Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-03-22
EVENING STAR.
T II E STAR WINDO
X II Z OLD MANS DARLIN6
CONTINUED.
CHAPTER III.


When my young heart was all thine own,
And never dreamed Of sweeter lays,
Or dearer tone.
/ weep for all the girlish truth,
The faith and trust in all around,
Which, coming Wi b the love Of youth,
Were lost as soon as found.-W. w.
And this was the explanation Clyde was
to leave us; Clyde was to enter college in q
distant State; and Clyde loved me- These
three things my guardian told me on the next
morning, sitting before me and looking steadily
in my face all the time. Smiles and blushes
were all that rewarded his scrutiny-of the
| thoughts hidden deep in my heart, he had Nd
knowledge. Clyde had been growing dearer
to me every day; if TO be nearer and to be
happy, to be sad when he was away, to love
the sound of his voice, the smile upon his lip,
| the echo Of his step, the light within his eyes
| was to love him as he loved me- / did SO. /
| said as much to my guardian when he asked
| me. L did net wait to have him draw the
| confession piecemeal from my lips-I spoke
| the affection L avowed for the first time, nor
| afraid to show him the sacred secret of her
heart. He regarded me a moment with a
| powerful glance-took my two hands in hi.
| and held them firmly for moment; while
his lip trembled, and red flush, painful in
its sudden brilliancy, came upon his cheek
"Oh, child child, - he said, and then
| checked himself suddenly. He seemed much
moved-his emotion made me almost agitated,
| and half breathless with dumb kind Of sor-
| row that seemed in that moment out of place
| threw my arms around his neck and hid my
| face upon his breast. He bent over me-his
| hot breath famed my cheek, and L thought
| felt him kiss my hair, but this might have
| been fancy.
1 heard Clyde's step on the stairs, and
| strange to say, he seemed an intruder as he
drew near the room. My guardian drew my
L L
| apart from me.
You have another resting place now
was his only answer to my look Of sorrowfu
| inquiry. Then, as Clyde entered, he laid my
uni rssisting hand in his, and left us together
to speak of the future that had opened SC
| brightly for both Of US
The star window now became Clyde chosen
haunt as we'll es mine. By day his easel
stood near my table, and the crimson cur
tsins were hooped up to give him the best
| light, and at evening he shared my watch
| inSs and dresmiugs there. All but one sa-
cred hour-I could not admit him, even, t.
that. l am afraid, if l were to confess the
| whole truth, should say that L wearied a
| little Uf this continual companionship, and SO
was glad to claim this brief respite For
| Clyde, though gay companion for my lighter
hours, had L broached some extravagant
| schemes, or discussed some startling doc.
trine in his presence. The hersines of my fa
vorite novels had always confded every
thought and feeling to their lovers, and, as in
| duty bound, | followed their example. But !
| soon grew wiser-sOOn found that mine could
not, or would not, understand me, and kept
my own counsel within my heart, and was on
| the same footing with him as before
| We were still like brother and sister, though
| betrothed lovers. Clyde was affectionate--so
| was land a quiet kiss OF friendly embrace
was often exchanged between US, as we sat or
walked together. But in this affection was
| mingled little or no passion. He often came in
| silently when / was busy writing-leaned over
| my chair and kissed my cheek, but such ca
| resSes never thrilled me with pleasing and
powerful shudder, nor made my cheek turn
pale or red. doubt if, after our vows were
| once exchanged, we often dreamed much Of a
home and life together. There was no need.
| 1t was no new thin. to us, and think we
| only looked forward to the same quiet, happy
existence we had always known As for speak
| ing of marriage-we were much more like To
| play at " blind man buff, or "puss, puss in
| the corner" We were children, that was all,
| and our love was like our year. childish and
pure.
He was earth's happiest son, and her hapI lest
daughter
While fairy bells came tinkling o'er the water"
There was no change with US, but with an.
other very dear to both our hearts A shadow
hung over the home that had been so peace
ful-its spirit of unity and affection was se-
cretly, yet powerfully disturbed. My guar
dian had suddenly grown, not cold, but silent
and reserved. He never asked me to walk or
ride with him nOw-he rarely joined US of an
evening, III the music room, though when We
were both away, l would hear him playing
strange and beautiful melodies that would
make NY very heart ache. He seldom en-
tered the room where We were sitting, and
during our study hours, still spent in his IL
brary, he seemed to confne his attention to us
and our recitatiOns, with an effort. He was
often absent, and once L saw him ride by tae
house rapidly, mounted on his bay horse,
" Harold while by his side, a lady, young
and brilliant, with largo black eyes, and long
black ringlets, gallOped on a snow-white
pony. He looked up TO the easement where L
was standing with Clyde, doffed bis hat, and
bowed to the saddle-bow. / saw her eyes fol-
low his-she smiled, struck her horse a little
spiteful blow, and asked her companion some
laughing question az they dashed out of sight,
probably about US.
To this sudden and somewhat astonishing
vision, Clyde laughingly gave me the key, in
a very few words.
"Just as thought" he said: THAT lady
is Miss HarIand, of whom you have often
heard, and l suppose Aleck will marry her
before long So the gossips say"
Marryhe That naughty woman whose very
glance and smile made me dislike her SO In
that case my home must not be hers. l never
could bear to See her usurping my place in
my guardians heart, rs, doubtless, She would
do. NO-Clyde and L must take another home
as beautiful and pleasant as this, if, indeed,
such a thing could be.
L had this thought to occupy me during the
days that elapsed before his departure, and
clung to him, when the hour came, as IL were
losing my only friend. My guardian stood,
at frst, aloof, but when the carriage rolled
away he led me to my room, and was kind and
gentle with me, like the Aleck Of other days
CHAPTEN III.
-Those sad days are gone,
The evils cong red that met alone