The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-06-20

j ing JuSt-like this. This lS~-iet me see ~
THE 10Th Of May supplied.
1T was either the Goth or near that
date that |, then a young fellow of
eighteen, was passing down there
! where that train has just darted BY,
only then there was no train there, but
the highway, and rode In d stage
coach. The grounds Of this house then
extended to the road, the fence lining
/ it, There was d gate down there, and
as looked out Of the stage window j
saw girl about eight years old swing
Ing on 1t. Her blue eyes were fixed on
! the coach, and the mild breeze was
playing with her hair, which, with the
sun shining upon it, was the color of
those lances of light that shine through
a wood on bright morning
ut was barely a minute that ! saw
her, but youth Is impossible. Or, rather
when youngster Is impressed at all
! he is impressed thoroughly.
"That was shortly before the canal
was built. The road gave way to the
canal or the towpath. and we who had
been used to travelling on the coach
\ were now pulled along in boat BY a
couple OF horses. II was six years aft
err passing the place that | passed ii
| again in canal boat about o'clock
on midsummer afternoon. The leaves
and the grass were slightly Drowned
with drought, and the whirring OF
4 locusts had hot sound. As we float
ed lazily by the place hoped might
catch a glimpse Of my little girl. apd
I expected to see her still a little girl,
though realized she must be older.
She did not appear, but as we were
/ turning the bend beyond | saw two
young ladies as supposed strollIng to-
ward us on the towpath. When we
neared them / recognized In one OF
them, tall girl whose skirts reached
to the tops Of her boots, my little girl
OF six years before. ! had purposely
gone ashore and gathered a few wild
| flowers, hoping to be able 10 toss one
to her. but not having seen her as we
passed the house l had dropped them
on the deck. Now | hastily gathered
them. and as / passed the two girls
made an effort to toss the flowers
ashore. The distance was not great,
but the flowers had no weight and
dropped into the water. Perhaps 1t
was just as well, for my move was
rather bold, and my effort having fail
ca II gave the girls an opportunity TO
! laugh at me, which they did
Il was now quite sure that | was
seriously drawn TO girl of fourteen
who in physique was probably as large
as she would ever be. thought Of
I her necessarily and on my way back
looked for her again. had provided
myself with some roses and had tied
n stone to them. But | was disap-
pointed. There was no sign of her.
"As the road had given place to the
canal. so the canal gave place TO the
railway. There were no grades to be
considered, and the engineers located
the track where the old towpath was.
Five years after having passed the
place on the canal | was one day APP
preaching IL on train. We had just
left w, few miles below. when the
brakes were suddenly whistled down,
and soon felt slight shock. Ii was
not so slight in front. where. on going
forward, | saw quite wreck, our
train having run into the rear OF a
freight train. Finding that we would
not get away for several hours. I de-
termined 70 walk forward in quest Of
the girl | had twice seen. On reach.
ing the place | passed on the other
side and In the front yard saw a lady
sitting on the porch sewing Opening
the gate, entered The lady looked
up, and was sure she was the one I
sought.
~ have bad the misfortune l said.
TO be- delayed on the railroad. There
has been an accldent--no one hurt, /
am happy to say-and have walked
forward 10 ask a few questions,
"She looked at me in some surprise
and asked me TO be seated. told her
that sixteen years before | had fallen
~ wv witt y AtNt kiIi swinging on Il
gate She gave herself up to reflection
for moment, then said smillngIy:
THAT little girl Is now twenty-four
years old, and II you should see her
you would doubtless be cured OF your
romance.
/" ] saw her when she was fourteen,
! replied and my shackles were only
more firmly welded And told her OF
throwing tbe flowers to her The blood
whirled into her cheek tempestuously. 1"
Father" cried the voice Of an old
woman from within, I'm afraid to
have you out there any longer. You'll
take cold Il
let him alone. grandmother 1
sald. i've got him well wrapped up.
He's telling me about the little girl
that swung on the gate
is he? Well. IL he says I smiled at
him on the towpnth he tells # wrong.
didn't
Grandfather chucxled With twin
klc IN his eye he explained when
she's In the company say It was her
forwardness that led me on. told It
straight to you because I knew she