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

The house stands on a high ridge Of
land while directly in front the descent
is rapid to the lowland beyond, with
its deep forests, its snug little farms and
scattered homes Of plenty and peace.
--They are standing-not sitting
la youth of twenty, and a maiden
of sixteen. One arm is timidly pass
ed around her waist. his hand clasps
one Of here, and lie is speaking in
loves low, soft and musical tones, and
yet though the feeling trembes in ev-
cry uttcrance, he mentions not word
of the passion.
He is a timid, boy-lover, and though
he feels all the intensity OF the first de-
lightful heart-throb that wakes the
slumbcring soul to the master passion
ofoue's life, he is two dillilent to speak
the words his heart most p,eadingIy y
urges him to utter. And yet why
should he not! las he not been her
constant companion for more than Il
year in rides and walks and rural ex-
cursions, and did she ever rcpel his at
tentions by word. Oh look? Have they
not been classmates at school, and at
night have they not conned their les
sons from the same book, c0nsecratcd
by such pleasant companiouship; and
did she not always greet him with II
cordial welcome as his free, glad step,
rung upon the floor of the entrance
to the sctting-room, where her mother
nightly places for them the round
baize, covered. study table and taking
the bright needles places her knitting
on the other side Of the capacious fire
place?
And when he had failed to appear,
after having formed the habit OF COM
ing so often as to be always expected,
did not Madaleinc's poorer lesson next
morning, and the slight lrown that
darkened her pretty brow, assure him
that he was sadly missed!
And yet, in all his intercourse with
the fair young girl at his side, he had
never made the slightest alIusion to
the charm her presence had for him,
to the love he felt for her so deeply in
tertwined with every fibre of his be-
Ing; and she had never dreamed that
she was aught to him than a dear
friend, a sisterly companion, and a
much priced schoo'mate.
She knew their tastes were similar,
their feelings and opinions, on most
subjects, strictly in unison, and that
their association and companionship
were delightful. Still, had any one
limited that Henry Moreland thought
of her in any other way than this,
she would have Indignantly denied
it, believing, t'Iat in all their famil-
lar intercourse, if other, and warmer
emotions had found a place. in his boz
som, he would have frankly and un-
hesitatingly ayowed it.-What
mystery is the human heart, and how
little do the most intimate friends al
ways know what is passing in its in
ner sanctuary.
Had Madeleine Cranstoun been a.
ware Of the entire consccratcd atlcc.
ton that lived and burned with glow
ing intensity in the breast of him whose
arm lightly encircIcd, for the first
time, her slender frame, gaining
strength and po'xer from every previ-
Gus interview; in short, had she known
!. it had been aught else than desire OF
,companionship in his studies, Il have
said they were classmates at the vii.
lage Academy that drew him nightly
: to the quiet of her fathers freside,
the frank, unrestricted association
would long before have found
close, or she would have sounded
the depths Of her own nature and tri.
ed to discover if he were the one who
could satisfy it, from centre to circum.
ference; if she could love him with
all the power of her being and yield
to him willingly and joyously the gui.
dance of her outer and her inner life.
for young as she was beautiful and
admired as she had evsr been, there
was no vulgar desire in her to win a
heart because she could, to coldly fling
it back to him who offered it. Her
character was but the impersonation
of truth, justice and kindness, and
though the world, at large, looked up.
pn the maiden as cold and naughty, it