The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-04-22

winter, aud it was the middle of the fol
lowing summer, when one day he said
me:
Margaret, I think you might obtai
situation as teacher in primary schoo
here or elsewhere. 1 must leave yor
tomorrow, and nothing would give m,
SO much pleasure as to see you freec
from this degrading servitude before
depart"
"Leave mel" excla aimed, springins
towards him, and taking both his strong
hands in my trembling ones. "Leave
me for what ?"
Business, Margaret Did you think
could always stay with you?"
Alas, yes He had come to me SC
unexpectedly, our intimacy had progress
ed with so much rapidity and smoothness
save for the coarse jokes and insinua.
tions of those who could not compre.
hend how pure that intimacy was. 1
had wrapped myself up ia such fullness
of content, that L had not dreamed of
change or separation. dropped his
hands and moved away uneasily. At
any other time, his belief that I had
power to rise above my condition of alb
ject seryitude, to position pleasanter
and more independent. would have over.
joyed me. But I had no thought of
that now. Leonard was going away
All the glory Of existence seemed dash
ed out at single stroke. He had Bey-
er spoken to me of marriage, never fol-
lowed up his professions of affection by
any expressed wish or plan for the fu.
ture, and when he spoke so calmly and
decidedly of going, felt that he had
wronged me, wronged my womanly con-
idence, stabbed my vomanly PRIDE
Was it indeed matter of as little con-
sequence to him as lie appeared to think
it was to me9 Had I been SO bitterly
mistaken in my fancied power?
All these thoughts came to me, but I
did not speak them, only stood with
drooped head and folded arms, a torrent
of fierce anger and intense sorrow pour
ing over nay heart, and crimson flashes
of modification swcering across mE.
face
" VIII you care, do you think ?' lie
Inquired, a moment aftcrward.
I lifted up my head haughtily. He
should be the last witness to my emo
tion, if I did. lie should see how indif.
fercnt [ could be, while he remained,
and after that-I dared not look fur
ther
"No! Why should I ?'' I answered,
lightly, and l knew by that mocking sur
prise in my eyes, and the forced smile
on my lip, gave assent to the false
hood
"I do not know - he said, fastening
his earnest eyes upon mine. and saw
the quick fire come and go on his proud
face, as he added: but am very sor-
ry. I have been preposterous enough
to hope that you would be lonely
that you would let me come back some
time, never to leave you again. But
promise me one lesser consolation, since
that one is denied me. Promise me to
leave this life to which you are SO lily
adapted, for the less menial."
"I promise. Your pupil shall do
you credit yet, Mr.. Sherburne, for graf
itude's sake, if nothing more"
1t was all had power to utter, a.
though my heart ached to unsay that lie
my lips had spoken.
"Thank you! Did I not known,
Margaret, how frank and truthful you
have always been with me, aud how un-
,ltcrable your decisions generally are,
might still hope that the words which
have dropped such black night sudden
" at my feet. were not the faithful ex-
positors of your feelings. But for
give me, if am paiuing yOn. I have
been strangely sclf-deceived. lam sure
Of your friendship, at least. Good by"
He had advanced towards the door
as he spoke, and stood now with one
fnger on the latch.
1 held out my hands pleadingly, took
a step forward, faltered, and then cried
in an eager, choaked voice: Leonard
Mr., Sherburnc wait one moment.
Let me take back what I told you. II
10 care very much indeed ~
He came back quite close to me, 50
close that I could hear the strong, rap
id beating of his heart. Taking my
head between both his hands, &e drew it
'c his shoalder, stroking back the curls
from my forehead with the tenderness of
a mother and kissing me over and over
again. But he only said : g. May God
bless you, my beautiful Margaret !"
We had been berrying all the day
Mary Jarvis and l. Tired, heated and
dusty, we threw ourselves down in the
border of thin woodlot there to rest,
previous to returning home. Our bas-
kcts, hcaped high with the crimson of
the delicious raspberries, and covered
over with wet leaves, stood in the shade
beside US; and on some bushes we had
hung up our brown sun bonnets.
[ had been thinking of Leonard the