The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-04-10

the SlOplnS pain TO some SnruDDery aC Ine
waters edge, little rustic bench was
fixed there, and we sat upon it.
Silent both. l was thinking, and so
was she: of the same subject, hoped and
fancied, and broke silence
"Miss Ross, am going away to-mor-
row."
'To-morrow ?" l could see her in the
moonlight as she spoke. Tomorrow !?
that is soon."
"No, have stayed too long already.
Ny business has been wOfully neglected.
Can you guess what has kept me here,
Miss Ross ?''
She looked down upon the grass, and
trifled with ribbon at her waist, but made
no answer.
"You have detained me, you, Gertrude"
l said softly. "Do you know that p
Have you guessed it,"
"I-I- Oh, don't say that, she cried,
with frightened clasping Of her hands.
"Don't say that, Mr.. Avery. /" and
she arose gathering her shawl about her
with nervous motion.
"Stop!" cried "You must hear me!
| have fingered for your sake, and yours
only. l love you. adore you. No
words can tell how feel towards you
Tell me that you return my love-that you
will one day be my wife ?"
| sank ON my knees beside her, and
placed my arm about her waist; but she
pushed me off, and burst into a flood Of
tears.
"Why do you tell me this?" she cried.
"Or why did you not speak before. 1t is
too late nOw-too late-tOo late"
"Too late! Why?'
81 am engaged to your cousin John. >
stood aghast for many moments. |
could not have spoken to save my life, and
she, drawing farther from me, leaned her
forhead against the gnarled trunk of a tree
and sobbed aloud.
At last l found breath to speak.
"You love John, then"
She started as if an adder had stung her.
He is very good, =" she answered, every
kind to me- | am an orphan, and almost
frendless. He offered me his home and
his protection. Twas grateful, and never
guessed that / should meet one whom l
could love better, and so promised to be
his wife,
"Leave me. Never think of me again,
and | will try to forget YOU
"Leave you! forget you! and yet you
love met" | exclaimed. 'Never! Ger
trude. Cousin John shall not enforce his
claim. Let him marry some rosy farm
ers's daughter. There are plenty ready
for him. But you, he cannot understand
you He has no right to YOU
81 have given him my PROMISE, an
swered she; land | will not go from t.
81 will tell him all, cried Il will
defy him. You are mine. Sympathy and
love make you SO. Who is this boOrish
Cousin John that he should come be-
tween us?"
AS spoke, there came q sob from the
shadow Of the bushes, and with the sob q
mighty rustling Of the branches, and
straight before us arose a tall, broad-shoul-
dered figure as softly and swiftly as any
ghost could come.
1t was Cousin John.
"'Tisn't my fault that have heard yol, :"
he said Il didn't mean to, but after the
first I couldn't go away. Iwon'5 deny
but what my heart does ache, OF but what
it does seem hard to me. But faint no
use to talk about it. | wouldn't stand in
your way, nor make that pretty critter
keep her promise against her Will for all
the world. Pm a rough fellow, 1 know,
and | amt handsome but [ loved her.
Only love her as much, Oliver; that is all
[ ask. Wouldn't ha' let the wind blow
onto her rough I'd been good to her
all the days of my life. You'll be good to
her, Oliver, but not better than I'd been,
with all your beauty and your schoolin'."
He dried his eyes with his sleeve as he
spoke, and came towards us.
81 give her up to you, Oliver" he said.
81 haven't no claim to her Good bye,
Gertrude. God bless you"
And my awakened country cousin stoop-
ed and pressed kiss upon Gertrude's fore
head, made a mighty effort and gave his
hand to me and walked away, leaving US
together. .t
Slowly he went, and calmly, but the
evening air was very still, and from the
distance came some thing not long after
like the moan Of strong man in pain.
looked at Gertrude. She looked at
me. Neither Of Us spoke. Strangely
enough cloud had come between us. We
had given pain to noble heart, and we
liked each other none the more for it. , |
would have given her up freely to cure his
bleeding wounds, and she-I know not
what she felt. But no lovers kiss passed
between US when we parted. The next
morning cousin John had gone. Where,
few knew. A ship had sailed at dawn for
England, and his old servant woman said
he started in that, and that he looked i'll
and troubled.
There was no bar between Gertrude and
myself now; but with the obstacle, our
love had passed away. I knew it, so
did she, and we never married. y In lit
tie while we were not even friends.
But l heard of her sometimes living