The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-05-27

Elizabeth made no reply; but the
words reused many rebeilious feeling
for, though it is easy to make a sacri-
fee for tn sc we love. it is bitter, very
bitter, to have it unarpreciated. New
ertheless, size tied the strings of her
blue sun bouDet. and set out for school.
Their path was very lovely, leading for
the most part through the woods; which
were now all fragrant with the sweet
odors, and vocal with the music of mid
summer. In the overhangiug branches
squirrels were leaping and chattering,
and golden sunshine glimmering down
through the shade.
The sweet, soft hair which gently
touched her forehead, and the combiua
tion of fair sights and lulfing sounds
charmed away Elizabeth's angry feel
ings towards her step-mother; and also
the swift, sharp pang of jealousy with
which, for the first time 10 her life, she
regarded ber sister. They had not gone
far when they were overtaken and pass
ed by two strangers one gentleman
somewhat advanced in years, the other
a youth of eighteen or therea bout. with
an unusually erect and graceful gait who
turned toward them, in passing, fresh,
frank face, and pair of dark gray eyes.
Something in his aspect touched a hid
den spring in Lizzie's memory. 1t was
as if she had seen that face be-
fore, in some pleasant, long forgotten
dream. Again he turned and looked
back and then the truth flashed upon
her like sunshine. 1t was the same one
who, years before. had found her in the
woods She seemed to know him by an
intuiti+e perception, for surely she was
too young to have remembered him
Yet how little mad he changed those
wavy, chestnut locks, though darker,
were still the same; aud those clear,
truthful eyes, there could not be anoth-
er such pair in the wide world. How
she wished he would speak to her,
though of course he would not recog-
nize her he had doubtless forgotten
the circumstances long ago. Her eager
ness had carried her considerably in ad
vance of her sister, who was slowly
walking, twisting some boneysuckles in
to wreath as sic went. And when
the youth addressed his father, the cru
el morning wind waited every word dis
tiuc.ly to the quick ears of Eliza Deth
and every word Inflicted stab upon he +
heart.
Father" said he, did you observe
the perfect, the angelic loveliness of the
child we have just passed?'
No." was the answer, "rhy eyes are
neither as young nor as good as yours
you have u marve. .lous power of discern.
ing latent beauty; you have foNhd
something to admire in every old stump
and dry mullen stalk that we have pass
ed but more particularly in every ha.
man face divine"
No. father, keen as are my percep
tious, 1 should iail to discover any love
Iiness iu the face of that gipsy-lookipe
girl behind US, with her b q, ct drawn
tightly round her staring eyes. The
dazzling beauty of her little companion
seems still brighter by contrast. If
we're an artist, should worship the lit
tie fairy. One meets with few suct
faces in life time. Do look hack, faith
er, you can see from this distance the
gold folds of her hair. 1t was some.
where in this vicinity, you remember
that 1 rescued child from the darl
aud the musketoes, years ago. Posi-
bly, I may find her grown into such an
angel as that yonder."
Thus did the thoughtless boy chatter
on, little dreaming that his light words
were iuAictiug wounds, o how cruelty
deepl in sensitive little heart, that
had treasured his image for years will
the pure aud ineasureless gratitude o
childhood. As he passed on and disap
peared in turn Of the shaded road
what heavy, terrible pain was in tha
quivering heart
why was ever born ?'' she thought
since no one can ever care for me.
mother mother! if were only sleep
ing by your side Why did you no
take ME with you instead of leaving mt
in this cruel world, where none but tn
beautiful are beloved ?"
Her tempted soul was ready to ques
tion the justice of God il making he
sister SO beautiful, so beloved, so ten
derly cared for; while she, nobody car
ed for, nobody could look at her Will
pleasure.
By this time they had neared the
school. house. May had finished her hon
eysuckle wreath, and twisted it careless
ly amoung her curls; and now she paus
ed BY the clear, cold spring, to look a
her reflection in the water Lizzie stole
up like guilty creature, and looked
over her shoulder. There the two i'm
ages were defined, clear and perfect
May, in the perfection of her innocent
childish beauty, and Lizzie, sad and
dark, she thought, as the shadow thai
follows the sunshine. They entered the