The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-09-02
coUDERsPoRT POTTER THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1858

calmly, but in low and unnatural tone
Is this so ?
I said, L suppose l cannot deny it,
You are really going ?
| am really going
She could not hide her agitation. Her
white face betrayed her. Then | was
glad, in my heart, and vain enough to be
gratifed that others should behold and
know | held power over her, Well
but suffered for that folly.
| feel hurt she said after little
while, because you have not told me this.
You have no sister, (this was spoken very
quietly and it would have been privi-
lege for me to take sisters place, and do
for you those little things which sisters do
for brothers who are going on long jour
neys'
| was checked it was a minute before
| could speak Then | said that [ saw
no reason why she should tax her time or
thoughts to do anything for me.
'Oh, you know she said, you have been
kind to me-so much kinder than have
deserved ?
1t was unendurable-the pathos of the
words was blinded, stifed-I almost
groaned aloud If we had been alone,
there our trial would have ended. |
should have snatchrd her to my soul.
But the eyes of others were upon US, and
| steeled myself.
Besides | said q know Of nothing
that you can do for me-
There must be many little things; to
begin with, there is your glove, which you
are tearing to pieces
True, | was tearing my glove-she was
calm enough to observe it That made
me angry.
'Give it to me; will mend it for you
Haven't you other gloves that need mend
Iing|
who had triumphed, was humbled.
! My heart was breaking-and she talked
of mending gloves! 1 did not omit to
thank her. | coldly arose to go.
! Well, I felt now that it was all over
/, The next day I secured my passage in the
IeICdbICI III NhiCll III IIlG'' uS NelC 10 Soili'
| took pains that Margaret should hear
: of that too Then came the preparations
for traveI-arranging affairs, writing let
!; ters, providing myself with compact and
comfortable outfit Europe was in pros
, pect-Paris, Switzerland, Italy, lands to
which my dreams had long since gone be-
) fore, and to which | had now turned my
!, eyes with reawakening aspirations. A
new glory arose upon my life, in the light
: of which Margaret became fading star.
1t was so much easier than | had thought
, to give up, to part from her. J. found
: that [ could forget her in the excitement
} of fresh and novel experience while she
could she forget me? When lovers
part, happy is he who goes alas for the
one that is left behind.
One day when | was busy with the
, books which | was to take with me, a
small package was handed in! Ineed not
tell you that experienced a thrill, when
| saw Margaret's handwriting upon the
wrapper. tore it topen-and what think
you 1 found? My glove! Nothing else
smiled bitterly, to see how neatly she
had mended it; then [ sighed; then l
said, 1t is finished. ? and tossed the glove
disdainfslly into my trunk.
On the day before that fixed for the
sailing of the steamer, | made farewell
calls upon many of my friends-among
others, upon Margaret. But through the
perversity Of pride and will, | did not go
alone-I took with me Joseph, mutual
acquaintance, who was to be my compag-
non de UQyage. [ felt some misgivings, to
see how Margaret had changed; she was
so softened aud so pale
The interview was a painful one, and I
cut it short AS we were going out, she
gently detained me, and said
did you receive-your glove ?
ooh yes | said, and thanked her for
mending it.
And is this all, all you have to say ?
she asked.
I have nothing more to say, except
goodbye
She held my hand. Nothing else? p
mo, it is useless to talk of the past
Margaret; and the future-may you be
happy Good byeP
[ thought she would speak could not
believe she would let me go; but she did
bore up we'll until night. Then came
a revulsion. | walked three times past
the house, wofully tempted, my love and
! my will at cruel warfare but did not 90
in. At midnight l saw the light in her
room exhausted; | knew she had retired,
but whether to sleep, or weep, or pray
how could [ tell ? | went home | did
not close my eyes that night. / was glad
to see the morning come, after such a
night
! Tho ctnopar yrac RI coil of tnn The