Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-03-20

mine when Lily would look to me for
protection against some imaginary dan
ger. Sometimes twas a rabbit, as timid
as herself; sometimes merely stump
which, in her eyes, was certainly an old
and very ferocious man and sometimes
it was but harmless denizen of the
poultry yard walking toward her. These
dangers DID not, tits true, require any ex-
ercise of courage to enhance their pleas
ure to my boys spirit; but it was real
happiness to feel that was looked to for
relief, and I felt myself man in giving
it. Thus our happy childhood passed
away, with not cloud to obscure its
brightness, until I was fifteen years old
and Lily twelve. Then it was thought
advisable that l should go from home to
school, and take my first lesson in the
minds and manners of my fellow-maen.-
l shall never forget our grief in the sep
aration; how Lily clung around my neck
and sobbed as if her little heart would
break and how my dear father took her
in his arms, and laughingly bade her
cheer up-that Willy would soon come
home a man, and she should be his little
wife. / saw the surprised eyes and
blushing face of the little girl, heard my
fathers hearty laugh, and started off
into the world with new idea in my
head, new love in my heart. The sug-
gestion was never absent from me after
wards.
I looked upon her with different eyes,
and peopled dreamland with her image
We wrote to each other; and when /
went home at my vacation, I found her
grown more lovely, but I was conscious
of a change in her manner to me. In
her letters she would recall old scenes
and bring up old associations, but when
in actual presence she would avoid all
renewal of them. If / wanted to walk
she was sure to be in an industrious
mood if / proposed private and conf
dental conversation, there was sure to be
an interesting passage in some book,
which must read to her. She was ever
ready with an excuse, some device to
prevent q renewal OF our old familiar in
tercourse. With my father and mother
she was the same mischievous, playful
child, but with me she was suddenly
transformed into the grave, dignifed wo-
man. Her manner puzzled, annoyed,
and distressed me.
1t was the day before ] was to start for
Europe, where I must stay for two
years. / had tried in vain to find an op-
portunity to tell Lily of my feelings to-
wards her. With the utmost freedom, as
I had been accustomed to do from a
child, / told my mother everything. 1t
was my first real sorrow. Even now l
feel the pressureo of her soft hand smooth
ing my cheeks as she tried to comfort me.
It would be different. Lily was shy; /
had grown so tall, and she had lost my
identity with the Willie of former years.
She advised me to seek an explanation.
As I left her room met Lily crossing
the hall. / went up to her, and said, in
playful way, " Come, Lily, / want you
to 90 to walk with me this last evening
We will awaken host of recollections
by stroll in the grove. Now 60 gel
your bonnet, and come on
q Indeed, Willie, / cannot 60 this eve
ming. / am sorry to deny you, but
must finish this piece of work"
was provoked, and said, almost an
grily, Lily, you are capricious, and,
almost believe, eold-hearted; never die
see anybody so changed"
i She looked at me in astonishment.-
The crimson tide rushed over her necl
and face untH her very hairs seemed &C
: in blood. 1t is you who are changed,
said she. You are suspicious of me
You will not be brother Willie any more
And / am to be tormented from year
end to years end because cannot
She stopped, and hid her face in he
hands, the flush upon her cheek deepen
ling more in shame than anger. I dre1
nearer to her, but before could toucl
, her, she had flown up the wide staircase
and I heard her door slam. The myste
Iry was to nae solved she loved me onl
as brother, had fathomed my wishes
and wished to avoid giving me pain.
, started off with a heavy heart. My dis
appointment was bitter one but in M
heart I had to acknowledge that she ha
acted rightly.
From Paris I wrote to her, telling he
that I appreciated her motives. Ineve
received an answer; indeed, she neve
got it.