Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-12-28
Sa Euttrtstins Story.
From Afihuf's Home Magazine.
TWICE LOVING.
ny =. r. TOWNSEND.


aPleming had already lived through tho Olive
age.r- iiyrKRIoS.
Wilton, don't you ever intend TO
get married? | declare. I'm quite in
despair about you. Here you are.
thirty six years old next February,
and confirmed old bachelorl Why
you ought to have wife and two or
three second editions by this lime. Just
think OF all the trouble I've had about
you. tool Rides in the country, and
promonades in the city: visits at home.
and parties abroad: all to no purpose.
II provokes me to think of il. Once
for all. Wilton Hughes. do you intend
TO live and die an old bachelor And
the lady. still young and blooming.
put down with an air Of desperation.
the jewel case with which her fingers
had been playing. and confronted the
gentleman who sat opposite her.
He. too. laid down his paper, but
with nm air Of languid sang .froid.
which was particularly irritating. for
dinner was just over, and Wilton
Hughes always devoted the next half
hour to politics and bank stocks.
Really, Sarah. he replied. and his
coolness was in a strange contrast
with his sisters vehemence. l can
not answer you. for whether | shall
depart fromssIhis life in state OF single
or doaJie ble,sedness is still an indein-
ite matter to myself. You shall be
spprised ofmy decision when | make
il. Meantime. my dear sister. re-
commend that you give yourself no
further uneasiness on the subject.
You are the most provoking being
alive. Wilton. calculated the lady. as
she rose up. l believe you are ~
heartless as you are sarcastic. and l
shall never put another girl in dan.
ger Of breaking her heart for you
And the rustic Of Mrs. Hill'ssilk was
an emphatic peroration Of her anger.
as she swept Indignantly from the
apartment.
Wilton Hughes leaned back ia his
chair and half closed his eyes. Now
he sits there all alone, his feet brought
into fine rcliefby the dark velvet cush
ioning. we will look at il; for his
countenance Is something more than
"a book with date"
II is not q handsome face; and yet
il will win upon you strangely. The
features are too long and thin FOR mas.
cuIine beauty:the forehead has. broad
thick masses of hair about il; the lips
are thin. and in repose stern and grave
but you should see them when they
are in the light Of one Of his smiles.-
"Thirty-six next February his sister
said. You would never believe he
was was more than twenty-eight,
looking into bis face.
But as the man sits there. his
thoughts wander off on n long journey
II may be his sirter's words-it may
be the dim quiet of the room-have
started them on path which reaches
over the graveyards OF many dead
aud buried years, to u far country
the land Of his youth.
IL is an old red farm house that h,
sees now; the sloping roof is covered
with moss. and In the spring the weed,
take root among the caves, and make
u long green fringe on the roof Of III,
house. He has not seen the ole
homo since that night when he learned
-. lookl how the cold. proud man.
mouth quivcrs. and his fingers clutch
the paper, for that night has come ou
to meet him. II was "laid away
aud locked up" he thought. wher,
il would never find path into th'
present. but now, as some old friens
lover whose death we have wept ans
prayed-comes back and takes ou
hand and the seat by our side. anc
looks into our eyes with the old smile
land whispers. 1T was oil falsel ] wa
mot deadF' So this night came bacl
like a living presence, and took it
seat by Wilton Hughes.
He saw her again. the only woman
who had ever troubled the depths O
his soul. as he saw her then, with he
shining golden hair. and her haze
eyes, as sweet picture as ever III
heart Of man framed and housed up i
the past. They had just returne
fran a long ride in the country. an
! they stood by the gate. He had AS
sisted her TO alight. and still retain
ed her little fingers in his own.
A young moon was mounting owe
the forest. and the light lay soft AM
sad in the hollows and along the roa
side.
lie was only ninet zen then. and
was the tenth Of July! His hear
would keep those two dates till II too
up the last one Eternity.
He remembered how, stand'n
there. heleaned down to her, and pu'
ting away the cluster OF curls undo
her bonnet. sale. IL shall not be her
again until the hollows are as full ,
snow a. they are now Of moonlight
May God take care Of my darlin.
and ohl you will be true to me. m
Mary"
She looked up to him, her des
eyes shining fondly through her tear
"Wilton"-how the memory OF ht
voice thrilled his heart-"Wilton, yo
may trust mel" and il was not n
words 50 much as the look. which al
ed his soul with such trust. that IL a
angel had spoken from heaven.
would have believed no more fully
He remembered the last kiss, and th
his eyes were dim as he sp, ang I'M
the carria e. 1t was the last time
ever saw Mary, or the red house wi
the weeds craving on It's edge.
He had never blamed her-not eve
when the great sorrow settled up,
the morning Of his life when he lear,
ed that she was another's, and
heart grew dead within him.
He knew she was true, and th
was blessing; her friends had d
ceived her. and she went to the alt
believing that Wilton was false
IneI. fIl..rN 81 lt