True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-08-05

me az | answered. "Very well Be it
so then Leonard - =. i.
He turned and walked with his slow,
firm tread into the hail., stopping only
once to say "good night to aunt and me,
Then when | saw his white face, | be-
lieve | should have called him back if it
had not been for my aunt's presence, -
But he went out, and returned no more.
Well, was the gayest of the company
who welcomed the fair.haired English
girl TO our shores that night. They told
me aiterward that my laugh broke out
the merriest, and my song rang forth the
loudest. But oh, if they could ba'e
looked down into my heart--if they could
have looked there. ''.' '>.
The next day Leonard left the city.
His pride and his will, those great de.
fects of his noble nature. prevented his
making any overiures towards recon-
cilialion. We were both 10 blame, with
the blame of rashness and misapprehen-
sion and youth. tits the fault Of such
strong natures that they defy control.
It's woman's duty TO submit, and here
I failed. Ipray God ''iorgive us both"
l was i'll all that auiumn-oh. the sickness
of The heart is very hard to bear -,"
Mr.. James continued 10 visit at oul
house. My aunt encouraged him in do
ing this-indeed learned alterward she
had told him that the engagement was q
mere childish affair, entered into thought
lessly on my part, and one which me
f with no approval from my friends.
could not help seeing his many good
qualities of character. lie was much at
tached 10 me. and he was a man of whose
. personal appearance any woman nigh
be proud. .. ... a...
Well, there is no use talking Of thu
e coultship. In the next spring we wer
@ married. Oh, how the words Of tha
song of Alice Carries, which l used t
/ read under the apple trees at home, hav
been futtering all day like sweet mourn
ful echoes up and down my soul
, But WI en- my cheek beneath his lip
Blushed not, nor turned aside,
thought how once lighter kiss
Had left it crimson dyed"
He is kind husband, and very proud
: of the wife to whom he never spoke ;
! ! cross word, and of the two fair childrel
!, she had brought him: and there is III
: luxury, no happines which his wealth Cal
= procure, that is not ours.
But he is not tender, demonstrate
! man-there is not single golden threa'
of romance in his being. He does no
!, dream how my woman's nature thirst
,, , and pants for the deep waters Of love
J aches for the sweet balm Of sympath,
u and yet he gives me all ne has-wh!
. should ask more? ~.s.,.. ..-t.
Last week when he brought me HON
that beautiful gold watch for a birth.da.
present, my heart sprang out to him yer
eagerly and looking up through my tears
q | said, "Oh Howard you do love m
n don't you! Put your arms round me MOI
u ! and say so." 4..Hs .
q He smiled very much as one would d
" a! the vagaries of little child. &C
course love you, dear. But l thin
. you're growing very nervous aren't yot
! Alice You must ride out to-day, an,
y I'll call at the Doctors and see if he hssn
something for general debilily-.,ha.'s sur
10 bring on low spirits"
: Seven years since Leonard and pal
: ted. Our meeting at the museum ha
% opened a gate which | have long keI
! locked, and have gone down this wilc
November afternoon into the romano
!. Of my youth. Leonard is married now
" They say his wife is young, gentle
7, girlish creature, who makes bright th
home to which he has tai en- her. y p
!, But know his heart by my own, an
that is an instrument half broken.
W would have been better if we had n,
e. met yesterday, for the key has turGe
'e in the rusty lock, the door in my hea
It has opened again. and have gone I'M
70 tha, solitary room which ! had no rig
10 enter I the wife OF Howard Jones
at Does the rain thicken, or is it the tea
!" in my eyes that blur the window panes
is Oh, it is a terrible thing for woman
take upon herself the VOWS Of wifehot
or without her heart seals them--a territ
ur thing for her TO carry all through the da
10 Of her life the loneliness and hearI.ach,
10 Oh, Leonard! Leonard ifI could on
lay my head on your shoulder and we
it one hour! Hark how sweetly th
ID sounded! Rena and Harry are havil
a. high frolic up in the nursery, and the
~ outbreaks Of merry laughter langle ther
| selves up together and roll down the StaiI
on and stir up my heart as the birds son
IA, never did in the days it may be sin
ne dwell on. My precious children VIII
!" a JOY and a comfort they are 10 me !
10. There again those ringing shouts. Ho
/ happy the darlings are ,a,g
'ut And God speaks to my heart throul
on them, and grow stronger again. Oh.
1. shall not be alone with them 10 walk
h. me through life Twill do my Duty
,r- "Aa thy day is, so shall thy strength be
The cloud is lifting up from my sol
Iot Not here but hereafter shall we see cea
iss ", and taking mp the broken .hfeads
nd my life, ! viii weave them into wh
in brightness ] may. sqa