Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-03-16

an acquaintance in by.gone days between Mrs.
Sheldon and Mrs. Livingston, and this formed
the ground work Of the invitation. Young
Sheldon is a very fine young man-immensely
wealihyl-so should not wonder il Miss Renee
had plighted her rolh.
Harry turned away in silence. Was this the
end Of his dreamsl He had not known-had
not realized what had been the main-spring the
most powerful incentive in his colleginIc career!
lie, TOO, was changing-lhe thoughts, the feel
ings the passions Of the man were claiming
their place. and would not be repressed. Dear
Rencel" he had often murmured in the mid
night watch, when his thoughts should have
been on the page before him, but bright Wis.
ior Of a smiling face peepcd out from the huge
lolio', aud imaged there, ho beheld the day-star
OF his life! "Mine, minel" he ever whispered
as he hopefully loied on.
But now!-uh! his star had settled, without
warnng!-and Harry felt what few have esca-
ped, the bitterness Of "unrequil cd Lowell"
He bore il bravclyl-bu, there came TO him a
wish, once more to behold ''lhe loved and LOST"
and few hours behed him in the gay streets Of
the great metropolis. But how 10 sec hcr!-
That was difficulty, promising no speedy re-
medy; for Harry would have died. b3lore dar
kening the lhreshhod Of Sheldon's fashionable
residence, under present circumstances. So
with gloomy brow, and dcspairing mien, the
proud man rapidly lravcrsed lho streets; with.
or he knew noI-cared noh
Suddenly he stood before brilliantly lighted
building, towards the entrance of which crowds
Of gaiIy dressed people were pressing.
"What is going on!" he asked mechanically
Of byslander.
"S-givosa concert tonight" was the brief
reply.
A CLEAN of hope lit up Iarry's face. The
ShcIdon's were decidedly lashonablel-they
would be here, if anywhere. He might see
Rcnee-aud without a thought or his travel.
worn appearance he purchased a ticket and en-.
tered Seated in u position overlooking the
doors, he wailel imlatianty her entrance
Group after group passed before him, from each
Of which he turned away disappointed. Should
he never see herl Maybe she was already in
the room! lie glanced again 10 the door. Whu
made him start from his seat, with sraining eve
aud compressed lipl The face of his early
love! She leaned gracefully and confidently
upon the arm of her handsome escort. She
moved slowly and easily across the room, 10Y.
ing with the Iiule blue smin hood which depen-
ded from her small fingers. Now looking up
into the face of her devoted cavalier, now lurn.
ing on the audience the light Of her lovely
counenance.
Yes, it was Rancel most beautirul-most
lauldcss like, yc, how unlike her former seIll-
the slight elastic form was the same, aud the big
bright eye of bue-only lis radiance was sol.
tened by the long lashes' loving embrace, and
the bright beams of light stole through the sill.
ken curtains more timidly than of old. But
three years make great changes, especially in Il
girl "siIrng in the lap of woman hood;" and
though the features Of Rcnee's bright face re-.
maned the same, there was more Of mind and
will in its expression; its childish mirlh soften
ed-more sPIRlTUELLE.
She took her seat, She halrturnod her head
in the direction where Harry sat; but before she
could mark him, the bright curls which were
laying on her neck in shining clusters, fell for
ward and formed curtain behind which he re-
treated, fearful of being seen.
Music arosc-and the scene around Renee
faded she sat "srless and rapt'' ill the last
strain of melody died dreamiIy away.
All! those were hours Of anguish for Harry
Grey!
Another week, and he was quietly, if not con-
Ientedly, settled in his native village. He had
noby struggled with himsell-but oh, he could
not give up thoughts of Renee, believing though
he did that she could be naught 10 him; that her
fate was linked with another.
And yet few more days, and
"Renee Livingstone is back Harry"
"lndeed! Livingstone yet, it seems!-how
long 10 remain so!
Harry did look mostmanfulIy stoical, while he
uttered these words.
"That | cannot tell; but Renee has refused
Sheldon. after all, it seems. So her mother
told me; (prelty angry, too, Renee would be, |
suspect, if she knew il) and of course it was
not pleasant 10 remain in the family after that;
so she came home last night"
"Have YOU seen her, motherl"
"Ye5-and she asked after you; said thou
sand hard things about your never coming to see
her; for told her you had been in New York
-aud did you really not go 10 see her, after all
--you--why where are you going, Harry3"
"Hurra, never mind, mother"
Handsome liarry!--yos--now mighthc claim
his old title again--why perfect MAELsTRoM Of
sunbeams was whirling over his face!
Harry! Harry are you crazyl What is the
mauer!"
"Yes--yes; I'm cruzy never mind!"
"Bless me! lbeeve The boys possessed"
exclaimed the wondering mother, following with
curious eyes the fleeing form of her son.
Spring came round--ay and summer loo, be.
fore Harry Grey could prevail on Renee to be-
come bride; iorthe lively spirit had no mind
to be won easily. To say the truth, the merry
maid had been somewhat spoiled by the unboun-
ded admiration other city lrends!--just enough,
however, TO make her thousand fold moro pi-
|quant--more bewitching than ever--never fear,
though, but when the time came to "setlle
down." she would do right, after all!
Darling Renee! when leafy June passed thro'
the smiling sky, she put her little hand in Har-
ry Grcy's, and promised to be loving and obe-
dent wife; though amidst her teurs, a roguish
smile and pouting lin half proclaimed the con.