Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27

7 lsnd rask xalked home
after service ! heard IsSS ehind me
Irit xas one, I well kpey; and NiEtly
Alfl1d Fletcher jointd me-. I ofeSa
my hand. He grasped it warmly il his
own.
n.y. }. =, 4 III Ivy
6rmative. ''How long will YOU remain
away ~ he asked.
Ireplied that my stay was indefinite /;
land for the kr1t time / told. him. Of my
fpAn u sttending school, saying that
then I hoped to find myself qualified to
teach, and that it was hardly probable
that should ever return. He was ST.
lent awhile, and then remarked, "And
are you going, Matte, without Saying
goodbye to my mother I"
"Your mother has been very kind to
me, Alfred" I answered. ~ will
call upon her tomorrow, for l leave
on Tuesday morning"
$50 soon !" said Alfred. "But do not
fail to come. Mother would hardly
forgive you for going away without
calling" -. d.. s.-
Here several of my young friends
Joined me, and saying, 81 will see you
again." he bowed and left US.
| 'Ycs, yes 4; it is to see his mother he
wishes me to come," mused, that
! evening. "IIowcver, l suppose must
so Courage! I shall soon be out of
reach of all this nonsense; only one
more trial, and then shall be Free"
, The next afternoon called on Mrs.
! Fletcher. She urged me to pass the
afternoon with her ; but was inexora-
BILE: so, after a few minutes, | arose to
leave. Bidding her an affectionate
goodbye, I walked rapidly down the
lane, congratulatiog myself that had
not encountered Alfred. The constant
fear Of betraying to him my sentiments
was now stronger than ever. Could |
get away without giving him any clue,
fancied that it would then all be over
that by giving my mind wholly to my
studies, should soon forget him.
As l turned from the lane into the
road, Alfred sprung lightly over the
fence. "Going so early, Matte ~ said
he. 81 thought you were going to stay
till night"
replied that 1 had no such design,
as I had much to do to complete the
preparations for my journey.
81 am sorry, Mattie," said he ; 81
have only one load more of corn to get
in, and then I had promised myself a
pleasant afternoon in your society,""
He took off his hat and brushed the
clustering curls from his fine forehead.
lie seemed at loss what to do.
"Mattie,' said he, finally, Cant
your society? 2" .
"Usn' Had he said "me," I would
have returned with him but my pride
rose in an instant. II cannot" I re-
piled. ''The train passes early in the
morning, and must hasten home, and
get my trunks rea ly.'' Lie walked by
my side little way in silence; then
halted as though he were going to re-
turn. My naughty, manner seemed to
puzzle him. l halted too, and gave
him my hand. as I said, "Good bye,
Alfred"
"Mattie, said he, retaining my hand,
''will you not sometimes think of me
May l not hope to hear from you %
ooh, yes" / replied, with assumed
Indifference II am not going to re-
nounce my friends Ishall write often
to Nellie, and no doubt you will hear
from me as much as you wish. " He
looked earnestly into my face. I re-
moved my hand and drew myself proud
ly up. Oh! why could I not have I'M
bent and been myself? I would have
given worlds afterwards if l had done
it; for in that eager gaze I read his
heart. But pride and timidity inter-
posed Hardly knowing, in my con-
fusion, what I did, turned and walk
ed away.
"Good-bye, God bless you! !" l heard,
in trembling voice but l did not
look back. reached my room, threw
myself upon my bed, and wept long
and bitterly. ''There, that is the last
tear I shall shed for him. l said at
last. I arose, bathed my eyes, and set
about completing the arrangements for
my journey. The next morning at
daybreak / was on my way home.
Instead Of one year at the Seminary
l remained two, by dint Of the most
rigid economy. I had astonished my
teachers with the rapid progress l had
made; and, as an expression Of her
interest in me, the principal helped me
to situation as assistant in an acade-
my in distant town. l was highly
clated with my success. | wrote often
to Nellie, who was now the wife Of
Andrew Williams, an overseer in the
factory, and received frequent letters
from her in return. She always had
something to say Of Alfred, though l
never mentioned him in my letters to
her. She told me how handsome he
was growing; that his fathers few
acres had become too small space for
him; that he was going to manufac-
turing town, to build for himself a for
tune. All this I read with interest;
and I often wondered whether, in his
plans for the future, he ever thought of