Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-08-26
startlingIy white, cleaning like silver trail

startlingly white, cleaning like a silver trail
down the black locks
She turned away, but still she saw it every
where she saw it-down the walls, on the gilt
frames Of the pictures, on the door, every
where. 1t lay along the dark green of the
Venetian blind and when she raised that i'm.
patiently it cut in two the prospect from the
window.
Then she threw herself on a couch, and
covered her face. There seemed to be before
her, then, herself, yet not herself; bearing a
shadowy resemblance, but horrible to behold ;
gaunt figure, lonely, desolate woman, I'M
loving; with nothing but the bitter remem-
brance of past pleasures TO fill up the yearning
in her heart with none to live for, no voice to
answer hers, no lips to smile Tor her; alone
with the phanloms Of the past, which Knocked
her wretchedness.
Then the picture changed Earnest ey rs
were looking into her own; a wing hand
clasped hers whispers OF tenderness filled
tile air around her, and tears came stealing
through the hands cIasped over her face
That evening George Haughton saw that
his cousin was more beautiful than ever; that
there was a new grace about her, some
thing almost akin to humility that she was
strangely quiet and reserved. But he only
smiled bitterly as he saw it, and thought of his
vow.
Once only she addressed him-when he was
passing her to leave the room. Never looking
at him, or even turning toward him, she ven
tured to ask why he was going away SO soon.
He had letters to write, lie said he was going
to the library.
But he did not write them. He stood on the
rug, leaning his elbow on the mantel piece !;
he seemed to be weaving pictures out of the
dull glimmer of the fire ; but they could not
have been pleasant ones, his face was so stern
and bitter
He looked up impatiently as the door open
ed, but it was the figure Of his cousin which
stood there to interrupt him.
For a moment the old, long cherished love
camored at the door of Geol GEES heart and
cried out with piteous pleading to be taken
in but the keeper Of that door answered sor-
rowtuly, Too late"
She was near him now-downcast, but reso-
lutte.
"'rhe time has arrived George Haughton.
| come TO give you back your bond to set
you free"
George looked at her earnestly
as this all your pride can say to me, Cath.
crime 2"
All Oh, no! it needed but a word from
him to call forth the whisper of better and
happier love than she had ever known before,
but that word would never come. Looking
into his face, she choked back the halt-uttered
"Forgive me-"
81 remind you of your own declaration,
whether it was jest or earnest. The silver
streak has come; look here, George Haugh-
TOM
lie saw at once as she bent her head before
hm-the one white hair, glistening on the
black locks.
He said TO her, as calmly as he could almost
looking down upon her, as she stood there
"lhis, then, has gained victory which seven
years of devotion could not gain Give it to
me. Catharne, told you once that it was
not my love offered you, but my own lie.
You accepted it; yoa took and offered it upto
vanity and friyoi,y Think what ii sato have
withered mans life up"
Forgive ME, murmured Catharine.
II do | accept my release at your hands,
Catilitrlue, " ucl4 I---- l,,.s aaro
my heart was full of the old love. Again you
put me off, as though l were, indeed, no better
than a plaything Then swote that would
free myself but no effort was needed. l was
free your voice had no power TO move me,
nor your touch; you had wthered up all L
gave to you, and nothing remained but bitter
ncss-nothing. The past is like a dream,
which l can remember without being able to
bring back the emotions which filled it, They
will never come to me again. Those two, the
saddest words man tongue can utter, are all
that come to me as look at you, and think of
what might have been-'Too late"
He paused, but there was no reply. Then
sigh and trophy he holds it up-the long,
white hair
This, then, brought you to me too late.
Catharne, good bye; for If ever we meet again
it will rise up as ghost between us, and we
shall be strangers J!