Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-02-06

1t did not greatly effect your father but
| how was il Was it because | knew you SC
we'll that l instiDctively guessed you were
moved by it? When shook hands with you
said good night, your hand trembIed in
mine
Won't you look in, too ?" said the Colo
| mel.
But shook my head "Not to-night-no
thank you." And so we parted
My lodgings were in the Gregoriana the
| windows looked out over gardens and cupoas;
| from one of them 1 could see the Pincio. From
the one next morning, as sat drinking my
coffee suddenly saw you, walking slowly
along By the parapet, with your dog running
| by your side. You went to one Of those out
| lying terraces which flank the road, and lean
| ing over the stonework, looked out at the grand
, panorama lying at you feet-Rome, with her
purple mantle of mist, regaly spreading, her
towers, her domes, and great ST. Peters rising
over the house-tops, b r seven hills changing
and deepening with noblest color, her golden
crown of sunlight streaming and melting with
the mist Somehow, /, too saw all this pres
emily when Preached the place where You we're
still standing.
And now have almost come to the end
of my story, that is, of those few days Of my
life of which you, Esther, were the story
You stood there waiting, and hastened to-
ward you, and fate q fancied you we're my
Fate) went on its course quite unmoved By my
hopes or your fears. 1 thought that you looked
almost handsome for once. You certainly
seemed more happy. Your face flushed and
faded your eyes frightened and darkened.-
As you turned and saw me- radient quiVer,
a pteOGs nile came TO greet me strangely
You seemed trying to speak, but the words
died away on your iipS-to keep silence, at
least but the faltering accents broke forth.
"What is it, dear p said |, at last, with
a queer sinking of the heart, and | held out
my hand.
You caught it softly between both yours
"Oh y you said, with sparkIingYeyes, Il an
mean, wretched girl-oh don't think too i'll
Of me- He, Mr.. Halbert, came too see me
last night, and-and, he says. e. . Oh !!
don't deserve it. On forgive me, for am
SO happy = and you burst into tears. " You
have been so good to me- you whispered on.
I" hardly know how good. He says he only
thought Of me when you spoke of me to him,
when-when he saw you did not dislike me-
| am behaving shamefully-yes, shsmefully,
but it is because l know you are too kind not
to forgiye-not to forgive What can l do
You know how it has always been. You don't
know what it would be to marry one person,
caring :or another An you don't know what
it would be to have it otherwise than as it is"
(this cIasping your hands, "But You don't
ask it. " All forgive me, and say you don't
ask it." Then standing straight and looking
down with certain sweet dignity, you went
on" Heaven has sent me q great and unex-
pected happiness, but there is, indeed, bitter,
bitter cup to drink as well Though | throw
you over, though l behave so selfshly, don't
think that | am utterly conscienceless, that |
do not suffer a cruel paug indeed when l
think how you must look at me, when | re-
member what return | an making for all your
forbearance and generosity. When think of
myself | an ashamed aud humiliated when |
think Of him" Here you suddenly broke
of, and turned away your face.
All me turned away your face forever from
me. The morning mists faded away the mid
day sun streamed over bills and towers and
valleys. The bell OF the Trnita hard By began
to toll.
said, "Good-by, and Heaven keep you,
my dear Iwould not have had you do 9th
erwise" And so l went back to my lodging.