The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-06-13

restrain brimmed over my eyes.
lie made sign to Lee, who stood
staring from one to the another, to leave
us, saying, | 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
"AIice, my sweet child angel, what has
brought you hcrel 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
dreamsi Look up darling, and tell me-"
But Gid not look up, and could not
have seen him if had, for my binding
tears; but l laid my head on his arm,
while he drew the other around me, and
said
Harry, our old home is gone, and
Aunt Mary is dead, and I am here all
alone, friendless, and very wretched."
But friendless no longer, Alice" he
answered in his deep, thrilling tone, "Did
you think | could forget you-you, whose
memory has dwealt as constant in my
heart as the dark brown curl you gave
me has risen and fallen with its every
pu'sation 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 alonel"
"Io-morrow evening"" | said, recollect-
ing that my aunt and Cousins were en-.
gagged at that time. AFTER eight | shall
be alone?"
Farewell till then" He bent down
his lips to my forehead, and the next
moment WAS alone-alone, but no long.
er wretchet. '---...
1t was evening again" AMI there was q
deep hush IN the stately psrlors, and
single lamp poured its soft, dim light over
the massive furniture and among the cor
gl' Us flowers Of the carpet, rs l stole soft
ly into them, and awaited, with heart
throbs that almost alarmed me, the COM
ing Of Harry Willard.
did not keep long watch that night
In little while, we were seated together
in one Of the dim alcoves ofthe great room:
my hand was lying on his, and was tel
ling him the story Of the years since We
parted.
1t was mournful history, and the tears
often checked it, and sobs closed MANY
paragraph. At last conclud, I'd it with
the relation Of the previous nights suffer
ings, OF the unkind words my cousins had
spoken, and Of my wondering if ever the
great orator, whose name did not know.
would not have Ielt a momentary panp
for my sorrows. There was a long silence
after | said this, but at last Harry broke
il.
Alice" said he, and there was a look
in the eyes he bent on me that brought
the lids over mine, "while the world has
been dealing thus hardly with you, it has
been very kind to me, after a year or two
of hard struggling, which it matters not
now 10 talk Of Alice, have you forgot;
ten the words that said TO you under
the old peartree the morning that we
partedl j love you better than any
other in the world And the heart Of
the man echoes, tonight the words of the
boy. Alice, my beautiful, loved with a
true' changcIess love-my first, and my
'ast-during all the long years Of our
separation, will you take this love-will
you be my wife?"
could not make him an answer for
my tears; but laid both my hands in
his, and he was satisfied
"They have sent for you to come down
to the parlor, Miss, in a great hurry"
said servant, putting her head into my
room the next morning, while sat there
dreaming Of Harry.
Wondering greatly what my aunt and
cousins could want, I descended to the
parIor; but heard my aunt say as en-
tered
Il am confident, Mr.. Willard you will
not find this person the one of whom YOU
are in quest, and the mistake in your in.
formation will probably DO owing to their
similarity Of Names"
Ny aunt and her daughters, Mr.. Lee
aud Harry were all there. As soon as
latter saw me, he rose, took my hand, and,
leading me up to these, said
Perm me, MADAM, and young ladies',
to present to you Alice Mernin, my afii-
anced bridei"
Never shall forget tbe look ofmingled
surprise and CONSERVATION which settled
over my aunfs and cousin2 feature, a.
they heard this declaration. /.