The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-04-23
Love in the Valley of the Juniata...
True Tale.
By GRACE GREENWOOD.
IcoscLUDED.1

III tue tnornlDg hlOrluge IOunQ MIN
self oppressed with heavy cold, il
consequence of his exposure to tn
preceding evenings storm. He wa
really III, grew rapidly worse, and tn
next day was PROSTATE with inhalnet
lungs. He recovered, of course,
would not have heart to choose
Paul pombey for hero-but only at
ter weeks of extreme and severe suffer
ing and then DIR. NJ, who haC
been his physician, and constant nurse
gravely assured him that he mus
abandon preaching altogether, fol
years to come. Oh /! it was a bitter
moment to the young clergyman He
groaned deeply, and bowed his face Oh
his almost transparent hand; and
when he at last looked up, his dark
eyf-Iashes were glistened with tears
Had all his intense longings, his hun.
gei'ing and thirsting after opportunities
of great usefulness in that most holy
OF professions, come to this ?"
While yet suffering under this unex-
pected trial, letter was brought in,
which he read aloud to the doctor. Ii
was from his parents, and urged, in af-
tectionate terms, his immediate return
home. Their eldest see was trav cling,
their daughter was married, and they
were quite alone.
"Really, this reconciliation at this
time, seems providential," remarked
the doctor, land you will surely return
to Virginia, as soon as you have stuff
cient strength"
"Yes, bu, must see Elizabeth before
| go-I cannot endure suspense-my
life seems balancing on thread"
"W ell, go to her." rejoined the doc
tor, 'she is frank, straight forward
girl, and will tell you the truth withou,
your taking the trouble to lay your
hand on her heart"
''But, my dear NJ, thould sue.
ceed in winning her love, l sometimes
fear shall be doing her an unkindness
in taking her from the social sphere
in which she has always moved that
she will he i'll at ease in the society OF
my family and friends"
81 tell you, Elbridge,' exclaimed
N, ''you either don't half deserve
our Elizabeth, or you don't half know
her. AS your wife, believe me, you
will have reason to be proud of her in
any circle of American society. With
the highest natural grace, elegance and
dignity, she has any amount of tact
and adaptedness, and is fitted for any
sphere, however exalted, to which the
man she loves may raise her. SO don't
fear introducing her to your aristocratic
connexions, she will make her own way
bravely. But here We are, coolly dis
eussing these matters, when Heaven
only knows whether the girl will have
you at ALL"
And it seemed doubtful matter for
some time after. AS soon as Elbridge
was strong enough he rode up to the
Blair's, and day after day repeated his
visit. But there was Mary Blair, a
laughing, teazing gypsy of creature,
always at her sisters side, and Elbridge
was suddenly the most bashiul of men.
Finally, calling up all his courage, he
begged her to join him in a walk.
"Certainly, if you desire it," she
calmly said and tying on her neat sun
bonnet, was soon strolling by his side.
For some moments the poor fellow
could not utter syllable, but at last
let his warm, honest heart speak for it
self in these simplest of words =
elizabeth, love you ardently, de-
votedly; do you return my affection p
"Mr. Elbridge," she rejoined in a
voice slightly tremulous,' "though !
have admired and revered, l have new
er yet presumed to love you; but if the
grateful affection of poor, uncutivat-
ed girl like me can add to your happi-
ness | do not think it will long be with
held"
And thus they parted.
At their next meeting, Elizabeth,
suffering her lover to retain her little
hand in his, said, with an enchanting
smile, and in the sweetest of tones, 81
have been thing over our last evenings
conversation, and looking closely into
my heart, aud | find that have been
loving you all along"
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