The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-11-09
SHADOW AND Sunshine.

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES I11EWOOQ-Nilt you Oe nav
wlle ~
These were the words of my dignifed suit
or, Philip Hueson, as he stood before me one
dull, driZzly April morning. | was not sur
prSed TO hear him speak in this manner. Be-
lore he moved his lips knew the words he
would utter, and vet block OF granite that
never felt springing pulse within II, could
not have been deader or more silent at his
words than my heart. | looked out of the win
dow and saw the wide fields with the first faint
flush of green upon them-saw the mist atar
off lying still and white upon the hills like
great ghoStly ShadoWs-saW the leaden sky dip
down to meet the weird old pines saw all
this, and yet nothlng taught me how to answer
the question that had been asked me. My life
run on dull and sunless through all the year, |
thought. In its spring it was forgotten, and lis
bursting buds had witheFed and died waiting
Tor the blessed summer that would never come
10 II. Ii raised my brows pltIlully, asking
tor the touch of few flowers, should | be
Crowned only with thorns leaned my head
upon my hand as | thought of it. Mr.. Hues-
ton was still standing before me.
''liss Harwood ~ he SAID, as if to remind
n'e OF his presence.
some, grave countenance, and not unpleasant
to look upon. The mouth was full, firm and
proud the nose straight, with slightly dIIa-
ting nostrils; and the eyeS-those strangely
p cuiat eyes that are blue and black alternately,
had touch of fire and passion ~ their depths,
as though they were strong enough to translate
at times the soul that lookea from them. But
look as keenIy as might / could not read the
secret ol his preference tor me. lie was
rich man; | poor girl with dead heart
My cousins Il was an inmate OF my uncle's
house, were gay, fashionable ard beautiful
why did he turn from them to me ?
He did not say that he loved me. | liked
that. He had been married man once, to
butterfly of wealth and fashion perhaps her
grave held, or her life had killed ont every
sweet thought of passion and tenderness. l
did not care to know which it was.
So cold wooing thought would not lead
out to a sunshine of love aud romance. But
the flowers for which | asked, what OF them
All. one spot of my heart had been left unssai-
I'd when the blast came tha. made lis surface
hard and impenetrable. | knew and felt this
Through the narrow portal would Gods bless
ing ever thrill For the sake of his little
chId | thought | would marry Philip Hueston.
My soul moved toward the wee, motheriess
darling. | was womaaiy IN that Fer the
sake OF divided crown OF motherhoo! | was
willing to give myself away. | did not remem-
Der the ties that must come between that and
me, but like Traveller who sees afar the height
tor winch he is longing, | forgot ;he rougheued
valleys that lay before it. So said, cody and
calmly 10 my suIor:
q Mill h., yOnr ,vifa Mr. HDpSfnO ;,
This done, turned to my sewing again.
'sBut, excuse me-, Miss Harwood, | shall be
obliged to return home at the expiration of
weeks time Will you be able to accompa-
ny me -
So soon as that [ thought, but I said
"Oh, yes my preparations will be Slight,
and | can go at one lime as we'll as another"
He bowed and was about turning away. !
detained him by asking for the child. He gave
o quick, keen look into my face, though str
wing to learn whether or not the thought OF her
troubled me. Instead of diSquirt, he saw
smile NV eyes felt large with kindly light.
II shall send the nurse with her in day or
two"
[ was little disappointed IN the answer
was Iaboring for prize, and could not bear
to have 1t removed so far from me, even for the
short space OF lew days, but | assented quiet
ly, and commenced folding my work. There
was sober bridal outfit 20 be arranged, and |
must not lose time on anything else.
"a bridal outfit 2"
| repeated the words to myself, they were SO
strange Pau>ing before mirror, thought
how poorly orange flowers would twInr with
nv hair. If could but have yew. Away
hack in the past some one had said 10 me that
nothing poorer than pearls ought ever to shine
from the deep brown of my brads. | remem-
bered the words then, and caught them up as
we sometimes catch sound that is dead in its
echo. | was little weak for a moment, and
felt like putting down the burden that had ta-
ken so braveIy few moments before. But ii
was only fol moment. The cross that IS not
heavy enough 10 break may Strengthen and
wear my shoulders would be fitted 10 IL some
time, said
never looked back after that, and in the
weeks time | had become the wife OF Philip
Hueston, and heard from the hPs OF has two
ear old babe the blessed Mother ~
What a strange life had after that-halt
shadow, half sunshine. For the love Of the
child was blessed, and to it gave every
thought, forgetting the sweet, tender CLAIM OF
wifehood that was upon me. Craven creature
that was because death had entered my soul,