Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-07-28


ESsJ mountain sides or down in
the canyon beside the stream that
danced down to meet the Black Rock
river, talking and sketching and read
ing and she listening and dreaming,
with often a happy smile upon her
face. But there were moments when
a cloud of shuddering fear would
sweep the smile away, and then l
would talk Of Craig till the smile came
back again.
But the woods and the mountains
and the river were her best, her wis
est, friends during those days. How
sweet the ministry of the woods to
her! The trees were in their new sum-
mer leaves, fresh and full of life.
They Swayed and rustled above us,
flinging their interlacing shadows upon
us, and their swaying and their rus
ting sootied and comforted like the
voice and touch of mother. And the
mountains too, in all the glory of their
varying robes of blues and puppies,
stood calmly, solemnly, about us. up
lifting our souls into regions of rest
The changing lights and shadows fit
ted swiftly over their rugged fronts,
but left them ever as before in their
steadfast majesty. Goods in his heav,
en-" What would you have? And ever
the little river sang it's cheerful cour-
age, fearing not the great mountains
that threatened to bar it's passage to
the sea. Mrs. Mavor heard the song,
and her courage rose.
I'VE, too, shall find our way" she
said. and l believed her.
But through these days I could not
make her out, and l found myself
studying her as l might a new ac-
her. She was girl again. full of
young, warm life. She was as sweet
as before, but there was a soft shyness
over her. a half shamed, half frank
consciousness in her face, glad light
in her eyes that made her all new to
me. Her perfect trust in Craig was
touching to see
"He will tell me what to do" she
would say till began to realize how
impossible it would be for him to be-
tray such trust and be anything but
true to the best.
SO much did 1 dread Craigs home
coming that sent for Graeme and old
man Nelson, who was more and more
Graeme's trusted counselor and friend.
They were both highly excited by the
story had to tell, fob thought it best
to tell them all, but l was not little
surprised and disguised that they did
not see the matter in my light. In vain
I protested against the madness of al
lowing anything to send these two from
discussion in his own emphatic way,
but with an earnestness in his words
not usual with him.
"Craig will know better than any of
us what is right to do, and he will do
that, and no man can turn him from it,
and" he added, 81 should be sorry to
try
Then my wrath rose, and / cried:
"It's tremendous shame! They love
each other. You are talking senti-
mental humbug and nonsense
"He must do the right" said Nelson
in his deep, quiet voice.
"Righti Nonsense! By what right
does he send from him the woman he
loves?'
"'He pleased not himself" quoted
Nelson reverently.
Nelson is right" said Graeme. 81
should not like to see him weaken
''Look here" I stormed. II didn't
bring you men to back him up in his
nonsense. l thought you could keep
your heads level"
Nov, Connor," said Graeme, "don'i
rage. Leave that for the heather. It's
bad form and useless besides. Craig
will walk his way where his light falls
and, by all that's holy, l should hate
to see him fail, for if he weakens like