Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-07-29

of:his may have carried that significance un-
mistskably for years Thank God, there is
day of sure Judgment coming, when conventions
and shields of usage will save no man from the
due vengeance of truth upon smooth and plau,
slble duplicity
In due time Mr.. Warng recovered, If
there was any change in his manner to 10, it
was too slight to be seen, though it was felt,
and was. after all, the carelessnesS Of IA person
certain tf his foothold in her good grace, ra-
ther than the evident withdrawal of attention.
which could have pardoned even then, had
it been the result of honest regret for past
carelessness, and stern resolution TO repair that
past Whatever it was 10 perceived that her
ideal man was become real man but, with
q tenacity of nature for which in my fate tel
ling had not given her credit she was as
constant to the substance as she had been to
the dream and while she lost both health
and spirits in the contemplation of Arthur
Warnings fitful and needless manner toward
her, and was evidently panied by the dscOve
ry of his selfish and polite traits,--to cali
them by no harsher name,--t was ineXprcSsi-
bly, touching to hear the excuses she made for
him, to see the alshielding love with which
she yelled his faults, and kept him as a mother
from animadverSion and reproach.
In the meantime heard often from LEFTY.
No good news of her husband, but that her
child grew more and more comfort, that her
friends were very kind, and always in a tiny
postscript some such phrase as this " / try
to be patient, Sarah" or " | don't scold Har-
ry so much as | did, dear" hoped for Let
ty, for she persevered.
hot lass tbon of
Waring he was very busy at the mill in or
der that it might be far enough advanced to
resist the inevitable spring freshetS and be-
sides, we were absent from the Valley some
weeks, endeavorng to recruit JOS failing health
at the seaside But this was Il vain endeayor;
that which sapped the springs of her life was
past outward cure. She inherited her fathers
delicate and unreliable constitution, and a ner-
vous organization, whose worst disease is ever
the preying of doubt, anxiety, or regret. As
winter drew on, she grew no better dim
dreary abstraction brooded over her She
said to me often with vague a'arm, Sally,
how far off yOu seem ! Do come nearer ~
She ceased to talk when we were alone, her
step grew languid, her eye deeper,-and its
bright expression when you reused her. was
longer in shooting back into the clOuded sphere
than ever before. She sat for hours 10y the
window, her lovely head resting on its case
ment, looking out, always out and away, be-
yond the bills, into the deep spaces of blne
air, past cloud and vapor, to the stars Sud
den noises startled her to an extreme degree :;
quick step flushed her cheek with fire and
futtered her breath. How longed for spring.
hoped all from the delicate mnstratiOns of
Nature though the physician we called gave
no hope of her recovery. Mr. Waring HIM
self seemed struck with her aspect, and many
little signs of friendly interest came from him
AS often as he could, he returned to his old
haunts and while the pleasure of his presence
and the excitement of his undisguScd anxiety
wrought on her, 10 became almost her old self
for the moment, gay, cheerful, blooming, -
alas with the bloom of feveriShnesS aud vain
hope.
SO spring drew near The mill was nearly
finished. One day in March warm south
wind "quieed the earth after long rain
the river began to stir, its mail of ice to crack
and heaTe under the suns rays. | persuaded
10 to take little drive, and once in the car
riage the air terminated her she rested against
me and talked more than had known her for
weeks.
"What a lovely day !" said she " how
balmv the air is ! there is such an expression
of rest without despair, such calm expectation
] always think of heaven such days, Sally =
they are like the long sob with which a child
finishes weeping Only to think Of never more
knowing tears that is life indeed !"
A keen pang pierced me at the vibration of
her voice as she spoke | thought to soothe
her little, and said, " Heaven can be no more
than love, 10, and we have great deal Of
that on earth"
"Do we !" answered she, in a tone of grief
Just tipped with rony,-and then went Oh ::
:" | believe you love me, Sally. would trust
you with my-heart, if need were | think
you love me better than any one on earth
does"
II love you, enough, DEAR said / /; more
words would have choked me in the utterance
Soon we turned homeward.
"Te John to drive down bv the river, said
Josephine,-I want to see the new mill"
But you cannot see it from the road, 10 ;
the hemlocIs stand between"
Never mind. Sally / shall just walk
through them don't deny me | want to
see it all again and perhaps the arbutus is in
bloom"
Not yet, Jo"
can get some buds, then want to
have some just once"
We left the carriage, and on my arm 10
stroled through the little thcket of hcmock-
trees, green and fragrant, She seemed unu-
sually strong. began to hope After much
searching, we found the budtled flowers she
loved most Of all wild blossoms no scent
breathed from the closed petals they were
not yet kissed by the odor-giving south-wind
into life and expression but 10 looked at them
with sad, farreaching eyes. think she ST.
lenty said goodbye to them.
Presently we came out on the steep bank Of
the river, directly opposite the mill A heavy
timber was thrown across from the shore to
ALo ;cl,..L .-I.;.L IL