True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-02-27

over her face. 1t droops forward still far
ther, the mobile mouth sofens nd quivers,
the thick lashes fill with kind of twilight
sadness-oh, there is name written, laid
away, and locked up in Miram's soul; it is
Lewis Cleaveland.
He was her drawing master last summer
and the only son of the minister in the
Presbyterian parish adjoining that Of
Meadow Brook. He was very poor and
glad of any opportunity whereby he could,
by his own labor, remove part of the bur-
den which weighed SO heavily on his father
that of defraying his expenses at college.
Lewis Cleaveland came twice every week
that summer, to the yellow house. He
was an artist, proud, talented, impulsive,
with tn in. pale, but unusally attractive
face, and that kind of social magnetism
about him, which always ensures a man
the favor of women.
You have guessed the rest, render. Few
persons could see the minister's son with
out being warmly interested in him, and
Miriam was child no longer. Mr.. Hew-
lit had made her woman, hut he had new
er fathomed the deep wells of her woman's
nature.
Lewis Cleaveland knew, as did every one
else, Of her betrothal to the wealthy wild
over. But he looked farther into her soul
than the husband elect had ever done, a nd
10 look there was to love Miriam Neale.-
The teacher was honorable and he never
told Minnie this, though often when he saw
that bright. graceful head bent over the
drawing, longing that he corld hardly
resist, would come over him, to fold it for
moment close to his heart.
His pupil was not used to concealing her
5 fealngs, and sometimcs when he laid his
: hand on hers, to define line or curve, he
D felt. the little fingers tremble.
/ And l doubt whether, plighted though
, she was to another, Lewis Cleaveland
could have resisted the voice of his heart,
but he had no home to offer Miriam.
She had not seen him since Septem.
D ber, for then the college term commenc'
! ed. How pale and strange he looked
D the afternoon that they parted. There i.
j a mist coming into her eyes-ah, Miriam
Miriam, it is not thus woman shoult
think Of another than her bridegroom OF
:, the last eve of her girlhood.
. Sadder, and sadder, grows the dropping
face. Her eyes wander over the dresses
d scattered around her. A little shive
d crawls slowly over her frame. IF ther,
!, were only some one TO whom | could lay
: bare my heart murmurs the poor brid'
t elect. Then she thinks of Elizabeth, tn,
+ dear, kind grateful sister, who has beer
to her in place of the mother that lies un
= der the snow ;. but an a(ierlhought mega
tives the sudden impulse 'Elizabell
would never understand it,
n AT last the corners of the old chambe
o begin to grow dim. 1t is the last nigh
t of The old year, and the shadows fall ear
d ly. She hears Elizabeth's step on tn
: stairs.
Goodness Miriam ! you've let III
: fire 60 almost out, is her preliminary ejac
!. ulation. IF you don't leave off your oil
: habits of sitting all alon e, and dreaming
X | don't know what Mr.. Hewitt will think
dear me- vigorously adjusting The hal
. burned sticks. Il hope Tom Jones won
forget the pine 10 trim the brides loaf. =
. Don't you want to go down and see il
# and not sit shivering there, Mrs. Hewitt
h of tomorrow EVENING"
e Miriam put off her sad face, and cam
is toward her sister. Let the cake 90 now
of Lizzie she said. 'Sit down here, ant
put your arms around me, for want i
e talk with you. 1t is the last time yov
t. will ever sit so, with Miriam Neale, yo
10 know
g The eldest sister was so(tened. Sh
u sat down on low stool, and drew he
10 arms around Miriam's neck. The fir
leaped up the chimney, and the two face
j so unlike in their whole tone and expires
~ sion, frightened in its glow.
of What Z. beautiful home you will have
DEAR commenced Elizabeth for her an
lg bition was much gratfed with this mai
re rage. 1T will be one of the handsome
it ou Fifth Avenue, all built Of stone wit
tn bay windows. and then the inside will
ne like palace, with it's crimson curtains
. and Partisan carpets, and you, lille si
:, ter, will be mistress Of it all 7
!. The girl smiled family. But Iwouldn
ar wonder ifmy heart should sometimes loo
off with great longing 10 this old ye
Ill low house. and The chamber where l.,
90 been 50 happy, Oh Lizzie, Ilme yc
3 ,goss asaa4 q tat iastor9 sA}a