The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-06-12

sad, "you shall hear my sermon today.
Do you know, Nettie, why / am now
at IS years of age, bachelor, with a
lonely, aching heart?''
"L"nely, Joe ?" And Netiic, now
grave Az himself, laid her head OH her
brothers broad breast. t-r,
eyes, Nettie! Even my little sister,
dearly as love her, cannot fill all my
heart"
"Tell me all about it -
"It was twelve years ago when
came home from college, that l first met
Laura Lee"
"Mrs. Holmes ?"
eyes; don't interrupt me. I will
tell you how slowly my heart woke tn
the sense of gradual growth Of her
Image i'm it till il filled it entirely. Par
ents, home, sister, all become second
10 the one hope of my life Imet her
often, we moved i'm the same circle i'm
society, and at every party. frequent
ed could dance and chat with her.
Her beauty attracted; her intellect
interested her gracious manners fas-
cinated me-. / was young then and
trustful, aud she let her little hand
linger in mine, and turned from others
to converse with me when she let her
dark eyes full of soft light, dwell
thoughtfnlly on my face, | believed
that the devotion | lavished upon her
was understood, appreciated, returned.
Y"u know that | am an impulsive man,
but cannot forget easily, nor recover
readily from severe blows. Day after
day the love, the one love of my life,
grew into my heart, absorbing me to
the exclusion of all else. felt so Sc
cure looking into her lovely face, hear
ing her winning tones soften for my
ear, feeling the answering pressure her
hand gave mine that it was long before
| spoke my love. One evening, ,"-,leep
inspirations heavcd the strong mans
chest, and Nettie could hear how rap
idly the blood cnursed through his
veins, and made his heart beat quickly
alone in the parlor. She had been
singing, and the rich full notes seem To
hang lovingly around me, and l spoke
my love.
She drew away from the arm that
would have caressed her, aud said with
3 light langh-"Whv, Mr.. Lawton, did
you not know that was engaged?' /
replied no. Yes she replied, Dir.
Holmes has been away since knew
you, but l thought you knew of the
engagement.
/ knew that this was false. Fearful
of losing the attention she had been
accustomed to, she kept her engage
m-nt secret, that in society she might
reign as one free to be w"n-I said To-
her-'Forgive me that ! have annoyed
you, ooh, no, not at all" she said,
IL shall he happy to see yon. am
sorry there was any mistake, but ]
thought you were, like myself, only
flirting, pour passer lc temps"
$50 We parted, l came home mad
dene.l, sickened. L." and here his
voice sank to whisper, 81 drank deep
~, Nettie, to try to forget, bnt my ma
tnre revolted at this degradation.
tried study. My fathers death just
w~ke me from the dellriOus agony of
Thought; and when my mother fol-
lowed him, leaving yon. child To my
charge. slrrnly faced life, trying to
fo, get the paradise l had dreamed of
and lost. LOST! Never can l trust
again "a / trusted then. Where do
nesiic happiness should have blessed
my life, she has thrown bitter memo.
ries t" take it's place. She has made
me stern, cynical, distrustfnl, and ex.
cuses herself OH the ground that it was
'oDly flirtatinn.' Do no, let me see
my little sister follow in her footsteps.
or I shsli learn to hate and despisc all
women"
81 am sorry"
"Nrtiie. Graham loves you, would
make y"u his wife has spoken of it to
me. Yet, if you cannot love him, let
him see now that his suit will be vain
one. Do not lead him on, till your air
is hi. one hope, to drive him to despair
ut last. He is rash aud impnlsive and
nav not live down such a blow"
"Jne-" in a clear tone.
eyes. dear"
"TeIl him I-love-hin-and ar,-
not flirting"
Yes"
"And-Joc-don't hate-me."
A tender, loving kiss was pressed
npon her forehead, and a low voice
blessed her for her decision.