The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1856-01-24


the room as you did; but necessity knows not
the law OF consentionalisms. and must hur-
~ of without taking leave OF ny hostess and
her daughters Here are our hats; lucky
we've found themt"
| stood in one corner with tie light in my
hand. so the gentlemen did not observe me;
and | was internally eongratulatIng myself
on this. when the younger Of the men. who
had previously spoken, turned again, saying,
WAIT moment; ! put my cane IN thls cor
ner, and had well-nigh forgotten l. Madaml"
He paused suddenly for he had discovered
NE.
lifted my eves and the light fell full on
his features, and we stood there lace TO face
One glance-yet another, intense, breathless,
into those brown deep eyes, that were fastened
eagerly, wonderingly on mine--and then l
knew him Time had moulded the cantour
CT The pale boy face into early manhood, and
softened and deepened the light Of those won
derous eyes; but l knew they were Harry
Nillard's.
.'Alce..'
Harry
The words came involuntary to the lips of
both: and then, with that voice. the memories
of other DAYS rushed darkly over nv heart,
and the tears | could no. restrain brimmed
over M eyes. He made sign TO Mr.. Lee,
who stood staring from one 10 another. 10
leave Us, saying, Il viii join you soon" And
then lie came close to ne. and putting away
the curls from my forehead just as he had
done in olden time. he said alice, my sweet
chid-ansel, what has brought you here? Look
up, darling and tell me-"
But did not look up, and could not have
seen him if l had, for my binding tears; but
| laid my head on his arm while he drew the
i I al IL 4
home IS gone and Aunt Mary is dead, and
! am here alone, frisndless, and very wretch
ed.''
''But friendless no longer Alice he an
swered, in his deep, thrilling tones. did you
.hink could forget you-yoa whose memory
has dwell as constant in my heart as tie dark
brown curl you gave me has risen aud fallen
with its every puisation since? Hank. they
have discovered my absence, a'.d mus leave
YOU Alice say nothing to any one OF this
meeting; Will come to YOU again. When
shall You be alone?"
Tomorrow evening" | said, recolectiug
that my aunt aud cousins wer engaged at
that time after then shall be alone"
Farewell till then
He bent down his lips TO my forehead and
the next moment l was aiore-alone, but no
longer wretched
hush in the stately parlors and a single lamp
poured forth It's soft dim light over the mas
sive furniture and among the gorgeous flow
ers Of the carpet, as stole softly into them.
and awaited with heart thrcbs that almost
alarmed me, the coming of Harry Willard.
l did not keep a long watch that night. In
a lille while We were seated together il one
of the dim alcoyes OF the great room; my
hand was lying in his, and l was telling him
The story OF The years since We parted Il
was a mournful history. and the tears often
choked H. ana sobs closed many para graph.
At last I concluded II with the relation of the
previous nights sufferings. OF tie unkind
words my cousin lad spoken. and my won
dering If even the great orator, whose name
did not know would not have feita naomenta-
ry pang for my sorrows,
There was a long silence after I had said
this, but at last Harry broke it. 'AHce," he
said and there was look IN the eyes that he
bent on me that -ht the lids over mine
..vhiIs tie world has been dealing thus lard
ly with you. it has been very kind to me, at.er
A year or two Of hard struEyln-, which It
matters no, now to talk of. Alice. have you
forgotten the words that / said to you under
tie Old pear tree the morning that We parted?
, ! 1--we you better thau any one IN the world
And he heart Of the man echoes tonight the
words Of The boy Alice. nv beautiful, loved
with true change3sss love. my frst. and my
las, during al Tie long years Of our sePars
laa, viii you take tlis love. viii YOU be my
4ys4"
| could a3t make fin1 answer for ny tears;
3ut | laid both my han Is in his, md he was
. satisfied.
They have sent fog you 10 come down to
ae parlor Mss, in gFert hurry, sid SCR
f;.at. putting her head into ny room The mex.
a9rn.n-, while l sa: there dreaming of liar
".
Wondering greatly wha. ny aunt and cous-
ius could anG descended . tie parlor but
heard nv aun. say. as Iea.ered, / aTn cen
iient. Dir. willard you viii -, find this per-
z.a the one Of whom vou are in quest; ani
sc m.s.ai.e j your Information will probably
be owing % ti4eir similarly al paules.
My aQu. a.. Lcy daughters, AT. Lee, and
Harry were a.. there. As soon as tie later
.aw me, ha rose, took ny hand and, leading
=. up 70 them. said. '.Perrnis ne, madam,
nj Young ladies, TO present IL You s.ce
Aesnsa, ny aiianced bTide.''
Never Shall | forgot tie look of ingled
urprise and CONSERVATION which settled over
" aunt's and c5l- 5 features as Ley heard
AIS declaration.
Why didn't yoa II u, ALcs2 Why
liin't YOU tell us?" they simultaneously ejac-
Hated. and then light began gradually to
avn On my mind. looked at Harry, and
te misciievous light that filed his eyes cor
3borated nv suspicious. Ec was the "dis-
inguished orator" in whose honor nv cous-
as' sosree hai been given. O, l shed proud
i'd happy tears before them all when knew
Mr naughty rela.ives never recovered from
e nlortiEcation which Harry's revelation
hat ba -