Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-06-19

WOODS, and down the lanes; ana anotner |
summer will come again,-and another
and how many, many morel Oh, VIII
liam-can I wait so long?"
The tender earnestness of the speech
had nearly prevented his replying at all.
But he rallied himself with a strong ef-
fort and said to her.
My dear Ruth, can you not wait but
few years, when you know they viii
bring you so much more happiness in the
end? VIII you not suffer this separa-
ton for such length of time, if by the
means we shall both be the happier ?"
He watched her countenance, to see
what effect his words might have upon
her. She answered him only after much
difficulty, while the glistening tears swan
in her eyes =
My heart is strong. 1t will bear
much"
And at this point she broke forth in
convulsive sobs, that prevented her ut
tering another syllable.
William wound his arm gently about
her waist, and drawing her still nearer to
himself, kissed her pale forehead-hOaO
pale, and cold! 1t startled him.
He gazed again into her eyes, but said
not a word. Their eyes met once more.
"It is asking too muchr' exclaimed
he. "Rnth,-Ruth, l will not go! I
will stay! I will stay to make you al
ways happy"
Mono" replied Ruth, her resolu-
ton coming opportunely to her aid
Go;-go, and be what you have deter
mined to be. Do what your heart has
settled upon. Go, and be happy"
"And shall yOu be happy, too, Ruth p
"Too happy,-too happy, if 1 only
know that you succeed in all your wish.
es," replied the devoted girl.
| He pressed her to his heart again.
: that youthful heart beating so tumultu
ously
in five years." said he, as he rose II
, his feet and gazed sorrowfully about him
1t costs me trial, Ruth and it cost
you a sorer one but my hopes are brigh
! enough to throw light upon my path. !
would all be dark without them. And
= have your prayers, too"
"All of them,'' said she.
He pressed his lips to her forehea
again. Once more he took her by tn
!, hand, and pressed it in a silent farewell
He could not trust himself to words.
- He felt something thrust into his hant
- but dared not look to see what it was
His heart was too full.
~ Casting long and tender glance bacl
ward at the bride of his young heart, h
own eyes already filed with blindir
: tears,-William Brirton began in sileno
70 and sorrow his journey through Il
: world the same journey, on which
many sink down, faint, and weary, al
= worn, by the wayside; and SO mar
= more meet only disappointments enous
to make them wish from their hear
they had never started. Truly,-it mu
be a stout heart that presses through :
the trials, and finds victory to recol
pense it at the end.
:, Ruth gazed after him anxiously a
prayerfully, till the dense shadows !
ceived him to their embrace in the d
tance; and long after he had finally d
appeared, her eyes were fixed on the 81
where she last saw his departing form.
"a Then turning her head about aga
N she bent down beneath the great weig
IN of her grief, and suffered her turbul'
sorrow to swell and burst in rain of
~ tears.
i When this inward tempest had in
'o gree subsided, she felt more calm; q
she arose from her seat, forgetful that
dusky shadows were already dancing :
grouping hither and thither upon the
!, road, and slowly pursued her way he
: l-''' again.
to ALI that night, she lay tossing upon
1ns bed. She had secret in her he
tied which she dreaded equally to keep an
ond reveal. Her sister Mary frequel
out asked her what caused her so much
nd :; easiness, and why she slept 80 little,
slde tossed so much; but the replies of
sad girl were only subterfuges, benz
.her which her lonely heart hoped to con
nsa- all its bitter feelings.
And She told Mary that the night
fere warm; and the moon was bright
neS' that when the wind-gusts lifted the bot
Iony Of the old elm before the window,
ech- could see the white headstones that 9
a as mered through the green Of the dis
,ues. churchyard. Mary tried to laugh 4