The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1858-10-08

Madeleine included, were to accom-
pany Henry and his sister to the river.
eight miles distant, and exchange
their linal adeus by its brink.
Close and warm was the clasp of
his hand he gave to her at parting,
the last Of the youthful band, and
low and tender were the few, fond
words his tongue could scarcely utter.
Tears were in the eyes as he bent his
lips to the white unglovcd hand, that
in part returned the strong grasping OF
his cwn, and, "Do not, o. never for
get me, will you Madelcnc!" was fall
ing softly on her ear when the cry of,
"All aboard" and the appearance OF
the man at gang way to take away
/ the plank, warned her that she must
be gone. She had but time to ans
wcr, "Never," and spring lightly to
the wharf, ere the boat swung round
and waving haudkerchcis on deck
and shore spoke the inrcwclIs lips
/ might never more articulatc.
Years are passing, and have passed
one, two. three. No longer mai.
! den Of those peaceful, and quietly
happy, sixteen summers. we will look
at her again. There is the slightest
| possible shade of care upon the other.
wise fair, open brow--thc lips are Il
IiIt!", a very little compressed, and,
with one hand supporting the leaning
head, she sits upon tue same vine
covered porch as when, dear reader,
you were introduced to herthrcc years
ago. An open letter lies before ber,
She has read it and is muSing over its
contents. Her eye shows that thought
is busy within. The past, the present
aud the future, all have place in her
mcdtationS, but more especially the
past.
Let us rcad.----"In less than Il
year, dear Madeleine, even as soon as
the Autumn Irosts shall have changed
the hucs OF the forest leaves, hope to
look upon your face again. Again to
sit i'll the old porch by your dear
side, and talk with you as in the OIL
den times. o, Madeleine, will you
rejoice to see me, even as shall you!
My precious one. the thought Of you,
the anticipation Of that delightful
meeting, has sustained my lanting
spirit through these long and dreary
years Of separation. Do not forget
me, Madeleine, never, no never, o!
no. You cannot. | will not think OF
such u thing. 1t can never bc.'
And thus he wrote, and, in a smi-
lar manncrhad he occasionally written
during the three years in which she
had not looked upon his face. What
must She. what ought She to think OF
such singular communications There
was no vanity in MadcIcinc'S compo-
silion, but much Of pridc-a just, wo.
manly prldc-a proper appreciation OF
what was due to her, and Shrinkinglv
and dcIicatcly sensitive, she could not
yet suppose that one Of llenry's frank
and open character could love her
with that entire affection that would
wish to make lis object the sharcr OF
his joys and sorrowS, without avowing
it and seeking his destiny at her hands
Many times did she ponder the sub,
icct over, and as often dismiss it as
/ much in doubt as ever. And why
might she not have replied to his let.
tcrs in such way as to lead him to
declare himself! She would not have
done it for the world. She had been
reared to think that woman must con.
ccal every appearance Of aIlcctonatc
regard, only as it was to be exhibited
in return for undcniablc evidence OF
love, on the part of him who careful
Is sought to win il. To have made
the slightest advance, herself, would
have appeared to her unscemly for a
wise and discreet maiden, 50 She crush
ed back intO her heart all the sweet
unfolding buds Of hope and joy thai
might have bloomcd i'll beauty ovel
the wasting years TO come, ol Sullcr
ing and sorrow. And thus she school
ed her trusting heart to think of hin
as only a dear and valued friend, who
was deeply interested in her welfare
and TO whom all that concerned her
was of Importance. But it was dllli-
cult for her at all times to suppress eV-
ery trace of that warm and pure al
rec,ion that trembled on the open
leaves of her guilelcss heart, as the
ready pen transcribed from the full
unwritten feeling, the answers to such
occasional communications from one
who was so inexpressibly dear to her
A rogue dowNsoulh stole a lot oI
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