Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1862-02-06

, ,ight He's failed they say; and now
t he's goin' to look out for rich wife
S Now knit three stitches, and widen again.
3 The keen gray eyes of the spiuster new
3 er left the girls face: she saw its deep
flush, and half guessing the truth planted
another thorn: 81 used think be and
5 Minnie would make a match, but there's
, an end TO that now. I declare you have
, dropped two or three stitches! let me
! take them up-there! Sarey Jackson
J said that Minnie said that Grant remarked
one day that he was goin' to have hun.
dred thousand any way" -.-4i
Then pretending TO notice her redeemed
cheek for the first time, she added, ala
now. maybe you know Mr.. Ryland.
"Yes; and | do not think be will marry
as you say" said Pauline, hastily, as she
moved aside, for she had caught glimpse
of a well known form in the hall, and
made her escape before he should enter.
Sitting in the dimly lighted excepting
room," awaiting her aunt's pleasure, which
seemed to be to linger unusually long to-
night, she could see all that took place in
either room, while in the shadow, muff1ed
in her gray cloak, she was herself unseen
saw Grant enter, and glance swiftly
around the circle, and quickly stepping up
behind Minnie place bis hands over her
eyes, bidding her guess who it was-saw
her blush and tremble as he stopped to
whisper over the little pink ear-and saw
her take from his grasp photograph,
which she kissed in her wild passionate
way-glaDcing from the picture to the
man before her, saying, softly, "Itis very
liker' The light was strong, and the pic
ture clear enough to see that though it
was Grant Ryland's face, it was in SOL
dier's uniform; and then it flashed through
Pauline's mind that he was going off to
join the army. He had limited somewhat
of this on their pleasant homeward walk
from church; and she remembered that be
had sighed deeply when he spoke of it
Her last word to him seemed TO stay his
purpose, when she only said "Don't join
;he army yeti" She had fancied some
thing more than gallantry had prompted
his grave reply, as he raised her hand
lightly to his dark mustache; but now,
she, Mime, held his fate. That he was
fortune hunter she never for one moment
credited; that he loved Minnie she did not |
suffer herself to doubt. When the heiress
laid her down 10 rest there was strange
pain bearing her company. On the hearth
yet Law the ashes Of the withered wild
wood flowers that she had dept till now,
and burned with trembling hand-the
only love- token she had ever valued. She
sat long in the window looking over to
the hillside, where the white grave-stones
glimmered in the moonlight, and where
the mother she had loved SO well was ly-
ing, and longed to sleep beside her. This
night had revealed 10 her how, in all these
months, she had kept the bright image Of
one who seemed so far beyond others; so
frank and manly, so good and tender; and
now-he belonged 10 another! Minnie's
bright curly head should rest on his breast
for shelter, her tiny hand should cling 10
his for guidance. But she is no idle
dreamer, this brave girl; and looking from
the shining grave-stone over her mothers
resting place on earth up to the shining
stars that marked her nome above, she
asked His grace to bear the trial, and His
brightest blessings on Grant Ryland's lot,
even though another walked life's path
way beside him. ...
What made Grant Ryland think he
ought to call and see Miss Sophy Grump?
He had no knitting drawn up in snarl,
no milten that looked more like cloven
hoof than anything else to be Strengthened
and shaped. Pauline Beaufort had, and
it was quite natural that she should call
and ask assistance from the greatest knit
ter in the town; and sitting in the window
her diamond earrings glittered in the sun
light bravely, and caught the idle gazer's
eye. Perhaps be wanted to see those ear
rings nearer. He knew no one else in the
village wore them, and it was qnite natu-
raj that he should like closer view. Yes,
it must have been the diamonds. Miss
Sophy actually blushed with pleasure as
she rose 10 welcome him. The ball of
yarn of course rolled quite away; but the
bow with which he restored it compensa-
ted for the annoyance of having Polliny
looking fresh and fair so close beside her.
Pauline hardly looked up, and spoke
but little. She always found pair of
eyes fixed on her with an earnest, trou-
bled look that quite uuuerved her; and SO
she bent lower and lower over her work
while Miss Sophy, not at all abashed, kept
up the chat.
"You see, Mr.. Ryland, we are busy for
the soldiers as usual. Speaking of the
soldiers, now do tell if you are going off
too! l heard SO the othes day."
al suppose l shall. Miss Sophy, l
should 90 mad to stay idling here. am
sorry to leave moth>r alone;" and the ,
moist eyes looked through the dim win
low pane off toward the little white cot
age with its clustering vines, for he knew I
hat sorrowful heart would keep its
n the days TO come.
All this time Pauline never looked up {
Or spoke, but Miss Grump remarked soft
y. s. 54F .-1 assls.-.
Il s'pose there's others besides Miss Ry
and who will miss you;" and the damsel {
Grump let the gray yarn roll of across
.he room. .i-4 f..t r.a
Grant, slowly winding it up in an ab-
sent mood, laid it by mistake in Pauline's 1
ap, saying, abstractedly, "Are there ~ I
A I 4 al. - IL Ia