Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-11-26
An 1nteresting Gale.
TWICE LOVING.
BY VIRGINIA F. TOWNSEND.

Fleming had already lived through the Olive
Age.-HypcriOn-
"Wilton don't you ever intend to get
married! l declare, I'm quite in despair
about you. Here you are, thirty six years
old next February, and confirmed old
bachelor! Why you ought 10 have wife,
and two or three fine second editions by
this time. just think of all the trouble
I've had about you, too Rides in the
country, and promenades in the city; Wis
its at home, aud parties abroad, all to no
purpose. 1t provokes me to think of it
Once for all, Wilton Hughes, do you in
tend to live and die an old bachelor? And
the lady, still young and blooming, pu,
down with an air of desperation, the jew.
ei-case with which her fingers had beer
playing, and confronted the gentleman,
who sat opposite her.
He, too, laid down his paper, but with
an air of languid sang .froid, which was
particularly irritating, for dinner was just
over, and, Wilton Hughes always devoted
the next half hour to politics and bank
stocks.
"Really, Sara" he replied. and his cool
ness was in strange contrast with his sis
ter's vehemence, 81 cannot answer you, for
whether shall depart from this life in a
state of single or double blessedness, is still
an indefinite matter to myself You shall
be apprised of my decision, when l make
it. Meanwhile, my dear sister, recor-
mend that YOU give yourself no further un-
easiness on the subject"
"You are the most provoking being alive,
Wilton" CALCULATED the offended lady, as
she rose up. 'I believe you are as heart
less as you are sarcastic, and / shall never
put another woman in danger of breaking
her heart for you." And the rustic of Mrs.
Hills brown silk was an emphatic proper
ton of her anger as she swept indignantly
from the apartment.
Wilton Hughes leaned back in his chair,
and half closed his eyes. Now he sits
there all alone, his face brought into fine
relief by the dark velvet cushioning, we
will look at it; for his countenance is some
thing more than "a book with date"
1t is not handsome face; and yet it
will win upon YOU strangely. The features
are too long and thin for masculine beauty
the forehead is broad and high, with thick
masses of hair about it; the lips are thin,
and in repose stern and grave; but you
should see them when they are in the light
of one of has smiles.
"Thirty-six next Februaryr' his sister
said. You would never believe he was
more than twenty-eight, looking into his
face.
But as the man sits, there, his thoughts
wander off on long journey. II may be
his sisters words-it may be the dim quiet
of the room-have started them on a path
which reaches away over the grave yards
of many dead and buried years, to fan
country-the land of his youth.
1t is an old red farm house that he sees
now; the sloping roof is covered with moss,
and in the spring the weeds take root
among the caves, and make long green
fringe on the edge of the house. He has
not seen the old home since that night
shen be learned--look how the cold
proud mans mouth quivers, ard bis fingers
clutch the paper, for that night has come
out TO meet him. 1t was "laid away and
locked up" he thought, where it would
never ma apath into the present; but
now; as some old friend-over whose death
We have wept and prayed-comes back
and takes our hand, and the seat bv on,
side, and looks into our ewes with the old old
smile, and whispers, at was all false, !
was not deadl" So this night came bocl
like living presence, and took its seat b1
Wilton Hughes.
He saw her again, the only woman wht
had ever troubled the deeps of his soul, a
he saw her then, with her shining goldel
hair, and her hazel eyes as sweet pictur
as ever the heart of man framed and hous
ed up the past. They had just returne'
from long ride in the country, and the,
stood by the gate, He had assisted he
to alight, and he still retained her littl
fingers in his own.
A young moon was mounting over th
forest, and the light lay soft and sad in tn
bellows, and along the road side.
He was only nineteen then, and it wa