The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-12-02

of crushed leaves which the dew had kissed
into sweeter scent than when they hung fresh
and crisp upon the trees. Habit been the
dreariest Of November days, with frost and
hail and all the mournful decay of Nature
around us, it would have seemed fair and
lovely time to me, for was not the tale of
love being told by the sweetest and mellowest
voice that I had ever heard--told, too, in firm
and manly tones, as if the speaker knew his
own worth, and felt that ], too, should reeog-
nize and own its power. Ah the memory
i of that hour! when the wine of life was first
presented TO my lips for,of allthelyears that
had gone by since my parents died. l had
been longing, thirsting, dying FOR love that
shnuld equal theirs.
= w o did not return that afternoon until the
sun had set He took me from the carriage,
and carried me tenderly into the house in his
arms. Lima sat by the window. Her face
was turned partly away as if she did not wish
to see him do this. Her manner, as she an
swered his good-evening, was cold and con-
strained to mine she did not respond at all,
but was too happy to mind it. When my
aunt came in, he said, in reply to jesting
remark of hers, that l was surely able to
walk alone ass5GA gfsss aiz GeH10 s. =
Perhaps so. but must be very tender of
her now Mrs. Leslie, Annie is to be my
wife,,
Il was very abrupt, know, yet was glad
he had announced it. Liza did not move
from her half-averted position, hut saw her
lips shattightly, and her small hand quiyered
as it lay upon her lap.
"Tndeed! that is unexpected news,n Mrs.
Leslie managed TO say, very gravely. (" 1t is
not very. sudden attachment? 7oIedid not
dream of it.'' s - ass s.. 20 I.
..Oh, wicked AuntELesliel Had 1 not
heard you discussing it with Lima that very
morning But 1 was very forgiving, for a
cloud had rolled off my life that day, and
felt at peace with all mankind and woman
kind. When Philip had gone, Lima wentto
her own room. She refused tocome downto
tea, pleading that she was writing letters.
How many letters we had written tngether.-
Our handwriting was one and the same no
one could distinguish hers from mine. 49,
1t was Monday, this fair, beautiful day, so
rich in promise to me. 1 lay awake allnight,
thinking of Philip and his great love to me-.
1t was so strange that he should love me,
The next day he omitted his usual visit, at
which / was not much surprised, for did not
need medicine now, and I hoped that he
would come in the evening. He did not,
however, nor the next day. I believed that
he had seme patient whom he could mot
leave, and resigned myself to the disappoint-
ment ~: 9
On Wednesday saw his carriage driven
down the street, and stranger was in it. It
stopped before a house where Philip had re-
Gently attended. and hilip's boy held the
reins while the gentleman, apparently med
ical man, made short visit, and was then
driven to another house farther on, where the
same thing was repeated. I saw it all from
my window, and wondered. Something's
might have been presentiment of coming
evil-knoeked at. my heart. Ny hand
chanced TO rest on a branch of geranium. It
!
himself had placed in my window but week
before, and whose rich, rare fragrance had
seemed to give me new health. As the
sweetness came forth at the touch of my
hand, tears started to my eyes. know not
why. / had unwittinsly broken off the
branch with the weight of my arm, and
now sat weeping and fondling over it as one
would over adead child erssxa :,
Night came, but no Philip. Ihad not seen
him for two days, and could not find that
any one else had. At last the blow came
A lady, called on Thursday morning i was
just coming down stairs, and conld not avoid
being present while she stayed. She turned
to me suddenly. and said S.
+ ewing, Annie, You must miss Doctor Dud
leigh-you who have been under his care Sc
long, 49, Ssse-5zss Ssszss ~
A dead silence fell upon the room for few
minutes. Lil,a's face was absolutely streak
ed with alternate white and crimson stripes
That reused me to words-words as calm a
though MY heart was not. beating so fercely
Yes.'' T said, but / am now quite wei
again. ----
i Another pause.
Il 81 wonder,'' she continued, "what sen
him to Europe so suddenly ? / did not hea
lie was going, and, in fact, knew nothing of j
: until saw his name in the passenger list thi
morning.n d s
3 Still I controlled myself enough to max
/, some commonplace answer. Not SO Lima
She left the room pretending she wante
: something. Once passed my hand over u.
eyes to press back the tears. / had bee
D holding the broken branch of the gernniur
a unconsciously, and when put up my hant
? the fragment scent again came to me, an
i made me want to- weep. How thankful
g was when the visitor departed. I went t
my own room, but not to weep, this time.
: said to myself, There is some great troubl
e coming to my young heart, but l mast put 0
j, courage. Oh, my God. help me to bear
d rightlyn And God. who never despises a
j, earnest, heartfelt prayer, gave me the strengt
Fl needed. I sat down to think of what ha
It Happened. Inever once thought of blamin
s Philip, though it seemed hard that ] eoul
n not have had single good-by, spoken {
II written sssa - assas Fns sests,sss S rs
IS One fortunate thing occurred. A schoo
n mate of mine wrote to me to visit her. Fl,
$, letter arrived that morning, and announce
ri to my aunt my intention of accepting her il
vitation at once She looked surprised whe