Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-04-24

few minutes we were being received
at the steps of the portico by hand.
some young man of about 80, whose
hair was prematurely white, and a
petite matron of near the same age,
whose charm of manner and gracious
bearing brought glimpses of the "old
regime"
They were Squire Sam Riggin and
wife. Their fathers, Dick Ruther-
ford and Tom Riggin, had long been
gathered to their fathers, the two
farms were joined into one and all
the interests consolidated.
We partook of a glorious dinner
with the Higgins and laughed togeth.
er about the incident of 20 years be.
fore when we met Sudie and Sam at
the mouth of the "4dne."
As the doctor and | rode home un.
der the undressing trees, and upon
the carpet of purple, gold and Grim.
son that was made by their cast-off
clothing of autumn-dyed leaves, the
old healer told me how it had all
happened.
mo amount Of punishment inflicted
by their respective parents could keep
those youngsters apart. They were
inseparable when it was possible for
them to be together. The little girl
would weave wreaths of jessamine
flowers and vines for Sammy and
Sammy caught her butterflies and
filed her lap with blue-tinted daisies
fresh from the moss-lined brook that
flowed through the meadow. Whip.
pings, threats, confinements, entreat.
les by their parents that they
keep away from each other, did no
good. To the contrary, it seemed the
greater the opposition the more
binding their childish affection.
"Of course, their meetings were
clandestine. They would seek out re.
mote corners in the pastures or hide
among the hOneysuckle bushes over
on the ridge and remain for hours
in each others company, perfectly
oblivious to and absolutely uninhu-
enced by the almost assured spank
ings" they knew they would receive
when they returned to their homes.
"The days went by and as the
months grew into years, their love
for each other became stronger and
more beautiful. When they said their
simple prayers in the evenings, they
invoked the blessings Of the Infinite
on both houses, and when they were
old enough to know and feel the
strength of their friendship, undying
and indissoluble, they pledged them
selves to each other. They were
standing at the entrance of the lana
when this was done and he was look.
ing down into eyes that. for him,
riyaled in splendor and brightness
the twinkling stars that danced in
riotous JOY above them. 1t was in
early spring, just as the johnquils
were putting forth their yellow heads
to be picked off by the golden gos-
lings. The lights were being put out
in the farmhouses near by and the
Youthful lovers knew it was time
they were at home. But they prom
ised to meet early the following
morning and spend the day with each
other, far out in the woods where the
dogwood trees looked like woodland
brides and the red birds lowered
around the rhodoras seemingly to
court the flower that cheapened their
array.
"The next morning they met at the
mouth of the lane, she wearing a
hood as red as the jacket of Tommy
Atkins. They had not gone q very
great ways before huge bull at
tracted by the gaudy color of Sudie's
cape dashed for her, blinded by all
the fury of a challenged beast. Es-
cape was impossible. Sammy saw the
danger and threw himself between
the girl and the bull. just as the ami
NAL was about TO bear down upon
the helpless boy, two rife shots rang
out almost simultaneously and the
bull dropped in his tracks and in an
other instant the fathers Of the
Young people were standing by the
side Of the dying brute.
With rife in hand they had fol-
lowed their children without being
observed. intent and determined upon
breaking of their companionship.
Fortunately they were just near
enough to send messengers Of death
to the bull before its cruel horns
could do damage The two men
looked kindly upon each other as the
girl tremblingly chung to the speech
less boy.
"'Here. shake my hand, Ruther-
ford, said higgins, and let us stop
al this foolishness, and before he
could conclude his sentence Higgins
rifle had fallen to the ground as he
reached forward to embrace his long
estraneed friend Suddenly recover
inc from their emotions. Sammy's IA
Their turned TO the youths and IN
tone of attempted seriousness eX-
claimed: Run along home, sir and
ret 10 your books-ans-an', sudle'
YOU better get TO your room and take
of that cape. Your father and ! are