Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-05-03

no sympathy; was enough for m.
self; ] could &c through the worI
aloue.A ! arose and walked to II
y window. On the floor lay piet
e. Of folded paper: 1t was a lette
D. from Clifton to me, received tn
r day before, and l read it owe
:; again. 1t was full Of love to dea
" mother although be had written t
IL her at the same time, intersperse'
q with accounts of bis dislike of school
e and longiDgs for sailors life; say
n ing, in strict confidence, if it wer'
! not that he was to come back t.
her at the end Of year. he would
: run away and 60 to sea. / was an
cry With him. He, too, bad turned
!, from NE I thought; SO ! tore UP
. the letter, threw it away, and sitting
; down on the window. seat, looked out
into the garden.
The hours passed slowly away, and
II began to feel very miserable
Clifton would come home next win
ter-perhaps before-for might not
she, now that she bad ceased to love
me, persuade my father to serd for
him, and let me go in bis place?-
Nv father would do it, | was sure,
if she suggested it. The patteriug
rain and dreary prospect were not
calculated to inspire me with more
cheerful thoughts; and, in spite of
of my boasted independence, my
loneliness came over me like food.
and wept bitterly. ] had tried TO
deceive mysrlr INFO thinking that ]
needed no sympathy; dut ! felt
that been longing for it all The
time. ! did not think ofpride, now.
l only knew that longed for ten
der hand, soothing voice; for some
one to say, 4 love you, Halold--
tell me what troubles you;' and then.
with that feeling Of desolateness
which it is painful to. witness in a
grown person, but fearful to see liz a
child, | laid my bead down on win
doy-bench, and uttered one moan
ing cry, oh, mother, motheL come
back!' 7 thought it was my own
mother that / wanted, but now
knew that it was not, for to my
minds eye as called her, she bore
that sweet, pale face, and those low
ing eyes that ! had seen gazing into {
the blazing fire that November night;
but she was fading slowly into the
mist, and SO / called again, for she :
vas almost gone, oh, mother! moth
eIp r
'Harold!' Il
I started in moment to my feet. {
Ny step-mother had entered the !
room unnotieed, aud, as | rose she s
lung herself at my fee:,on her knees {
before me, and grasped my hands !
n both of hers. They were very, q
very cold, and the pale face, with
dark rims round the eyes. and the +
words which she uttered with almost I
gasp, all told of intense suffering
Harold, love me-! only love me! /,
Love me, Harold! t.
l was stunDe&--I could not speak, .
md she, taking my silence for refusal,
gavs one cry Of anguish, rose to her ,
eet, tottered, grasped the bed.post
o support herself and then sank
1eayily to the floor. l thought she !;
sas dead. My pride had vanished.
knew that / loved hel now. But !,
,ad she not gone further. further in :
o the mist and darkness? Would +;
,he ever come back to me? But !.
must cali again, though it were de- .
and I threw myself beside /,
1er, and sobbed again
.Ob, mother! mother,
She rouseds little and opened 3
heT eyes. sa9bf 6g f
Say it again, Harold--say it {
lgainr she said eagerly. as though t
had brought her a message of life. I.
Mother, dear mother!' sas 41,
In moment her arms we're around /
mt; she had claspec me close to her
breast, and her warm tears we're fall i
ng like rain upon my head, and
ningling with mine.
From shat moment | more; than {
idolized her. l believe, in j
Iced know, that at any moment ! I
could have laid down my LIE for her.
smile from her was my greatest (
,oward; look Of sadness %. greatest
punishment. i asgs ~ss,s ssu. X
Time passed on; the ainter and !