The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-05-07

| think John asked himself more than once that
day, " Is Mary right
When she babe me goodbye. she wound her
white arms around my neck and kissed me, say
ing, in her gentle voice, write 70 me often,
Margaret. and teach me 70 be worthy Of him
And she went away through the avenue, leaning
on his arm, the warm autumn sunlight falling
on her golden hair, making her very beautiful.
CHAPTER III.
Soon after this, John Grant left Elm Wood,
10 engage in business IN q western city. seldom
heard, and never mentioned his name. Mary
Wallace wrote me frequently during the winter {;
her letters were like herself, graceful and charm
ing, full Of love and confidence. She wrote
much of John, how proud she was OF him.
what letters he wrote. 50 much better than hers,
and wasn't il strange he should love such a child
as she was - She went on writing in this way
for several months, but at length there was a
change in her manner of speaking of John 1t
seemed as though she was not quite as happy as
she had been she said she began 10 be dis
Outraged about ever knowing any more, and
limited that John was getting dissatisfied with
her-generally ending her letters with a disquisl-
ton on her favCrite cat or canary. y month or
two after this, | was not much surprised when
she wrote that her engagement was broken by
mutual consent they were not at all suited 10
each other, and no doubt would both be happier"
She concluded with "A long account of her new
black kitten - Topsy,'' who was a most know
ing cat ana naQ SuCn pretty features
CHAPTER ". AND LAST.
Two years passed, and | seldom heard Johns
name mentioned, and if | thought Of him ut all
/ believed L had conquered my old attachment.
Nv life flowed on quietly and serenely. | tried
u be useful TO others, and in regular employ
ment and recreation | was content. Was there
a capacity for higher happiness unemplOyed-a
craving Of my woman's nature unsupplied?
One year agO-hOw well l remember the day
ii 4 - Ill H..
light Of an October day, when hearing a rust
ling among the golden autumn leaves that lay
thick upon the gravel stones, | looked up and
approaching through the avenue-John
Grant.
When he last walked there, she was with him,
but he was alone now, and my hearts quick
thrDJbing told me his crrIud.
Was | weak and wanting in selErespect, when,
after he had told me all, told me that although
he was fascinated by a beautiful and loving
child, deep down in his heart had always lain Il
for me, though in = the first glow of his
passion for Mary, he was hardly conscious of it
how he had thought from the calm indiiier-
encc Of my manner that | had never thought OF
him-how, since he had been again free. he had
been afraid To make known his love for me, feel
ing that he had acted dishOnOrably in the past"
Was | weak-minded and lacking in w%omanly
pride, when, after he told me all this, and asked
in trembling tones, {. could | forget the past and
be his own Margaret ?''-all my old love came
back to me, and with more confidence than |
could have felt four years before | laid my hands
in his, and said, :. John Grant, l will be yours
as my head lay on his breast be said,
= Am | forgiven, Margaret?" | answered,
g even as | hope to be forgiven Of my Father in
Heaven, so do | forgive you"
And so, as | have said before, tomorrow, God
will be my wedding-day. We do not
each other the wild, unthinking passion of
arly youth, but a deep and strong affection,
purified and made strong by the experience of
love that we can ask the blessing of our
Father upon-that we feel will be immortal, and
yhen my lips at the altar utter the solemn words,
l, Margaret, take thee, John to
owe, honor and obey" in my inmost soul they
will be ~joyfully repeated-'' to love, honor and
And as we commence walking together over
he smooth path and rough places of life, it will
De with the calm and happy assurance that
&. God hath joined us together and that neither
n time nor eternity shall we be put asunder.-
irthur'S Home Magazine.