The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-11-29


If it would not help you in your toll
ind be glad TO share your cares? Do
you think that being a man, have no
feelings but those that are selfish? |
tell you, Phoebe Dome, | am willing
10 work for you, help you, love you,
in all ways that man can"
81 know it, but there are trials that
sour love; and mans patience fails
before the many trials of another mans
whims, and then there comes the feel
Ing that love has imposed on him bur-
liens he has no right to bear; and so
he broods and grows cold, and his love
lies; and | could not live if lost your
| love-"
The man stood silent. He was think
ing of her words and Of her acts. She
loved him and was willing to lose that
| love so that she should not bring him
care and toll. And he? Why, he was
about leaving her simply because she
would not marry him when he thought
she should. Wen, he was willing to
take her, care and work included, if
she would come, and was not that
enough? No; for he forgot that he had
shown only Impotence when she had
tried to reason with him, and was this
the way to show her that he could bear
the strain a sick mans fancies would
entail?
She had forgotten this, but oh, he was
so willing to take her with 1t all, and
he loved her so, and to be put off when
his heart was crying for her love and
the power to call her wife. Then he
conquered his hot words and said, more
quietly:
phoebe, | may have been wrong and
hasty in saying what l have, and in
starting away from Hardstone, but the
place is one to kill man with work,
for which he gets no pay; and then to
have to put his love back, how far in
the future he knows not, is very hard.
See, am willing to stay here, knowing,
too. that in the west l can have a home
and comforts | cannot get here for
twice the toll. If you will marry me
] am willing to take all it will bring,
of sorrow and i'll, so that you are my
wife. Is there more that man can
do?"
There is no more, and | do not ask
you ~ w IlOlt, DuN Will lOhi INV w 81
strong that it can see me bestow care
and attention on another, when you
may desire my services? That is the
point Obed, regarding which l have
hesitated. Oh, if ! only knew" A
smile, calm and restful, stole over her
face.
As she paused, breath of sea air
came wandering up from the low lying
beach and seemed to linger about the
solitary tree. Then the bird that had
sought refuge in its branches broke
forth in a low song, that sounded like
voice of hope and promise.
Would you be willing to stay here,
to put away the golden promise of the
west, and bde the fancies of an in
valid, for this?" And she held out her
toil-marked hand.
He looked at her, and then his eyes
went wandering over the red hills TO
where, afar off, mountains covered
with green rose like wall against the
sky. And he thought: us the smile
and love of this woman. with toll and
poverty, worth the promise of peace
and rest, without 1t, in the distance hid
by those mountains?"
Then his soul called his eyes back
to her face, and he knew her love was
better, even with poverty to share it,
than the richest promise that lay be-
yond the mountains. So he took heI
hand and said
"This is all to me, and, unless il can
! go with me freely, I will stay with II
. here
Was it fancy? It seemed that to both
5 of them low voice whispered: 1T is
we'll" But around them was the glare
. of the sun, and the red, glazing land
and even the bird was still; vet The
l word had been spoken, and, though il
was only a whisper it gave then
strength
He stopped and picked up his sticf
4 ard bundle, and together they walked
4 on toward her home. 1t was small CO..
, standing in the shadow of a hill A few
5 vines and bushes grew about It, and
? with sickly green, stroye to relieve
= the sameness of the scene.
5 In the doorway, reclining in {
f rCugh-built easychar, sat an old anC
] feeble man. AS he saw them approach
he uttered peevish wish for them II
hurry.
She turned and looked at her lover
He took her hand and, standing befor
Y the sick man, said
4 "Mr. Dome, I have asked your daugh
? ter 10 be my wife. ! think that il is il
my power to help you both TO rest anC
R comfort. Are you willing to let IN
t try?"
I A strange look came to the old man
worn and care-lned face--a look o
D trust and hope.
!, BLESS you," he said, feebly, extend
ing his hands. They took them il
I. theirs. A smile stole over the aged face
a the eyes closed, the head sank on tn
o breast.
II Obed stopped TO lift him, and starte
e. back. The weary sickness had ende
e forever and the trial of life had give
G, place to the peace of heaven.