The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1858-04-29

J
TO the unnatural wish ofyour grandfath-
err
j. 'EdwinP her voice did not quiver now.
Edwin Harrisl pause before you utter
words which both of us may repent for.
ever! VINO is this old man? What has
G he been to me! From infancy l have
D known no other care but his; no other
i wisdom but his; no faith, but what he has
, taught me; no protection but his bounti
tuI hand. One by one his props have
dropped from him; he has no wife, no chill.
; dren, to attend him in his declining years;
none but me-the orphan whom he has
so kindly reared. Would you have ME
Z. 5ert him now"
No but why does he object to our
unionP PERSISTED Harris.
He does mott?
But why not allow it at once'
Edwin, he is very old man, fast verg-
ing on ninety; for years he has had no
attendant but myself; no pleasure but my
company; no soul sentiment but my love.
He does not like strange faces to be about
him, and hear his simple talk; he has
strange fits sometimes, when he would
have no eye but mine to see him An
other in the house--one who would have
the right to demand portion of my at
tentOn and love-would kill him in a
day.
But he may live a year yet,' said Ed
win, despairingly.
oh, God! hope so--six Of theml
came qdlveringy solemnly from her
lips.
This is an anomaly! exclaimed Har-
rl', III tone of prtuant resolution. You
say you love me--have promised to be-
come my wife-and yet you pray that
tue only object TO our union may live
six years. Talk no more oil love, Amy
| could almost feel the pain his cruel
words caused her, aud my blood Lingled
IN my veins | knew the short instant
of silence which ensued, was but to curb
her emotion; then she spoken a low. sad,
but firm voice.
Edwin, she said, the purity ofmy life S
tells you that never uttered an untruth :
When first confessed my love for you,
you knew how much my heartw syour's;
you know how | have loved you, how
do adore you. We're my grandfather .
dead, and you a penniless beggar, with
nothing but your nobility of soul left, $
would be your wife as willingly as s
would throw away faded flower. Oh! b
it would be heaven 10 toll and labor for Il
you, TO help you on your way through ii
life. But, Edwin, my old grandfather has Il
Of me duty; | will fulfill it;
though every hope of life is blasted, and fl
| am doomed, from this moment, 10 bear b
On aShen heart to my gravel
'Fhen Amy, We must part, he exclaim n
I'd suddenly. as he rose from her side. :
Edwin "
All your arguments will fail to con- II
vince me that you have proper appre II
;iaIion Of true love. 1t is scripLursl Fl
mandate, that the woman who loves as \ III
wife. should leave all others and cleave Iii
o tie object low d. Amy, farewell
'Farewel--EdwinI'
The words were uttered in two broken h.
obs As Edwin Harris fastened by the
rec which concealed me, ieIt like seiz. III
ng him by the throat and chastising him
or his cru lly. Presently a thrlling, ha
eart rending sob, issued from the arbOr ed
nd Amy exclaimed: a no
Oh, God! Can it be possible that he m,
oes not love me? a,
could bear no more, and hurried from 10,
he spot. During the rest Of the night gl,
~ mind was filled with contending emo
ons. l had grown suddenly to hate 10,
'dwin Harris; we had been friends firm v |
nd long; he was worthy young man.
lie pride of the village; more worthy than
lyself, l thought, aud the only person to
no was des 'rving Of such love as Amy to
ee s. But now | had discovered two in
ew traits in his character of which / Of
as Oefore ignorant: sefshnpss and cru
Ly. 1t was long time before could will
} to sleep, and when did, my slumber / $
as disturbed by thousand vague fan
sizes as to the career aud destiny Of the
70 lovers. his
| awoke the next morning. aroused by ed
rapping at my door; arose and open .
it, but starred back with surprise on 7
scoverlng my visitor to be none other ask
an Edwin Harris. He did not notice {.
y surp iSe, however. but entered my her
ON with his accustomed familiarity - F.
: looked very haggard and wan, and !
emsd quite i'll at ease. /.
i have called thus early, my old plie
end he said, addressing me by name, sak I
+ the double purpose OF bidding you Jige
leu and a asking a favor hoo,
This is strange, Edwin. said. com. nd
He'd, of course, to conceal my khowl. koo
20 of the incidents of the preceding sSd
Tht. What is your deslinalion? a,,s,
That cannot tell. and | beg Of goa Z q !,
ask me no questions viii you give =
8 letter to lsl mpa
:, :, !, ! !, ! ;
s's'i.o'Sr s.,,i.''I 4
!. as,sS.s twee