The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-06-01

Ravenswood. lhaye boon to crave.
,rould have asked it whom We two were
alone, but time may not favor me. WI
you give me, now that am about to leav'
you, the little glove picked up for you th'
last day wo rode over tho fields together
You refused It then, but for parting keep
sake you will not surely say nay"
} "But cannot have my favors won ant
worn so easily. You taught mo to play
chess, and we will have our last game now
Ifyou win. the glove is yours. Are yos
content ~ .a." ,-llt1.
He answered, "I am content" Ant
they sat down to the board, with Philip Les
lie sitting between, and watching them
For more than an hour they played-Jes'ie
cOolly, carefully, skillfully, foiling her master
with the very weapons he had taught her se
use. Paul Ernstein, wildly, impulsively
and yet with such carnestness, as one would
have who felt that his stake was infinitely
precious. Philip Leslie looked on with
smile of assured and easy triumph. l
At last, laughing gaily, the maiden clasp
ed her small, white hands upon her knee
and said, cxultinSly, " chcck.mated, Master
Paul" ....-. .. ...E.
Paul Erns,ein made no reply for few
moments. Resting his face on his hand, he
bent eagerly over the board. There was nc
help-movo where he would, the iuexorable
check-mate stared him in the face. AT
length, pushing the board from him, he rose
and walked out upon the balcony The
stars were over him; calm, pure, long en-
during. lie lifted toward them his gaze,
wild with struggling, inpatient, human
despair. And behold, looking downward
IRON aiar, each pale star seemed to answer
him mockingly-
"Behold how impotent are your watch
ings, and your praycrs-they bring no tears
nor any dimness to the far-of eyes Of star
or woman :"
With something almost like terror, Jessie
Falconer had seen him 60 forth, with the
passionate grief darkening, shadow.liko,
over his proud features; and now, despite
the clasping hand Of Philip Leslie, which
would have restrained her, she rose and fol.
lowed him. Going to his side, she laid her
hand upon his arm, and looked up at him
with her smiling eyes.
"Paul," she said, gently, cherished
friend, brother Paul" .... ,...
He withdrew from the touch Of the slight
fingers, which lay oil too sister-like upon his
arm.
"And that is ALL" he exclaimed, with
passionate feryor. " Jessie, was 1t for this
only, have waited and prayed oil these
years, watching you grow up to womanhood ;
only to hear you call me 6rotherp You
have known my love, you must have. You
have triaed with It, less than woman that
you are; how much less, than an angel
had deemed you. Jessie Falconer, for your
fair, irail sake, | have fingered here months
and years tanning my proud will to your
lightest fancies and you, beautiful deceiv.
or, looked on and triumphed Nay, do moi
answer me-do not say you dreamed not Of
nv love. The very stars Of heaven could
not be half SO blind !" ... ...
Again that light touch rested upon his
arm, and once more she said" Paul! !" Even
now the word fell with no love.cadence on
his ear, but it calmed and subdued him.
That single utteranco told him so many
things. He felt that her fresh young
heart, loving his as sister, had indeed been
unconscious Of the passion Of his own. Nc
bitter words could have repronched him
for his unjust harshness, halfso eifactually
He, to whom she had given so much, in Civ.
ing a sisters love ho, the so often protector
Of her girlish timidity; tho recipient, from
boyhood, Of q fathers guiding care, from
her noble sire, had brought tho tears tc
those bonny, winsomc blue eyes, by his un'
manly harshne,s. Very humbly ho spoke
q, length, bending over her in the starlight
"Jessie, loved one, meant II not. You
are pure--you are true-you never wrongcd
me in thought or deed. I was less thar
man to reproach you. Forgive me, only say
that you forgive me, and l will 60 forth from
your presence to come back no more, until
too can calmly speak and hear tho words
"my sister and my brother ~ ...-
The tears which had gathered in Jessie
Falconcr's blue eyes, fell unhecded, glitter
ing like pearls on the stone floor at her feet
Even to her It was very sad, this parting
with tho companion Of SO many years: ant
vet she realized that Il was best for both
90 she only said, timidly, "will you have
the glove, brother Paul !"
4 "Nsy, carissima, not until have won IL
1 I will como back when I am stronger, ant
play another game Of chess for tho tin,
gage. You will keep it till then, for m!
sake. Jessie, I thought to part calmly, bu
I cannot. I have loved you SO. God bless
you, God in Heaven bless you, my love
Jessie p lie claspod her in one passionate
embrace. The first II was ; he felt 1t mus
be the last. He kissed lips, cheek, and brow
and the lids dropping over her winsone eyes
and then putting her hurriedly from him
he strobe away to his own apartment. l
was long ere those two met again. --r
Going within. Jessie Fslconer ielt he
hand tremble in tho eager clasp OF Philil
: Leslie. 'Paul Ernstein has asked your low
I know, Jessie, darling" he said, with
tone Of assured and permitted fonduess
"and my heart tells me, no asked in vain
D IL Ia time \ told xon IN woYda what YOU