St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-07-23

A mill May morning, fresh, and
pleasant, and bright the soft air full
of the songs of happy birds the wild
flowers fitting up their heads in the
sunshine and the green leaves rust
ling and waving in the woods, as if
they were whispering secrets to the
gentle wind that stirred them.
1t was lovely day--a day to be
happy in. And yet saddened look
was visible on the sweet face of Faith
Egerton, as she left the door of her
house, and went slowly down the
graveled walk that led to the road
gate.
Her home--the home of her husband
and children-was a pretty brown
stone cottage, overhung with vines,
and surrounded by beds of fragrant
flowers. Behind the house was a
level and beautiful grove, in whose
cool recesses she had often lain, as a
child, and watched the hickering light
and shade come down upon the ground.
For the earliest years of Faith, as well
as these later ones, had been spent in
this qu...ere i~...- Here she hs.aa died
here she had lived with dear and
only bro.her-here she had married
her first love, and seen his children
springing up around her, and here she
hoped to close her dying eyes, with all
the old familiar scenes smiling in
beauty around her.
She leaned upon the little gate, and
looked wistfully up the road. She
was waiting there for the coming of
her best and truest friend, and the
sound of wheels made her start, and
sent color into her pale cheek that
had long been stranger there. A
dusty stase-coach came whirling up
beside the gate--stopped long enough
for lady to a)ight and give some
orders respecting her luggage, and
dashed away again. The new conner
did not see Faith for a moment, so
screened vas she by the branches of
a wild rose that grew beside the gate.
She took off her travelling hat, ex-
posing a bioad high forehead, shaded
by silky masses of black hair, a face
wcll-featmd, but grave and stern, and
full Of thought, and deep, dark eyes,
whose glares We're kind, and whose
smile was beautiful.
How stringe contrast between
these two women. The one fair-haired
and softeyed, with meek and quiet
face, on whose features contentment
and homs happiness was most plainly
stamped; the other dark, and proud,
and selfsustained, with look that
said to the most careless observer,
Oh, have suffered!" To one, life
had beel fair summers day, with
only nov and then light and happy
cloud; b the other-ah, what to her,
but blak and stormy winter, where
everything she loved dropped, ,and shiv-
cred, anddied? And yet they were Of
the same age-the same station in
life-andside by side they had sat at
school, ald played at home, in the
childhood that lay behind them +!
The tArs sprang unbidden to the
eyes of Faith Egerton, as she saw the
steadiast look with which the young
girl REGARDED the scene around her
She lifted the latch of the gate, and
and steped out beside her.
Gertllde-Gertrude A!ewynne-
won't yo. speak to me!"
Fait, dear Faith, is it you?"
They we're olasped in each others
arms atpnce. Faith wept bitterly,
but Gertrude was pale and calm, and
smootheo the fair hair of her friend
with a crossing gesture, snch as one
might us, to soothe little child.
Come Faith" she said at last, as
if weary i her tears this is but a
sorry wdcome to give me after so
long a jelrney. You know l never
liked to se you cry"
But yM are so changed-so chang |
ed Gertrlae.n
Wei, and if am? 1t is six years
since we met, dear Faith, and they
have no, been marked with rose
leaves folme You must not expect
me to bequite the same at twenty
one as at fifteen. Life changes us all,
you know"
II know" answered Faith, sadly.
" But l never knew it so well till now"
Well, we will let that drop. And
now are YOU not going to ask me in
after my journey from London?"
Pray, fsrgive me-" said Faith,
blushing at her inattention. :" will
show you tp your chamber myself. 1t
has been rrady for you all this week"
They went up the yard together
Two fair-haired children ran out to the
door 10 meet them. The Youngest, a