The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1858-10-14

days ON his return, end enjoy its peace.
ful beauty. Only a day or two after
his arrival, taking his usual morning
walk, his acquaintance with Made
lelne commenced in the manner above
related.
At first, he had intended to re-.
main but a few days, a week, at most,
but the weeks had heightened into q
month-to two, and still he was not
gone. And what a change had his
presence wrought for Madeleine and
her dying mother. Squire Cranstoun
no longer treated his wife and daugh-
ter as he had done. There was some
thing in the look and manner of that
man that awed him. Little comforts
and delicacics again found their way
to the sufferers room, and all that was
necessary was again provided, for the
Squire was ashamed to have the tall,
imposing looking stranger, who SEEM
ed to admire his daughter so much,
see anything Of mcanncss in his con-
duct.
The sequel may readily be antici-
pated. He had seen all--had known
all-and seeing all, knowing all, in
the silent hours of night, when he
sometimes shared her watchings by
her mothers couch, he told her of his
desolation and loneliness, apart from
womans love and sympathy, :Years
ago." said he, careful investigation
on the part Of the most skil(ul medi-
Cal men | could find, determined that
! was afflicted with an incurable dis
ease of the heart. | consulted one
after another, hoping they would disa
gree in their opinions but they did not.
They all coincided in saying that |
might live for years, but that should
at last die suddenly, in a Moment
At first this seemed to me horrible,
and | determined that no one should
share my dreadful fate. | felt that !
ought NOT, under such circumstances,
10 unite the destiny of any, fond, ai-
iectionate being withmy own; for, ar
gucd |, "if she loves me, how much
must she suffer. | can never leave her.
even for an hour, but a terrible anxi-
city must take possession of her till | |
return; every unusual feeling on my
part, every change in my appearance
will suggest the speedy approach of
the grim messenger, and she must
live in state of perpetual alarm.
No, no, said !, as had made my res
olution, the shadow of death, which
hath fallen so early on my own heart,
shall never extend its gloom to any
other.
am thirty-fve years old, and |
have kept my resolve, | have seen
many bright and beautiful women,
and have felt that it would be pleas
ant to bask freely in the sunlight Of
their smiles, but dared not. re-
membcrcd my VOW. But now, Made
leinc, that have seen and known you.
it is different. | feel that if you can
care for me, as would be cared for;
if you can love the lone man that has
walked so many years, as it were,
with death for a companion, if your
heart is knitted to my own, as | can
not but feel 1t is, we must never more
be scvcrd, for feel that my love, my
care, my devotion to you. will cause
you more happiness than the knowl-
edge of that one circumstance will
give you pain. If | cast upon your
life one new shadow, | may remove
many old ones. Madeleine, dearest,
shall it be so! and he drew her to him
very gently, as little child, and res
ted her fair, young head against his
bosom. She did not withdraw it
how could she! 1t was so sweet to
nestle thereto feel strong, loving
arm beneath her. to be thus pressed
to breast that would shield her from
every coming i'll. She lay there pass
lively as an infant, while tears of joy
were yelling up to the half-closcd
eyes, and as he kissed them, one after
another, so tenderly away, it seemed
to her, her heart would burst with it:
excess of happiness, to be so fondly
so entirely loved.
Be TRUruPUL TO Cu,LDREN.--SOm,
people tell lies to children with ;
! y;o,y of oninyinO a lauph at their cred.