Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-11-26


as full of snow as they are now, of moon
light. May God take care of my darling
and oh! !! you will be true to Inc, my Mary
She looked up to him, her dear eye
shining fondly through her tears. evil
ton,"-how the memory of her voice thrill
ed his heart still,-.Wilton, you may trus
me p and it was not the words so much a
the look, which filled his soul with sucl
trust, that if an angel had spoken from
Heaven, he would have believed no NOR
fully. He remembered the last kiss, ane
that his eyes were dim as he sprang int
the carriage. 1t was the last time he eve
saw Mary, or the red house with the weedl
growing on its edge.
He had never blamed her-not ever
when the blind darkness of the great sor
row settled upon the morning of his life
when be leared that she was another's ant
his heart grew dead within him.
He knew she was true, and that was /:
great blessing; her friends had deceived
her, and she had gone to the alter, believ
ing that Wilton was false to her.
Mary's family was poor and proud one
so was Wilton's.
When the rich man came and laid bis
wealth and social elevation al the feet Of
the country girl, her parents looked off on
the little yellow cottage, which was Viii.
toms home, and said, "Our child shall be
the wife of the rich man!' But Mary was
true; God lless her! and there was long
web of deceit and falsehood woven about
her heart, before she yielded to their en-.
treaties. He learned it all too late!
And then Wilton Hughes went out in
to the world, and did good battle with it.
He educated himself; he elevated his fami-
ly; and at thirty-five he was a rich man.
He had but two sisters, and when his
parents died they came 10 the city, and
married rich men. Proud, fashionable /;
elegant women they were, admiring their
brother, because the world did so, and yet
dreaming little of the spring of poetry,
whose clear waters gushed through and
kept green the heart so hidden from them.
They called him odd, notional, fastidi-
GUS, and could not understand why he was
so Indifferent to women, with whom his
graceful, half indolent manners made him
an especial fovorite.
Wilton Hughes lived with his sister,
Mrs. Hills. She was the younger, and
perhaps he loved her the better, of the two.
But there was no sympathy between them.
He was a mystery, and very provoking
one, sometimes, to her, and she was 10 him
like book which one admires for the
elaborate binding and gilded edges, but
knows there is little inside. after all.
And SO Wilton Hughes sat there alone,
in his sisters drawing room, that winter
afternoon, and the old years came up soft
ly, and sang sweet song to him, song
of youth, and love, and hope, and he found
after all, that the past still kept some
pearls with which to dover the present.
1t was quite late when he came back
again to the paper and arm chair, and he
smiled a sweet, half mouruful smile to
himself, as he looked at his watch, and
murmured.
"What time stealer these reveries are
guess I'll finish up those letters, and not
go out till after supper"
1t was raw winter night. Wilton
Hughes stepped back for his umbrella, for
he knew, as the wind met his face, it was
"getring ready to snow"
When he returned he found Young
girl trying to close the door, in the teeth Of
the wind, and looking ruefully out into the
thick darkness. She was slender, and had
pale delicate features; that was all he could
make out by the gas-light opposite, but
her youth and timidity appealed to his
heart at once. Besides, it was not night
on which young and unprotected girl
should be out alone.
'Mrs. Hills is not in this evening" he
said TO the girl, supposing she had come
there on some errand 10 his sister. Have
you seen the housekeeper? She should not
allow you to return alone"
81 have been sewing for Mrs. Hills to-
day, sir" answered the girl; and somehow,
her soft sweet voice thrilled the heart that
was yet quivering to the old memory tune.
at took me longer to finish the work than
l thought it would; but l had no idea it
was so dark" And she shuddered as she
looked down the street.
"Perhaps our paths lie in the same di
rection; it is not safe for you to 60 alone.
l am Mrs. Hills brother; will you allow
me to accompany you!" asked the gentle
man..
She turned, and looked earnestly at him
for moment. 1t was very fair almost
childish face that dwelt in that plain straw
bonnet.
"Yes, sir" answered the girl, eagerly,
Il shall be very grateful for your compa-
ny, for am sad coward"
They had proceeded but short distance
when the wind sprang up fercer and strong
er than ever, whirling up the yesterdays
snow, and shooting along the streets.
Willon's companion stopped suddenly,
and gasped, "Oh! l cannot go any far
ther. The wind takes away my breath
1t always does"
"Don't be afraid, my child. shall take
care of you. Hold your shawl before your
face, and keep fast TO me. There it's 60
ing down. We will proceed now."
"What should l have done if it had not
been for you! should never have reach
ed my home; never in the world" And
as the girl spoke, the gentleman heard the
tnrobblng of the little coward heard against
his arm.
You should never venture out alone
again on such a night" replied Wilton
have you no friend to come for you9
"No, Sir" she answered, mournfully