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


and how did know such letter,
from one for whom you no longer per-
haps cared at all, would be iavOrably
receivedl 7 Nay, rather would it not
be thought to be great presumption
and efrontery in me to write such a
one
knew not what course to take but
must do something. could not hope
to see you under two months, at least,
and could not possibly endure to have
no communication with you till that
time. After several days of anxious
thought | sent you the letter you re-
ceived. Your reply was delayed sew
eral days longer than it ought to have
been, so that it was nearly month
from the time | wrote before receiv-
ed your answer. What precious let
ter that was so kind, so full of friend
ly feeling, it seemed to me almost Of
affection. Tread it over and over, al
most devouring the words as they
were written there. Could it be that
your hand had traced such kind, such
allecronate lines 1t must be so.-
There was the name of her had SO
long, so hopelessly loved, traced by
her own hand and subscribed to lines
of warm and lasting friendship. !
seized my pen and rapidly tlaceA for
your pcrusaI the history have rela-
ted and when had finished, said to
you, "lf my presence Shall be welcome,
when come, if shall stand upon the
old friendly footing with you, as on
that parting night in the dear old vine-
covered porch of your fathers cot
tago, when dared to press my first
love-kiss upon your unresisting check,
If ! may dare to talk to you Of all
the boarded love OF many years and
you will not spurn me for my eIlronl.
cry, ask no communication in return
for this. Silence on your part shall
tell me you wait to see me, that you
will greet me as an old and valued
friend, that you will listen to all my
hearts SORROWS, to all my treasured
affection for you, and will not send me
from you till you find your heart can
feel no answering throb to minc."--
My very brain was on fire as | wrote
and the impassioned words flowed
from my pen with almost the speed of
thought. | finished my letter, seal
ed and directed it and deposited it
safely in the office, and then, for the
first time in nearly two days, ate and
slept.
No reply came to my impctuous a.
vowal OF my past history, and as soon
as | could | began my .journeying
which was to bring me to your pres
ence. came; am here; you did not
receive that communication. | have
now told you all, all, save that can
not make you know that deep active
love which would sacrifice sell, rather
than make you unhappy
He looked at her steadily, and the
faltering voice, strangely working lca-
lures, and moistened eye attcsted the
truth of all his tongue had uttcrcd.-
He continued:
"Sayit, only say it, MadeIcine--it
is no time for idle ceremony, for cold
formality or even lady-like coyness-l
have lost you once, it may be, because
| did not tell my love, frankly and fear
lessIy, but trusted too much-l cannot
do it again. Say it, if you will, that
my presence pains you, that my friend
ship is valueless and my love disre-
garded, and will be gone, | will new
er trouble you again. | fear am al
ways on extremes. Pardon me if |
have said a single word ought not to
say. If have and you will tell me
what it is you shall never hear it
again. But | can neverbc only friend
to you, | must be something more or
nothing at all. If it is to be only that
must away and never look on you
again. But better, far better so than
that should be the occasion of sor-
row to you. have never seen the
time when would not have done any
thing in my power to give you pleas
ure or avert from you, Distress ~
He ceased and the twain sat in 81.
lence.
There is no woman living whose
heart would not be touched by such
proofs Of untiring devotion as he had
given her, and Madeleine Raymond
was true woman, though not an or
dinary one. She could not, she would
not, she never had acted rashly.
With accurate judgment, far-seeirg
reason and a well.balanced mind, she
never acted from feeling, or passion,
and thoupb powerfully wrought upon