Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-01-03


and the man remembers that some one
has once long ago talked of this very
spot, with its quaint surroundings
and its old-world atmosphere, in the
time that might have been and is not.
He closed his sketchbook with
sigh, and turned to the white-robed
loveliness of his wife with a murmured
apology for having kept her waiting,
and then together they passed down
the avenue that leads to the road again.
But he was very silent, and his wife
felt tired and just a little cross. She
liked to be petted and coaxed and fiat
tered, and latterly Wilfred had been
too serious to suit her gay fancies and
too absorbed in new ideas for his book
TO pay her the attentions she loved so
dearly to exact from every man, and
especially from her husband.
''Let us go home to town." she said,
suddenly. II am so tired OF roaming
in this out-of-the-way place, Wilfred.
, and there is still so much going on.
hear. You must have got lots of ideas
now, am sure" She laughed gleefully
as she spoke. The murmur OF the
streets seemed already in her ears, and
the fash of silks and jewels came over
the sunlight on the grass.
He paused moment. "Will you not
come on little further?" he asked,
kindly, yet a little wistfully. "There
are some lovely places in the dale and
you would be interested in them.
think"
But she shook her head until the
diamonds in her head twinkled like
dewdrops. "You know am not inter
ested," she said, petulantly Il hate
those old people who perched castles
on the top Of hills and expect you 10
climb up and see them. DO let US go
back"
They had reached the lych- gate
now, and girl was entering it from
the other side where their carriage
his wife's carriage-with its beauti-
full bays stood waiting. The sunlight
fell on her quiet black gown and her
soft hair as she passed under the
quaint oaken structure. and then she
1 AiAANA NAtEf anu HhAhfN AiN IL
flashed into them and then died very
gently again.
The mans face grew white in the
shadow OF the leafy elms. but his wife
chartered on in her high, pretty voice
and noticed nothing of his pallor
And then as they met he advanced
quietly to meet the girl--as quietly
as II they had never parted in bitter
bitter sorrow-the one brave and
ready TO sacrifice herself for his sake
the other. as he said 10 himself bit
terly enough. coward and craven
And now they met again in the soft
sunshine OF the autumn day, with the
first few leaves falling. goden-tint-
ed from the trees around. with the
blue bright sky overhead. and the
purling Of little stream somewhere
near, under the old gateway that
leads to the house of prayer.
She spoke to him very calmly and
| quietly. and he introduced her to his
lovely wife, and she told the stranger
at once in her pretty. petulant voice
of her wish to go back to town and
its gayeties. only Wilfred wouldn't.
he was so cross.
But the girl smiled so gently and
spoke so soothingly that the little
lady's wrath melted away. and she
laughed like a merry child and
straightway invited her new friend
10 pay them a visit in London.
I'VE will go tomorrow. won't we,
wilfred2" she said. laughingly, and
the grave-faced man answered that
ner will was law.
"Yes, we will go tomorrow" he
said, when the girl had answered that
she never went 20 town now. her
father was old and needed her care.
and that she was quite content with
her life in the still countryside
81 have him. and he has me-" she
said, with her peaceful smile. and the
laughing woman before her could not
guess and would never have realized
that this gentle-faced girl had loved
the man beside her with all her heart
and soul. and had passed through the
deep waters alone with her sorrow, to
take up her life again bravely and
well.
And then one of the beautiful horses
claimed the pretty wife's attention.
and she went hurriedly on, leaving the
two together for a brief moment in
the sunshine of the old gate.
Forgive me. Enid" he said. brok-
enly. "Ahi / have wronged you so.
and deserve your hatred. but forgive
me II you can"
His face was haggard and his lips
whitened and trembled as he spoke
the few strained words.
But she laid her hand in his very
gently, as II TO say goodby to a dear.
dear friend forever. 81 have forgiven
you. dear" she said. 81 may call you
that for this one last time2 I have
forgiven you everything. and God keep
you, keep you safely, and lead you
arightl" She paused, and the great
tears rose in her calm eyes and rolled
down the pale cheeks. She loved him