The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-04-24
A Decision
From the Dead
BY F. A. mitchell

yCaAD Va dSO Ain AdLhCL DOukuL u pace
y on one of the principal roads leading
81 from the city. The house stood In a
large lot, and In the adjoining lot on
; one side stood another house Of about
the same size. There was no other
, house within half mile.
Donald had long wished for gun,
but his father would not consent to his
having one SO long as he lived In the
city, but when they moved to the
country the boy was given small
rife. The day after reaching the new
residence Donald went to a wood back
of the house with his gun. 1t was in
the spring of the year. when shooting
was not In order, but he wanted to see
how 1t would feel to be In q wood with
gun.
i Donald found something better than
bird in the wood-a girl about his
own age gathering wild flowers. Chill
dren don't usually require an introduc-
ton, and boy with gun and girl
gathering wild flowers In wood were
not likely to forego an acquaintance
from such default.
Donald learned that the girl was
Amy Stanford and that she lived in
the next house to his own home. Since
he did not feel at liberty to shoot the
birds he leaned his gun against tree
and hunted with the girl for flowers
| When they had gathered quite a num-
Der they looked about for seat on
1 NIB hax yuh int n
| bouquet
"Come with me-" said Amy. and she
led Donald to a tree from which
branch a few feet from the ground
stood out horizontally far enough to
make room for the two Of them. then
turned in perpendicular direction.
There the girl seated herself, spread
ing the flowers In her lap, and Donald
sat down beside her
Then followed the most delicious
hour in Donald's life. Above were the
birds, twittering. flying to and from
the nests they were building. an occa-
sional song. accompanied by the never
ending music of a brook that bent
about the tree underneath which the
children were sitting. while at their
feet trembled shadows of the half |
grown leaves. Donald passed other |
hours In the same position with the |
same girl beside him. But there Is that |
In the first OF anything which never
comes again. On that branch he took
the first kiss of love-" Nevertheless
there was not again quite the same
sweetness In the songs OF the birds,
the music OF the running water. the
decked shadows Of the young leaves.
Just when he took the first kiss OF
love may not be revealed. Ii was to
him too sacred to be spoken. But we
may be sure 1t was not long delayed.
The love that sprang up and blossom
ed there when IL bloomed bloomed for
ever. He felt that whether they were
together or separated In this world or
In the next they were one forever.
Three years later-Donald was seven
teen-the Erskine family removed to a
distant region. Their parting occurred
at the trysting place where they had
SO often met. and neither doubted that
they would meet again when they had
passed from youth TO manhood and
But they were never to
meet again In mortality. Three years
ater Amy died.
Four years after their parting DON
lid. who had come 10 mans estate.
me spring morning. sorrewful. with
step passed from the road TO
he wood where he had been so happy
With his lost love. There had been no
,hange. Birds were twittering. the
brook gave forth fits music. the shadows
Il the leaves hecked the turf.
As Donald approached the branch
eat he suddenly stopped and gazed
$ though be saw some ugly apparition.
man sat on the branch wearing a
ountenance OF grief Then Donald
Nth quicker step approached the man
nd said 10 him:
why are you hereT'
Il am mourning lost love-
"a lost lovel who may that lost
ove her
"My Amy-Amy Stanford er
"Your AmyT- "
MY Amyi Mine In life: mine IN -
eathi"
There was a pause, during which the on
Ro men regarded each other with a al
range emotion. Finally Donald spoke.
did Amy stanford love your" r,
sSbe did" o.
"You lie =
Il nef You have strange conf
snce-
Con hdence. but not strange conf
nee n you speak the truth she wns
4 what she was. and that IL impOs
bic. But u ls sacrlege for me 70
spute with you on such a subject"
10 the trunk Of the tree
here there vas q cavity IN the wood. L
onaid thrust IN bis hand nearly 20 :
e shoulder and drew forth Q small
etai bor. TOOK q key from MS pocket
Hooked the Dor and took from q
per. Without looking 81 Il be hand
81 % the man who claimed 90 10
! rival for one who had passed 70 II