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


than in the absorbing passion of his
soul for the beautiful and gifted crea-
ture by his side.
lie had told her in the vine. covered
porch, meath the truthful gaze of the
solemn looking stars, of his sometimes
resolves to be missionary-he he Lad
pictured to her, in glowing colorS, the
wondcrous beauty Of those Orient
lands, the tall and graceful Palm-lrecs
of that sunny region, the luXuriant
exuberance Of vegetation, the splcn,
dor and gorgcousncSS of the flowers
and foliage that drape its dccp.tan-
gled forests, and then in soft and sad
dencd accents he dIlatcd upon the
ignorance and superstition ofthc dwell
lcrs in that lovely cline.
20! Madeleine" said he, with the
touching eloqucnce and lcrvcnt cxaI-
tation of impassioncd feeling, "Fancy
yonder lights cleaning at intervals
in the surrounding darkness, the Goa
Goa nut-lamps that burn on the boats
of the lovely but heather Gangcs and
we the only christian inhabitants
in our bamboo dwelling by its sacred
banks living to instruct and christian
ize the dusky dcvotees Of their idol
gods. could we not be happy then! and
the circIing arm pressed more closely
the unrcsiSting form OF the thoughtful
maiden, whose low, but seeming y in
different answer Of II don't know
Henry, | never thought Of it, showed
that she spoke truly. She had never
thought oft, the missionary's life, and
SO interested had she become in his fer
vid descriptions as scarcely to have no.
ticed the coupling together Of herself
with him in the question lie had asked
Accustomed as she was to think OF
his partiaIty for her as only "A school
friendship, u brothcrIy affection. how
could she see in his query declara-
ton of love! 1t was to her but anoth-
er proof Of his entire devotion to his
Maker and Il longing desire for the
benefit OF his le!loW-beings. Further
she considered what was said Of hel
being with him rs only a mcons O.
discovering ii she too was as unscltisl
and devoted to the service Of the liv
ing God, as he himself. She felt that
she was not, and while she loved auC
respected him more than ever for it
her increased esteem for the bcncvo
lcncc Of his character, seemed to re-
move her farther from him.
And in that truthful passonlcS,
answer Of hers he read no miScOncrp
tion Of his meaning, no miSunder,
standing Of his feelings, but merely y
that she had no call to mjssionary'>
life; for if she had. her imaginative
fancy would most certainly have re-
spondcd to his tervd descriptions o
the thoughts and feelings that WarncC
and glowcd in his own bosom. Il
would suffice for the present. Hi,
course must be determined before h,
would speak more explicitly. Time
and circumstance should determine
for him, yet he would have one NOR,
proof Of her affection, and he Stoop
ed, and for the first time, his lip,
touched lightly the maden's check
He almost blushed at his own tcmeri
ty and withdrawing his face a Illl,
way, inquired if she was oiIcndcdl-
NO, Henry, how could be- was the
low but distinct and delicious reply
for on it he had depended for a con
tirmation Of the hope that he wa,
dear to her, even as She to him.
But she, simple, natural child that
she was, thought of it only as the pure
kiss Of IL brother, who was spending
the last sweet hour with precious
sister whom he might never beholC
again, and dreamed not that he had
made in his own mind, her reception
of it test of her regard or indillcr
cncc. for the hear. OF delicate mai
dcu scarcely darcs TO admit to itscl
i'm the darkness Ol the Stlllest nIgh
that it loves unless it has good reasol
to believe that its affection is desired
and fully rcciprocated, and then i
manilests, unsolicited, no appearance
of the delightful feeling which is ONLY
disccrncd by the studious efforts made
at conccalment. It's involuntary act
the glow that mounts TO the cheek
the brilliant sparkle of an eye tha
brightens at the mention or approach
of the object of its secret preference
alone betray its existence.
Such an one was Madeleine Grams
toun, and she would have thought il
unmaidenly and indelicate to suppose
any man loved her till language as
,yoII p,anpor hai informed her, I'M