The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-03-27
Origiual Story.
For the Journal.
THE OLD, OLD ROAD.
BY LENA LATHROr.

GENTLY the twilight rays were fading on that
evening, the night-birdS commenced their songs
1t WAS May, bright month of spring flowers soft
balmy breeze.
Meltha and were standing out under the old
sycamore tree, down by the little gate, admiring
the beautiful sunset how gradually the golden
and crimson sky faded, and was now only slight
tinge of pink - the tall elm trees standing on the
little hill to the West their graceful branches
swaying in the night wind, plainly discernable with
the light sky beyond.
1t WAS May in our hearts. The eager, expcctlnt
gaze of my sister, told she was expecting some one
Or was she to be disappointed. Meltha was my
elder and dearly beloved sister. No sacrifice on
my part for her was too great. As the tread of
horse drew near and the light cloud of dust rose
between the old trees that bordercd either side of
the road, silently withdrew kn wing only too WE'LL
that Darwin Leonard, had come to see my sister
Mc!tha Crowsby.
WAS very young then, not more than fourteen,
and Metha was my senior by four yenrs. 1t was
with sad heart that entered the little porch, for
child that was loved Darwin Leonard, my sis
tcrs afiianced and knew that in a few weeks her
bright golden head would be pillowcd on his breast
and he would call her by the name of Wife Oh.
NhN III hCi uCuit Vas ilhe DcHutcouS SdTucn,
filled with choice spring flowers and gay, singing
birds. She lad commenced the song of her young
life, set to sweet music. And | knowing all this,
aoved hm with all the strength of my childish ma
ture. stood on the porch thinking so gloomily
when the voice of those two came floating to me on
the breezes, thosegene love tones Of Darwin's and
now and then the soft silvery laugh of Meltha,
which coming from heart laden with happiness,
formed fitting chogus for the manly laugh of Dar-
win, and then speaking in louder tones
"Mcltha, where is lmogene this evening ? should
like to bid her goodbye too, but never mind dar-
ling, she would think it silly of to bid her adieu
and only going short distance and to be back 50
soon, but the time will seem long Mcltha, when
away from you"
heard all this and more bat why linger on a
subject that gave me pain Mcltha came tripping
along, "a light heart makes nimble feet" her
clothes almost touched me as she brushed past and
then listened to her rctrcating footsteps on the
stairs and all alone, but could not still the
wild throbbingS Of nay heart, and shortly when
seated in my room, listened while Mcltha chattcd
so gayly of her future, and finished by saying:
"Oh, lmo, if you only find some one to love as
noble and good as my Darwin, but there is time to
think of that years from now, Sis, and kissing me
"good night" she left me singing gay snatchcs of
songs.
Many days had come and gone and still we heard
not from Darwin Leonard. The short journey of a
few days iengtheued into weeks weeks into months,
and still no tdngs.
One day in the early autumn, when the trees first
assumed their gorgeous coloring of purple aud
scarlet, happening to take mp an old newspaper, at
a neiphborE I read he T,arria on NJ n Ioono,5
and.
did not stop to read farther, for my thoughts
were all then for Meltha. How was to break the
news to her, that would blight her young life.
through faithlCssness of one in whom all her hopes
were centered, for she still thought somethir pre-
vented her hearing from him. She could account
for his silence in hundred ways, where others less
trusting would have doubted. But was saved the
trouble of imparting the painful news. Mcltha
came to meet me as was coming down the old
road with the paper iE my hand.
limo, have been hunting everywhere for you,
and finally find you with and old prosey paper, but
we won't quarrel about that now. have good
news letter from Darwin" and playfully kissing
the envelope she tossed it to me TO read and snatch
ed the paper from my hands.
."Oh, here is Miss Garry married ia Darwin
Leonard"
The paper fell from her bands, and she sank up
on the grass. When she revived, it was in vain
that tried to console her with saying i: could not
be her Darwin, besides that was cnly D. w. Leon
ard, and me one who had the same name and in
itials as Darwin. . .
No! no, limo II must be him. | have often
heard him speak of Miss Garry, and she lived
where he was going. Oh, know it is him, my
heart tells me so."
ltwss many days ere Meltha was permitted 10
leave her room, aud then the thin fra face told of
suffering. II was Wednesday afternoon in October,
one OF those beautiful, sad days. which only autumn
gives us, day given to day dreams. Meltha was
lying on the sofa, her thin white hands clssped over
her face, her golden eurs thrown nervously over
the pillow, where the standing sun beams stopped
10 kiss them. rendering them more beautiful, and J.
seated on low ottoman, was reading to her Oar
wins letter. Remember every word of it now, the
every word telling Of his love for her. did not
know till then that my sister possessed such
strong will, or that Darwin Lsonard's heart con-
tanned 80 much deceit
"lmogene bring me my portfolio and will an.
sveT tha. letter." and then she tied all his letters
n oes bundle, and wrote a ecld formal uots, saw