The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1860-03-15

AOOh ul)ou uc' o"SS'
It was another Alice this. had slain
own Alice, and nothing could rean'
innate her.
I was like ono in n dream all through
the day; and when We came home
could not wake. l had mado many
changes in the house, and all for her.
| took her through the rooms, on the
day after our return, and showed her
the improvements. She was pleased
with the furniture; she admired thc1
pictures and conservatory; and seemed
delighted with the little gem Of a bou-
doir which ! had pleased myselfby de-
expressly for her. She thanked
me too, No longer than II year ago,
she would have danced through the
rooms, uttering a thousand pretty little
EXPLANATIONS Of wonder aud delight,
and I should have been smothcrcd
with kisses and called ~ dear old bear,
1900
or some such fit name at the end; all Of
which would have been very silly, but
also very delightful.
Think I bore it fora month; but one
morning as ! sat at my solitary break
fast. for Alice took hat meal in her
room now, tho bitter sense Of wrong
and unhappincss and dcscrtion came
over me 50 strongly that | went up to
her room.
care you busyy' asked, SIS She
laid down her pen and looked around.
"Not too busy to talk to yon," She
spid.
"Alicc, how long are we to live this
lifcY'
She changed color.
"Thc one We are living now. 1t is
not the happy, loving life we used to
live. You are not mine rs entirely
and lovingly rs you once wcrc.'
Il know it," and she sighed and
looked dreariiy at ne.
"Why cannot the old days como
back n-lin! If made Il terrible ms
take, can you never forgive 1t?
thought it was foolish for us to love
caca other as we dil-at least, to show
it rs we did-but | have found, now,
that love is carth's only true wisdom"
She smiled sadly.
"Giyc inc back that love, Alice, which
] would not have. Oh, give me back
the lost sunshine
! rose from my seat and stood beside
her but she drew back and shook he.
head.
Crank, don't ask me for that"
81 shall know how to value it now
Alice"
"Thnt may be; but ! have it not
to give you, my poor Frauk."
! claspcd her to my heart. The pas.
sion in that heart might almost have
brOi, INT back life 10 the dead; bnt she
did not move. She wa4 Ike u statue
in my arms, and only looked at me and
sighed.
'Too late. Too late Frank
Wi!I you never forgive mc?'
"Forgive? Do you think haze one
mkind thought or feeling toward You
Frank? All! no, But | Am chilled
Through and through, My love is dead
and buried. Stand away from it,
grave, and let us meet the world "a,
we best may"
leaned my head upon my hands,
and tears fell, and | was not ashamed
OF them. But they seemed to rouse
into akind ofircnzy.
"You?" she exclaimed suddenly
"iou, who year ago sowcd the seed
winch has borne this fruit, can You
weepovcr your husbandry now? Don't,
Frank. Take what | can give you-
take my earnest fricndsbip-and God
grant we may never part here or in
heaven"
"Ah, in heaven, if we cvcr get there,
YOU viii love me again"
She quoted those sad words which
poor st. Pierre uttered on his dying
bed,
Que fcrnit uno anne i,olrr DIN, lr cicI mclnr.'
{Whnt would un isolated soul do, ryrnin lIrnv-
en itsclf!)
and laid her head gently on mino,
"llcaven knows, dear Alice, that as |
loved you when we first met, | loved
you on that unhappy day, and love you
still"
II am glad to hear it," she said hur-
richly. "IIeavcn only knows what
"JH ahuhiShts were nine III iirSt. FOR
my HE had been wrapped up in yours
Frank, and it was terrible to scpcratc
them thought at first that | could
NOT live. But strength was given me,
4at by-and-by, peace. We seem like
NO gray shadows, Frank, in u silent
warld, and we must only wait Gods
tine; and hope that, on the other side
5. he grave ut least, this great mistake
10y be set right. Believe me, | am
aappy in being with you, f'rank-hap
JOS in thinking that the same roof shell
,..s rs and that wc shall not part ill
On. of us two dies"