Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1854-02-02


their pew was distant from ours. but
when | passed out into the little church
porch, after service, Rober, Trevors and
his sister stood there. Again did Miss
'frevors' bright and Joyous glance fall
pleasantly upon my hear,--bu; her
brother scarcely then no,iced, and the
crowd soon separated US. The mex,
morning. when / went into aun. E;hers
room, an unwelcone and unbidden guest
az usual. spoke of our new neighbors.
"Aun, Ethel. I have seen Mrs. IRE
vors. and think shall like her. so
will go To the Grange before long"
"Do as you please. Agnes" was the
cold response. "but | cannot wholly APP
prove of this step"
"Why. aun, Ethel" broke out i'm
peluously. "am never to love any per.
son. never to have any friends! | can't
live always This way; it is terrible;" and
| burst into tears.
"Go, il you like-love this Miss Ire
vofs, love anybody you please; make
friends; cling to them; but after time,
Agnes, you will grow wise. aid then you
will find that your wisdom has been
bought with bitter price"
Aud aun. Ethel waved her long hands
like some weird prophecies. | shrank
from her. but her words in no wise con.
vinceh me. .........a z
And went TO ",he Grange" Mar
garet had called it a palace; it was no,
even as grand aad stately as Frwood,
but i. was a sweet. home like pla e.
Elsy Trevors and her mother w,re so
kind, so loving.
Robert Trevors came with his sister
to Firwood. He was slight, grace ful
young man, with fine. earnest face. -
Elsy aud be were cheerful and pleasant,
aud when their visit was ended, and the
TWO went awav, and left me s,.iEg alone
in the parlor. felt as though { great
brightness. life's own fair sunshine, had
gone with them.
Tire went by. bringing few changes.
A lille ligh, had fallen across my path
way, and a, las, my hear. had awakened
from its strange, unnatural sleep. Sweet
Elsy Trevors was my friend, and was
no longer lonely. Aunt Ethel still sa,
in her gloomy chamber, bu. her easy
chair was now by the window, from
whence she could look ou, and see The
green meadows and bright waters. She
We. was sick and languid. and DR.. Bly,h's
old brown horse was, as of yore, tied
daily beneath the sy ycamore trees.
Aun, Ethel looked with kind of child
doubling scorn upon my friendship with
Elsy Tresors. bu, she had ceased to
prophesy "dark things" concerning il.
And with Robert Trevors and myself
there sprang up kind, warm intimacy.
When Elsy or rode or walked. he was
alway our companion; like her learn
ed ever to turn to him for counsel and
sympathy, and he playfully called me
his '.o,her sister, And this was very
pleasant; bu, after time there came a
change. Elsy began to find our walks
aud rough she said; 50 she s:sih IT
home. but Robert and wen, ou, ,ogeth-
er. Aud from E!sy no longer came the
the swee, morning gi!. Of flowers, bu.
Rober, cent them, and they were fairer
aud brighter than before.
And j. was golden summer evening
when Rober, Trevors frs, told me Of his
love. We were standing side BY side in
the library. and the blessed sunlgh.
shone in fair and bright, and the birds
sent forth their joyous carols; bu. laid
my head Gown on Roberts shoulder and
wept. No. tears Of grief. Oh. no-bu,
my heart was full OF new, sweet hap
piness.
Robert smoo,hed hack the long curls
which would fall over my face, and he
soo,hed me with dear words Of tender
ness. We sat together in the broad win
dow seat. and whilst we talked there,
the yellow sunligh. died away. and the
moon climbed slowly above the great
sycamore trees, and ,hrew wide white
flood OF light upor Us. And ! was hap.
py-my soul exul,ed in The precious
consciousness tina, il was lonely, unloved
no longer. Tha, evening, when dear
Robert Trevors went away, sat by the
window and watched him as he crossed
the meadow, until he passed into The
grounds Of ",he Grange" and saw
him no more. g&
Old Margaret put her head in a. the
door: "Don't you wan. light, Miss
Agnes!" aea 4
l started a, the sound of her voice. so
lost was in happy dreamings, had
forgotten everything else.
"No. Margaret. | am going now to
aun. Ethel" And | went up the wide
stairs with quick, light step, carolling
some merry old ballad; and even thus
went TO aunt E.hel's room.
"Agnes, you are poor foolish dream
81; ye. marry young 'rrevors If you like.
! hear nothing against him. will no,
oppose you in this matter"
Ard aun, Ethel drew herself back 10
the shadow Of the curtain. kept my
seat ., her feet, bu. my face was hidden
in my hands. and in spite of all could
do. the tears would flow. had told
auni Ethel my story, yet this was all the
answer she ga We: these chilling words