Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-02-23

eInn vi nei lace, stopped, and asked if she
it?' A' 'nahA you What time is
A.: early two. May sit with you a little.
A1Se nee l nave great deal to say to you"
| no "eary look was gone in a moment: it
| was very unusual thing for him to ask to sta v
win ner, and it made her color come.
| ne brought a chair and sat near her, but
Mnele soe could not see his face. He took up
| the book she had been reading.
| no sent you this, Alice! Which of the
| adoring swains 20 'A'
| I" Mr.. Craven sent it me-"
| Did you ever hear an old song, "Heigh- no,
helgh-ho I'm afraid too many"
| Hush: cried she, rather pettishly; eff you
| talk In that way, shall send you away.
He took her hand, and held it in both his
| own. r...
| My dear little cousin, will you take word
heart? ?' -
She neither spoke, nor yet withdrew her
| hand.
| t'You have no mother to watch over Won
| dear Alice. and are placed in what L know
| must be very. very trying position. I am
sure you always wish to do right; but it is verv
hard to escape from the unkind remarks of the
world: You are very young, very lovely; many
envy you-many censure you"
He paused a moment and Alice hid b.r foo.
upon the arm Of the sofa
10 not think me presuming, dear Alice, in
speaking thus. We are old friends-we shall
always be friends, shall we not?n
Her fingers closed on his
remember that you have much to ansver
1or-many responsibilities. Above all. take
care that you DO not make others unhappy, or
trlne with affection, which, if true, is more
priceless than all the wealth of the world !,
"Yes''
fill them" A"n " iu'
!, She was sobbing in low, subdued manner.
that went to his heart
ou are not angry with me, Alice?"
heart. ' ''"o n''
we old bachelors are privileged persons,
you know. Nay, you must not sob in this way,
1 only wanted to give you a word of caution be-
8. a. nGO,, ~. cried Alice, springing to her feet;
"Oh are you going to leave me %
lie was not prepared for this. He hardly
dared to trust himself to look upon her, as she
stood there with clasped hands and uuiverine
lips. o
"les, am going back to Lescombe; have
peen here too long" }" he added, half to himself,
but she heard the words
Too long. Then you have been dull. lone.
ly with us-and now you are going. Oh what
snail what shall We do without you?"
Nay, Alice, you will hardly miss me; it is
not as though l were a young man, and could
be more companiOnable to you; besides, my
people ut LescOmbe want me; and-but, Alice,
Ance: DO not cry, L cannot bear it, dear
That word recalled her to herself 1t was
better to hear it, though, from him. Yes. he
thought OF her as q child: and she, she had
dared to love him. not az a child loves, but ss
woman she had poured out her whole heart
at his feet and perhaps he knew that it was
so-perhaps he scorned her for it,
She dashed the tear-drops from her ewes.
struggled to stay the sobs that nearly choked
her and sat down by his side
" Tell me about LescOmbe"
LescOmbe was his hOme-the manor house of
country village He told her of his tenantry
and how poor some of them were; of the efforts
ne nad made, and was making, to improve
their condition; of the schools he had built
and the new parsonage then in progress; of
hoW he visited among them, and tried to win
their confidence and love; and as he spoke so
earnestly and truthfully of all this. his homely
face to her seemed beautiful, with a higher
beauty than that of mere form, and she felt, as
she had often felt before, that to be his wife
would be the happiest lot On earth. and one of
which she was unworthy.
Mr.. Warlng was In reality but distant con-
nectIOn OF her fathers: but Alice had known
him since she was little child and the name
of Cousin Jonathan" given to him then, had
been retained in after years. She had always
looked upon him as her friend, but uncon-
sclOusly had learned at last to love him as a
woman loves but once The very fact of his
being so many years older than herself had,
tor time, blinded her as to the real nature of
her feelings; but when she met with that love
from others, which from him she would have
gwen all the world to possess, she knew how it
was, and bitter, very bitter, were the pangs of
w m oil rnrrA 10 ov,1 4
heart.
"When do you leave us ?' asked Alice, as
she rose to quit the room
Tomorrow" he replied, without looking
That night they had no engagement Alice
made tea for them in the drawing room.
My darling, are you not we'll 9' said Mr..
Braybrook, taking her hand in his.
Mr.. Waring looked earnestly at her for a
moment. A bright crimson spot burnt on each
cheek, but there was livid circle round her
eyes, and her lips were almost colorless A
strange thought came over him-a thought that
made his pulse bound wildly and his hand
trembe.
Could it be so He tried to put the thought
| from him He dared not dwell upon it.
The footman entered Captain Ray is in
the library
why did you not show him in here ~
asked old Braybrook sharply.
no ASKED 10 see you alone, sir.
Alice had risen and walked to the fire place,
where she stood, holding the mantel-shelf with
| both hands; but Mr.. Waring had caught a
glimpse OF her face as she passed-it was death
| iy pale Her father left the room
There was dead silence
| She knew of this hence her agitation. -
thought Mr.. Waring, as he covered his ewes
with his hand, to shut out the sight of her from
before him. A0' ALVIN
The silence continued unbroken. and bs felt
his seif-control deserving him.
| Ahce, shall 90 to my room-I have let
ters to see to-and-I mig ght be in the way."
| She turned to him-such a mute exnression
OF anguish on her face that he uttered an ex.
clamation of horror and surprise. She stretched
out her hands to him. as though in Wild en-
treaty. He sprang to her side, claspinr hands
like death, So cold, 80 lifeless.
Alice, darling, do not look in that vav all
VIII De well; you will be happy-you must be.
4 tod bless you and him.
He hurried from her presence, feeling IN
aoie TO bear 1t even one moment longer
The morning came-the morning of a dsv
raught with fearful interest to Alice Bray-
1rook-the day that must part her from Mr.
RI