The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1857-04-16

cuss the state Of the weather and crops
or to talk poltics-and the good. wives
of the neighborhood held solemn con.
f clave there now and then in the early
dusk Of evening, while with handker
chief or apron over thier heads, they ex-
changed the news of the day, and speereo
after one another's family at home.
But on the evening of which we write,
no one fingered at the gate but two friends
whose home for many years had been in
the great house beyond i:-but whose
mutual home would now be there no lon
ger.
| 1t was well understood throughout the
village, that Stella Shirley was to depart
on the morrow for distant city. and with
indicative delicacy her old schoolmates
and companions had made their adieus
in the afternoon in order that she might
devote the last hours of her stay to her
cousin and acknowledged lover-Justin
Shirley.
They walked slowly up and down in
the moonlight. Stella was tall, erect and
agile with eyes and hair as black as night
las finely cut and chiseled, features, a
clear, glowing, brunette complexion, and
an air at once gay, careless and full of an
aiL-less dash and glitter that charmed
while it subdued. She was brave and
frank and generous-but she was also
proud and imperious and overbearing-
and the plague spot of ambition had eaten
deep into her heart.
Her cousin was slender, frail and
graceful as bending reed. Long curls
of jetty hair fell around cval cheeks both
pale and clear, and thick and curving
eyebrows of the same hue, made his large
dark gray eye look still darker. His
mouth was small and full-his smile mel
ancholly but very sweet. The delicate
and transparent hand-the blue veins
upon the sunken temples, and the slight
depression around the upper lip, all told
the same tale. His was nature too deli
cate and sensitive for this working day
world; his spirit could not linger long, but
would escape like the perfume of dying
flower, and SO go back to Him who gave
it.
Never was there stronger contrast
between two lovers. And when he spoke,
his voice was low, sweet and exquisitely
modulated, while in her frmer tones
might be heard a slight metallic ring,
like that which one hears in striking
perfect bell. The slight distinction alone
would have marked the difference be-
tween the two, to an observant spectator.
"And tomorrow evening, when I come
here" he sighed, 81 shall come alone.
You will then be in the city, Stella"
The dark eyes of the girl flashed as she
answered:
"Yes-and by the day after, Justin, I
shall be commencing my search after
fame. You may think of me. during the
rest of the week, hurry ing from one edi-
ton 8 office to another in state of perfect
bewilderment. shall not settle down for
some days to come. presume
''But Stella--I have often read and
heard that young authors meet with
many disappointments and discourage
ments. If the editors should refuse your
articles what should you do?''
He hoped and believed she would say:
81 would come home again to you,
Justin y
Then he saw her vince beneath his
warning words. But the next moment
she threw up her slender head with a
gesture of mute defiance, and said proud
ly:
II would burn them, and write more
till they would take them! I tell you,"
she added, growing flushed and excited,
81 tell you aoeU succeed. No one can
convince me that l am made for the
humdrum life your father and mother
have marked out for me.''
The boy colored painfully, but com
pressed his lips and was silent.
81 knowl ought not to call it so,'' she
said, more kindly, '"but am not good
and quiet, t,and | cannot help my thoughts.
| love you Justin--you and every one
knows that-but must have a larger
life before | settle down as your wife in
this little village. | must be famous 1
must earn reputation to lay at your
feet.'
"No. Stella, you will lay it on my
grave, but I shall never know it," Justin
exclaimed in bitter grief.
She turned away and leaned her head
on her folded arms upon the gate.
III was wrong" he said moment af
ter "but sickness and the grief Of this
parting has made a coward Of me. For
give me-do anything but look SO gloo.
my, Stella, and | will never speak so