Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-09-06
9n yntsresting Gale.
sTEMPTED, BUT NOT. OVER
.sse COME Or EVIL"
~ VIRGINIA =. TOWNSEND.

Tome now. Ralph!"
AMI the lady apr ng op with blush and
a iroMn, and littie hu,ter Of smile, while
the slipper which she was embroidering
dropped TO the floor. ,-,s -. ia,
"Well, hang il! you've no business 10 look
so pretty that fellow can't help kissing
you"
5 And he stood there, With his handsome,
iancy face, his 6}irhis abused eyes, HE
jaunty air, and the half inischievous, half
penitent look which he had taken on for the
occasion.
She tried 10 lotk serious and dignfed, as
became wife Of three mouths Standing
" Cousin Ralph, you forget that we are no
longer children. aud thai II isn't quite proper
that you should be $3.50 rude"
"lt's a fact, May" gently seating her and
picking up the slipper; "bu,. boxing at you
sitting there os came past the window,
with your face bent down over your work,
and your curls Hu,tering about it, quite
forgot that you we're anything but May Oar
ling, and Ralph Uphan, your boy lover,
who used 10 tease you from morning until
night, and end by loving you better than
ever.
you have the sweet face that used to
laugh out on me from betwixt the lilac
bushes, at the old South window at Uncle
jacobs; and only thought Of this when
kissed it," tT.'
His words had touched some secret chord
Of memory and feeling-you would have
seen that, by the tremulous shadows which
went over the sweet face--by the small,
faint sigh that fluttered out Of the lips, red
as a stem Of ripe cutrants.
lie had seated himself by her side, and
had caugh, the tassels or her dressing gown
end was swinging them back and forth while
he talked.
"Those were pleasant times, Ralph; but
perhaps it'A as we'll, now, not to talk of the
past"
'"Why not. pray! There is nothing, surely
in.that fair picture lying away back in the
memories OF both our hearts, that we should
not recallit together" ,et.sa
"Lh, Ralph, you haven't lost your old
trick Of talking everybody into just your way
of thinking" and this time the lady looked
up and smiled ia hes. ee.rseH:on's tecc; but
there was iittle shadow Of doubt and pa in
in the smile.
"And you haven't lost your old face, May
Darling, with it's childlike, wistfnl look
the dear, sweet face that was the angel OF
my boy hood and youth"
He was stroking the glossy, golden hair
now, with that sort of restless grace with
which Ralph Upham always did everything
A deep flush mounted 10 the lady's brow.
."Oh, Ralphyou must row talk to me in that
way'" and she moved uneosily.
IL beg your pardon, May, but how in the
world can help forgetting, every other
minute, that you are tho wife of another
man, By.the-by, want to hear something
nf this HUSBAND Of yours. shall always owe
him a grudge for cutting me out; but then
he must be an incarnation Of all excelen.
cies to have found his way into that best
room OF your little heart" nv
ale is good, true. noble man; md he
" ould sacrifice his very life to make ne
happy."sr r A'
She spoke the words out strong and brave.
ly. as though they expresseda a settled con.
vction of her heart. 4n'
81 am glad to hear it, Moy. Whatever
scapegrace may have been in times gone
by, my heart has always cherished the war.
nest desires for your happiness. ESQ
He saw these words had their effect, and
continued, after little pause, "Well, tell
me something further about this husband o
yours. Is he handsome?" a''1
"No; but fine looking"
"The world calls him most promising
Young lawyer. Really, May, you can have
nothing more to wish for!' watching her
face with his bright, keen eyes.
"No--oh, no; nothing!"
She spoke quick and emphatically, bu,
moi exactly with enthusiasm.
nW ell, l,m satisfied nos, Nay, respect
ing your lle--fully entirely; and need not
tel you how my heart rejoices In this" y
"You ure very kind, Ralph" and now she
looked up and smiled openly and warmly in
"I was at Winsted last week. The old
place looks just as it used to-"
This was opening into great storehouss
Of old memories and associations. Mrs
Denison's thoughts instantly leaped forth t.
grasp, them, for she was an impulsive little
creature; and she sat by the sitting-roou
window with her cousin that summer morn
ing, and talked Of her childhood, and walked
amid the scenes which they two had livet
together. Her cousin led her adroitly ~
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