and GOODNESS it gathered IN
journeying over thousands of miles of
salt water.
Along the road, his brow beaded with
perspiration, Obed Strong plodded
stubbornly, as if both heat and cold
were alike powerless to affect him.
/. lie was commonplace enough in his
looks and dress. His coat was slung
across a stick on his shoulder, from
which also depended bundle; a rough
straw hat covered his head, and still
rougher boots, red with the dust of the
road, shrouded his feet; while coarse
shirt, open at the throat, and coarser
pair of trousers completed his attire.
Had a traveller met him he would
have passed him by, thinking him
rough farmer, made after the genera
making of his kind; but Obed Strong
was a different man from the general
| fly of his class, and his face was one to
study and remember.
1t was dark and stern now, and there
was deep glow in his eyes that sat
deep in the shade of shaggy brows, and
| the lines about the brow were hard and
firm. The lips were tightly pressed to-
| NJ lie al Dn n r1H
compressed with the working of his
lungs, quickly and savagely; and his
hands were clenched, so that the cords
stood out in hard knots
Some great passion was stirring the
mans soul with its power; and he
would have been dangerous even to a
friend, had that Griend sought to stay
his way,
As he reached the brow Of small
hill, where a single tree stood like 4
sentinel, he saw, sitting at its base, a
woman's form. She was clad, like him,
In coarse habiliments, and her hands
showed signs Of labor. Like his, her
face showed signs of power and pas
sion, but the eyes were full of tears
and pleading, while his were full of
wrath. As he stopped she arose and
came toward him.
II heard you were going Obed, and
came here to have a few last words with
you"
lie did not speak, but his face grew
stcrner, harder, if that could be, and
the knots on his hands worked with the
added strain he forced on them.
"Perhaps "-and her voice faltered a
little perhaps | have done wrong, but
love you, Obed, and we may never
meet again"
Her bosom rose and fell, as If IA SOD
was striving to break from its hold
but she stifled it and went on.
81 have refused to marry you, Obed
because ] have a sick father 10 tend; {
man full of whims and notions, whC
would fret and tire you and cause YOU
to feel that l had brought YOU trouble
Please do not think me hard, for ! have
thought only of you. Forgive me
Obed, for oh, ! am weary and heart
sick, feeling that you are going from
me-"
lie threw down the stick that hel'
his coat and bundle, and the word
came holly forth, as if time was pre-
cious, and much was TO be said.
"You Tsed not be weary, for ! an
willing to bear your burdens; and
you are heartsick because ! am goinI
away you have it in your power to sta,
me with a word. Say that you wi
marry me in a month and ! will sta
here until you are willing TO let me 60
Phoebe Dome"
Her head was bent low now, an
the tears would not be stayed,
"Obed, you know / love you, but
cannot think it is right TO bring to yo
! only fretting and toll; for the care c
|
| Cat ,our JohVpr,t;,o. Jono n. a. W -