The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-03-22
shadouys. Then snnshlns.

| breezes OF the morning rs they swept up
| from the green meadow lands, cool and
delicious. Lines of misty, golden light
We're slanting down from The hill tops, ma
king amber paths across the green, dewy
| fields, and amber ladders from ne tree top
TO another, through all the wild expanse
of the woods that my eye could reach
| Under the window, roses and liacs BIOS
somed--ihe roses tossingtheir redand white,
and the lilacs their cloudy purple clusters,
backward and forward meeting az if TO ex-
change kissee and mingle in one sweet
breath their united fragrance.
But what were the sunlight, the trees,
tho drwy fields and flowers 10 met
might not GO out freely among them: my
! feet could not pass tie green grass OF the
! fields; might not Wandr where the b'eze
made anthems through The tees; II y hands
might not pluck the simplest flower which
bort { rward to oneettheir weary outstreich-
ing. must work, for labor was the only
gift Tor me; whether made IL a pleasure
or cnise it was tho only alternative. =
And so with tears in nv eye, which III
sun light moe ingy bridged nc,oss with
golden lars, seated myself to my daily
task. Tn re was IA q cit we'll If bitterness
within my heart, which, with the m, ST
rig rous will, | could harlly keep from over.
fowing--a passionate uphcayng Of my
deep womaily Ia urr, which In vain
uied to pless backward into the quiet
channel it mad slw Us known. In vain, for
il sungod up to catch tho light and the
shadows, which, even in my blttercst mo-
men,s, | shut my heart against. It was
strange time 10 me can you comprehend
it readerl A time when dcned every
thing for fear that was tho sweet foun-
dotion Of hOpo.
"Work, work, woIkp ! said again,
pressing my fiugrs close ppou my eyes,
anu letting fall the garment on which /
had been sewing, II wish light die dieP
My tears fell thick and fast. ! wished l
might weep my life away.
"Nelly- Nelly, dear you win weep
10 long that there will be no rainbow, there
viii be a dull, heavy gravoness upon every
thing. Look up, have something to say
to you."
Before tho words fell upon my or I rec
ogiuzed presence near me, soul that
mine leapel up in get waves Of joy to
! meet Words were not wanted 30 assure
me Of the presence Of Cha.lcs Howard
In q moment the smile gathered upon my
face, and involuntarily | unclasped my
hands from my eycs to meet the steady,
| pCuemling gaze Of tho man | loved.
Now, now, Nelly. we have tho rain
bowsW he said, drawing chair, and seat
ing himself close by my side, and at tho
same time tossing carclcssly tho light, airy
robe which was making, upon the sable.
"Tcil nae what troubles you.
For some reason the bitterness within
me flowed up 70 ny lips when I opened
them 70 speak
u sm weeping for JOY" said, turning
my head away from hin. at j, 10 be
wondered att"
"Not if your heart in its outstrotching
can, divine the future" was the answer.
"Ale you prophet" said that yon
speak with such authority r
81 Ijudce your future by my own heart,
Nelly, said he. 81 viii not believe that il
tells me wrongly"
,eached out my hand for my work,
without replying, ms he said this. A deter
minaton rose within me not to listen idly,
like pleased child, to bis words, even
though .hey sent the warm blood dasbing
over my face, and quickened to wildness
the puIsation Of my heart. l was poor,
dependent sewing girl, and Challe' Howard
was rich. proud, and Of high family
What knew Of the world, all the educa-
ton could lay claim to, bad been gath
cred piece meal; and yet was not ignor-
ant. He was an elegant, polished man, at
ease in any station- "A man who hal seen
the world without outern into It's busy bust
Ing ranks. and from seeiig had turned
away, weary and disconnected.
From the moment saw him. when ho
came to spend the summer with tho p,cud
Langdons, with whom | was living. knew
him wholly and well, as if Cor years | had
been perm itted TO read his heart as ieerly
as wrten scroll. People said he was the
brhothed husband OF his haughly cousin,
Leiitn Laugdon, and judging by what l
| raw NAHN1 l. HNI w il4lb W NtoldtS IL
Indeed, | thought it yely probable; and
with mo there was ever this sweet assurance
II could Gndestand him, appreciate him
as she could not; could bring ty my words
as nile b. his lips th I milhi try il vain
to ,u m tuero Ham'ghl give her the
! husk, OF bis soul, the outward e-helieve
devotion, but could see mo his ner lie
aud know thit fora moment WAS her proud,
mrog lut face dagarrolypo here. lie was
by her side in all T. gI,tter and how OF
fashiopabl" society but he came to merfor
sympathy when hc was weary aud disheart
encd, when the eyes Of tho world were
turned for moment from the worship Of
IT'S idol.
But the day before he morning on which,
he found me weeping, Lot.tiA spoke harsh.
! " and Insulting 10 me, tauntel ma with
my low name and call ng. and with nm
angry light inher dark eyes told me il |
dared raise my pleban voice to speak to
those for above me, she would have mo
! turned into the street like bcgear az |
was. have often wandered since how ]
bore so meokly without retortiug her in
solent words; | oannotsay, unless il was
fr the sweet love thathad placed me, for