True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-11-25

"I have guessed it already, ELISE" |
said smiling half sadly, half archly, as |
pointed to the open book.
She started quickly and her cheeks
were incarnated with bushes. =
"I didn't know that was on the table.
I thought I carried it up stairs. How
very careless of mel"
{" Don't mind it now, dear. have
only learned the secret a little sooner than
otherwise should. Sit down here now
and tell me all about it,"
And Elise did. She drew a low stool
to her feet, and aver,ed her face, so that I
might not see The bushes that covered it,
she whispered how Wallace Treat had
won her heart.
"Next September, Matte, ! shall be
his wife. and you and Agnes shall be my
bridesmaids"
$50 soon, darling, and you love him
better than all the world beside.!"
She turned her head quickly, and her
eyes made me an answer before her lips
did. Better than all the world beside,
Matte I"
1t was soon noised about Moss Glen
that ELISE Hart was the bride elect of
Wallace Treat,
She was favorite throughout the viii
lage, and Wallace, notwithstanding his
pride and reserve, won our hearts with
that wondrous smile Of his. so there were
blessings and prayers heaped on the bright
head of ELISE Hart.
During the next month | met her and
her betrothed several times, both at Eer
residence and my own.
Wallace's watchful tenderness, the love
that revealed itself in every word and ac
must have satisfied the heart of any wo
man, and it was not strange, | thought
Elise's life will be like. song-a Sum
mer song, to the end.
The last time / saw the two together
before-but you will know that soor
enough +!
Ii was at her mothers. and the Angus
day had been very bright, but towart
evening it had grown damp and chilly.
ELISE had one of those delicate organ
izations which are so sensitive to elemen
tai influences. She had a severe head
ache. There were no guests but mysel
and Wallace, she had laid her head o.
: his shoulder. I see it there now, for
is a picture, "bound up and laid away
in the silence of my heart. The golde
curls swinging round the pale, sweet face
the look of quiet faith and happiness, re;
ting on every lineament, even to th
, half closed eyelids, chained my gaze a
that evening. ! remember Wallace tol
, US that Doctor Russell was expecting
: niece of his, from New York, the ne1
1 day, and that she was considered quite
belle, and was coming up, he resumed,
] restore the roses she had lost in the gay
d cites of the last season.
"She will be lonely up here in th
e country" said ELISE, opening her sleep
r eyes. "We will call on her Matti
e when she comes"
s ~' The next Sabbath, when the Doctc
9 and bis family entered the church, Il
e country folk" stared Of course, with I
g little curiosity, at the city belle. 81
S was brunette. with large brilliant eye
o and thin, delicate features. did n
is think her handsome, and believe Il
9, secret of her atlractiveness lay rath
1t in her character Il had well nigh writl
a. her art,) than her face.
But there was a fascinating elegan
4. and refinement in her slightest movemer
and with my intense admiration for thes
" my eyes wandered. quite too often fro
st the minister 70 the city maiden.
III That week; ELISE and | called up
at her. We found her elegant, piquaI
8. accomplished, and a litlle,'a very lit
le patronizing.
BE Our intended call Of twenty minut
~ heightened into one of two hours. The
lie must have been something strangely fas
IS mating in the conversation Of Lal
he Mead.
A few days subsequent to this call,
I'd lise PISSED the evening at our house.
g Wallace had engaged to meet her tn,
in the evening. Night came, and
nd usually so puuctual, was not there with
ny ELISE laughed off his non.appearan
ge but could see her spirits were restl'
] and troubled.
es AT last he presented himself, but it '
a wearing towards nine o'clock.
ELISE met him with an eager, CIV
lin lace, what kept you? We feared sor
lily thing had happened to you"
lly "No. dearest" and / can rememt
On his laugh had little embarrassment II
"The truth is, Miss Mead was very al
ious to see the sunset from Craig Il
RT. and l accompanied her there. We wa
lite ed rather slow, suppose, for she
IN chatting all the way, and when ! reac
ad the Doctors, I discovered, to my reg
wn that it was after eight. Won't you
ise give me this time ELISE ~
He said il with one of his smi
ar smoothing down her curls, and she
ers swered him with one Of hers, briI
ave trustful con6ding. ta
to Aunt Harriet, you don't mean to
le me Mr.. Treat is really engaged to n
q" Hart, that pretty little golden haired