The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1858-11-18

all, though sometimes u tear would
fall, or n sigh escape, as she narrated
her fathers fall and subsequent deg
radiation, her mothers suffering and
sorrowiul death, and her own anguish,
neglect and modification. She did
not scruple to tell him how much con-
ISOLATION she would have derived from
the idea then that hc cared more fer
her than as Il dear friend, but how, lit.
tie by little, she had been forced TO dis
miss such thoughts from her mind, and
then she told him how in her greatest
suffering and sorrow, and anguish of
spirit, when it seemed as il she was
deserted by all the world, strong
arm was put underneath her, man.
! " breast was offered for her to lean
upon, and noble heart showered up
Oh her the priceless treasures OF its
undivided love.
And then she told him Of the happy
home that had been hers. since that
time, and Of her people, as she called
the servants Of her plantation, and
her two dear children, and ended by
saying that she was not her own. She
must do nothing from II selfish feel.
ing, just for her own gra .llicaton, but
must consider how tLcir interests and
happiness might be injured, or ad.
vanccd oy any step she might take
Th%.t though they had been such dear
and intimate friends in early youth,
they were comparative strangers now.
That fifteen years made great chang
/ cs in character and habits oI thinking
and acting, and ouch absence had
in his mind thrown such Il halo oI
beauty aroand her, invested her with
such attributes Of lovclincss and per-
icction, the ideal excellence might
fade away when he came to know her
as she really was; that nothing could
be more absurd han to suppose u wo.
man OF thirty-onc could b. like mai
den OF sixteen, or Il man Of thirty-Iive
like Il lad OF twenty. They were re.
ally strangers, save in memory, and III
! this manner she talked to him, and it
was pleasant to see how calm and
tranquil he grew under the sound OF
her voice till every trace Of over
wrought feeling had vanished from
his countcnancc and he was able to
converse with her freely and frankly,
and with an apparent indifference
which few hours before he would
have considered impossible.
That she did not for bid him to hope
what might be, may be learned from
the fact that he took lodgings in the
village near by, aud almost daily, du-
ring the summer and autumn, he was
Il yisi,ant at her house, riding, walk
ing and chatting with her and her chill
drcn on the most familiar terms, till
servants and children both learned to
expect him, and to miss him, If his
wel.knoWn step and clear, manly
voice were not. as usual, heard on gar
den walk, in the long piazza, or cross
ing the ample hall to the daily meals
of the family, and village gossips were
morally certain that Mr.. Raymonds
plantation would have new owner
before the christmas holidays. But
not 50. He did not even wait for that
time to arrive, but was away again to
his seat in the halls of his country,
leaving the gossi p-loving community
to talk and speculate at their leisure.
And, as is usual, in such cases, time
and tongues were not unemployed,
some believing that the gentleman
had received his dismissal from the
lady, and had departed crcst-ialcn, if
not broken hearted. while others sup
posed that the lady was hcrselIthe sut-
fcrcr--and that he cared not upon fur
ther acquaintance to take to himself
a wife with two such spoiled children
as they termed George and Mary Ray
mond.
But whatever people thought mat
tered little to those who were the sub.
jrcis Of their spcculations, for, as in
such cases generally, they were hap
PLY ignorant of it, and if they had
not been, it would have made but lit
tie difference to those who should have
been the most interested Of all, as hav-
ing most at stake, for their own con-
Germs amply occupied their time and
thoughts.
But the summer comes again,
bright, glad, beautiful summer, and
wakes to new-found life, bird and bee,
bud and flower, with all that profu-
sion of greenery and swelling fruit
with which she loves to decorate her
many-hued and richly-broidered robe.
The windows of Burnside cottage