The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-01-26

one evening when the silver ehield of the
moon rose slowly in the arching Heavens,
he followed her to the low seat at one end
of the library, where the bay window
opened upon the garden, and there, hid
from all, and heard by no one save Alice,
Walter Leigh told the first tale of love
that Alice ever heard, and with all the in
nocence and truth Of her own unsuspccting
heart, told as fond ono to him, believing
that henceforlh their paths in life would
be one--their hopes and joys.
Walter was earnest then; he had doubt
ed many times Alice's affection had
been reserved, and, to his ardent feeling,
he thought Indifferent, and this very indif-
ference had urged him on. Alas, for mans
love il at best leans upon quivering reed
which often bends and breaks. Alice liv-
ed new life, and when once within the
secrecy Of their own apartment she sank
upon a low ottoman at her sisters feet and
gave her all the confidence, and pictured
her home with Walter, and ended by ask
ing Maudc to be her bridesmaid.
Alice, in the soft moonlight, and occu-
pied as she was with her own happiness,
saw not the angry flash from her sisters
eye, or how the beautiful lips were press
cd together to keep down his disappoint-
ment.
Maude had learned TO love Walter Lcigh,
and felt assured that those feelings had
been rcciprocated, therefore she had not
used much effort to get him; but now that
he had deceived her so, she thought, she
determined to win him, and not let her
plain sister Alice take all from her which
made life dear.
From that evening a coldness sprung up
between the sisters. In vain Alice would
talk and do all in her power to win Maude
from her reserve. The kind-heartcd crea-
ture blamed herself for telling of her en-
gagemcnt, thinking that the idea of their
separation was that which so rreyed upon
Maude's mind
If Walter loved Alice, he also admired
Maudc, and when with gentle winning
ways she came around him, she was irre-
sistible, and he would compare the radiant
creature with the plain Alice. Maudo
knew well her part. When he was fond,
she was Indifferent; and, to the careless
observer, would have been thought cold.
Beneath the ico ran deep current that
stayed not, but over went onward.
Alice deemed her sister too good TO even
think of trcachcry, and when Walter wo'd
pass her by and seat himself by Maudc,
she only smiled. One evening, when
Maude and Walter had gone to walk, Al
ice, whose head had achcd violently, stole
quietly from her room, and strollcd down
the walk, feeling sad and disquieted. She
! had not vet seated herself in the summer
house, when she heard Walters voice.
Her name was on his lips, and thinking he
was praising ler to Maudc she fingered to
listen. But the words which followed
crushed her happiness. Walter there told
Maudc that he only loved her.
"Comc, my beautiful, | thought / loved
another"
Maulc started with well l-fcigncd surprise,
and
"Do you 1--we her yet?' was tho ready
question.
"No, Maude. You alone have my heart.
You alone have the power to make me
happy. Will thou be mine?"
|
She hal learned her lovers treachcry and
her sistcrs's duplicity. Maude's coldncss
was accounted for, and Walters conduct
fully explained. With an aching heart,
she returned to her room, and after sup
plcating at tho mercy seat for strength to
bear her through this heavy trial she fell
asleep, and when morning came, with a
calm voice and as calm heart shc releas
cd Walter Leigh from all engagements,
giving no reason savo that her feelings had
undergone change, and that she could
not he happy with him.
Free once more, though not without
some regret, he at once proposed for Maude
and was accepted. Maude knew not her
plot had been discovered. Aiico never
mentioned the subject, but heaped Goals Of
FIRE upon Maudc's head by her uniform
! kindness.
Walter left, to return in the winter and
be married; but before that time his affi-
auce bride became the bride of death -
Maude was stricken down in all ler youth
and beauty. On her death bed she asked
forgiveness of Alice, and plead with her
to marry Walter, as she well knew he low
cd Alice best
When Walter Leigh once more crossed
the pastors threshold there was no Mauie
to receive him, but Alice in her old, gen
tie way gave him all the particulars, and
babe him welcome. Many days and weeks
he fingered, but Alice was firm. The love
once rejected could not be recalled, and
Walter Leigh returned home saddened
man. No other love camo TO place the
one he had thrown aside, and when, years
after, he visited his friend Edward and sat
amid his family group watching Aunt Al
ice as she sat beside the bright fire telling
stories to the little ones, or singing, with
her face bright and loveablc as ever, he
would sigh to think what might have bee (;
and she, although her heart sometimes
warmed up for him, refused all ovcrtures,
fearing to trust whore she had once been
deceived.
Thus both lives have been bligbted, one
for being deceived, and tho other from
being denied. Alice takes i. like phi
losophcr. and thinks it destiny, while Wal
ter mourns at the fate he marked out for
himself.
CoNDEYsEp ARGuMENT.-A very celeb