True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-08-05
THE RAIN IN THE AFTERNooN.
BY VIRGINIA F. TOWNSEND.


"Ah, we'll for us all some sweet hope lies
Deeply buried from human eyes, I-' t.-
And in the hereafter angels may .,E
Roll the stone from its grave away"
How the wind blows and the rain beats,
and the clouds of dull dark blue grey,
fold themselves low and heavy over the
skies. | do not usually love rain, at least
not those long, heavy, hopeless Novem-
Der rains tfat weave themselves up into
the shrOud of December. But this after.
noon the rain chimes in strangely with
my tone and feelings. seeming to say out
side, 1.-The beauty is all gone !" And
something away down in my heart seems
to echo nOurnfully, "The beauty is all
gonen'
What ails me, i wonder! And why
do the tears come, crowding heavily over
my eyelashes ! 1 ought 10 be very thank
ful and very happy too. Have not one
of the most elegant houses on Chestnut
Street, filed with every luxury which
wealth can purchase, furnished with all
that exquisite taste which my sensuous,
,aslbeiic temperament so luxurates in. a.
Sitting here in this little alcove, / look
up the vistas Of my long, magnificent par
lors. Soft velvet carpets make the sum-
,mers Of tropical cimes on their floors,
delicate lace curtains roll ont like folds Of
silver clouds from gilded cornices, the
walls are flushed with paintings that
have kindled the eyes of many an
artist, graceful statues, occupy the inches,
filling the spirit with old poetic visions
ofGrecian mythology ard yet l, Alice
James, with all this beauty and luxury
about me, the wife of proud, induIgent
husband, The mother of two fair, sweet
children, am not this afternoon happy
woman.
My thoughts are going off into the
past, and | am 80 glad the rain will save
line from any visitors this afternoon, that
from now until nightfall can talk to my.
self | b.. '. ..'. ".. '.
1t was such strange coincidence that
I'VE should have met together yesterday
afternoon in the old museum. It was
such a beautiful day, fragrant, tender,
loving, The last of the Indian summer,
and II woke up in my heart its old loving
for the woods and the birds. | always
had such passion for these latter. won.
der il he thought Of il too and if it was
not some half unacknowledged memory
of this kind which drew him there also.
4 love to 60 through that long gallery
with its cases of stuffed birds, and fancy
mysslfin tropical forest, with golden
orioles, and crimson. breasted birds Of
Paradise flashing all about me. The old
heart of my childhood comes back, and /
quite forget myself. ! did yesterday, and
called out to my little girl who enjoys
the birds almost as much as her mamma,
.'Isn'l it enchanting, Rena, my darling p
.a"Mamma, the gentleman behind is
looking straight at you." she whispered,
pressing her fair, little face against my
side. ! turned round and confronted him
Leonard Stone. For seven Yeas we had
not looked in each others faces. , 81.
3 He was corteous and self-possessed
so was l., believe, but his hand uembl'
ed asit touched mine, and there was
something Of curiosity and sadness in the
eyes that searched with their old earnest
gaze my face, the face that he said yes
terday was SO little changed. that he sale
seven years ago was the fairest among
women. s soa am Ypsag@. ir "a
He talked little on ordinary subject.
in an ordinary tone :aof the weather, tht
birds, &c. Then he said, "'rhis is your
little daughter, ! conclude, Mrs. james
She is very like you. Won't you come
and kiss me. darling ~ '.1l @
And Rena went to him at once, my
sweet child and put up her little arms
around his neck, and said, T like you
with that pretty grace Of hers at once 81
child like and so charming.
He dropped his proud head down Il
her face, his chestnut curls mingled with
her golden locks, but his lip quivered al
he kissed her. Oh, how the sight strucl
through my heart!os' . san Il 40
Just then, however. q party Of my ae
quaintsnces came along and in q mo
ment Leonard left. invited him to cal
on us, Int he said he had only been il
ahe city few hours, and he had given al
his leasure moments to the museum. H
must leave that night. So we parted
who expected to be through life togeth
or. st&a9 lta eE3 %4 4 .A N
How noble he looked--what an air 0
strength, Te6nemen, and manliness ther
is about him, and hewas once poor farr
boyl He is thoroughly self.made mar
the only true men sometimes think,
! see the old, yellow brown house now
with the moss growing thick along tn
damp ewes, where my life rounded inl
iis womanhood. ,as
My uncle Timothy Leeds was an ol
bachelor. Twas the daughter Of his onl
sister, and after my father died, and hi
young girl wife followed him, he took m
to The old homestead, and it was not ri
fault il the loss Of both parents was N
81