Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1855-05-10

had discovered me.
lifted my syes.und the light fell full
on his features and we stood there face
TO face. One glance-yet another. intnse
breathless, into those brown. deep eyes
that were fnste ned eagerly. wondering on
mine--and then | knew him. Time had
moulded the contour oil the pale boy face
into that Of early manhood. and softsned
and deepened the light OF those Wondrous
eyes, but knew they were Harry Will
lard's.
"Alicei"
"Harry!'
The word; came involuntnsiiy 10 the
lips Of both; and then. with that voice
the memories Of other DAYS rushed darkly
restrain brimmed over my eyes.
He made sign TO Mr. Lee, who stood
staring from one 10 another, 10 leave US,
saying. II will join you soon." And then
he came close to me. and putting away
The curls from my forehead just as he had
done in the olden time. he said
Alice my sweet childongel, what
has brought you here? And what has
taken The smile out of those blue eyes,
and brought this sadness over the face.
the dear face, that has always haunted
my dreams? Look up, darling, and .ell
me-"
Blu, did not look up. md could not
have seen him If had, for my binding
tears, blu, laid my head on his arm,
while he drew the other around me. and
| said
Harry, our old home is gone. and
Aun. Mary is dead, and I am here all
alone, friendless. and very wretched''
But friendless no longer, Alice" he
answered. in his deep, thrilling tones
did you think could forge. you--you,
whose memory has dwelt as constant in
my heart as the dark brown curl you gave
me has risen and fallen with its every
pulsation since? Hark! they have DIS
covered my absence. and must leave you
Alice. say nothing TO any one OF this
meeting: will come to you again
When shall you be a1one?"
ITO morrow evening"" | said. recol.
lecting that my aunt and cousins we're
engaged at that time; After eight shall
be alone"
Farewell ill then" lie bent down
his lips 10 my forehead, and the next mo-
ment | was alone=-alone, but no long.
er wretcheo.
Ii was evening again; there was deep
hush in the stately pnrlors. and q lamp
poured its soft. dim Ugh, over nc massive
furniture and among the gorgeous flow
ers of the carpet, as stole softly in:o
them, and awaited, with heart throbs tina,
almost alarmed me. the comeing of Har-
ny Willard.
did not keep long watch that night.
In little while, we were seated together
10 one of the dim nlcoves Of the great
room, my hand was lying in his, and |
was telling him the story of the years
since we parted.
II was mournful history. and the tears
often choked il. and sobs closed many q
paragraph. AT lns, concluded it with
the relation Of the previous nights suffer
ings. Of The unkind words my cousin had
spoken, and of my wondering if even
the great orater. whose name | did not
know. would not have felt momentary
pang for my sorrows, There was q long
silence after had said this, hu, at last
Harry broke il.
Alice" he said there was q look in
the eyes he bent on me rtbt brought the
lids over mine. while the world has been
dealing thus hardly with you, il has been
very kind to me. after year or two oil
hard struggling. which i, matters not now
TO talk of. Have you Forgotten the words
that said to you under the pear-tree.
the morning that we parted? i love you
better than any other in the world
And The heart of man echoes 10 night The
words of The boy. Alice, my beautiful,
loved with true, changeless love--my
first and my last--during oil the long
years of our separation. will you take
tins love--will you be my ,rJe?'
Iconld not make him answer FOR my
Tears; but ! laid both my HANDS IN his,
and he was satisfied.
They have sent for you 10 come down
to ,be parIor. Miss in great hurry" SAID
servant, putting her head into my room,
the next morning while sat there dream.
ing Of Harry.
Wondering greatly what my aunt and
cousins could want, descended TO the par
los; bat heard my aual say, as / enter
ed
81 am confident. Mr.. Willard, you
will no, find this person the one of whom
you are in quest. and the mistake in
your information will probably be owing
to their similarity of Names"
My aun. and her daughters. Mr.. Lee
and Harry. were oil there. As soon as
the latter saw me. he rose. took my hand,
and. leading me up to these. said
Permit me. madam, and young ladies,
to present 10 you Alice Mernin, my affi-
anced bride?'
Never shall forget the look Of mingled
surprise aud CONSERVATION which settled
over my aun,'s and Cousins features, as
they heard this declaration.
"Why didn't you tell US. Alice? Why
didn', you tell us2' they simultaneously
ejaculated; and then lighs began grad q.
ally to dawn on my mind. | looked at
Harry and the .nischievous light that fill
cd his eyes cor'oborated my suspicions.-
He was the distinguished orator" In