Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-11-21

1t was upon ChflsthaS efs tuas " -
liam Belsworth started across tho lonely
path TO ask of Caroline Graham the ques
ton that had been on his lips so long;
and as he marked the lamp!ight growing
nearer and brighter, he thought that Ii
might glow on some future day, lighted
bv her hand. And the meanest hovel,
the lowIiest hut that could be built in any
nncivil,zed land, would be home TO me,
If her presence blessed It." said the young
minister, with tear flied eyes; and bend
inp his fair head in the bright starlight.
he thanked God who had taught him to
love.
JASPER had been from home that even
ing, and as William opened the garden
gate, It startled him TO see his brother
standing on the threshold, With something
unusual il bis bearing, AMI in tie EXPIRES
siou of his handsome face. K started
him yet more, when lingering in the
sha low, unseen by them, lie saw Caroline
come out Into the lamp lit hall, and lay
her hand upon his brothers arm, and his
heart stood still as Jasper beat his head
ADORE that hand and kissed it. They
spoke in whispers and he could not hear
their words, bat the meaning Of that IN
teryicw was plain 10 him, or he thought
50; and whits, aud cold, and trembling,
he leaned upon the little gate post, with {
deadly faiutness at lis heart. He could
not move, even when ne saw Jasper COM
ing rapidly towords him, SO they were be
side each other in moment.
William exclaimed Jasper, in a
confused, hall ttemulous voice, which yet
bad the ring of happiness in its tones
William, is this you? Are you going
in?"
"Not nov. l am not we'll" William
, had just strength enough to say.
} His brother twined his arm around his
t waist in boyish fashion. ''Come with me
then" he SAID. ~ have something to
; tell you. Perhaps you guess what ii !,
: already. think every one must know
how well | love her.
There was a fearful struggle in poor
: Williams breast, but he kept silence and
did not thrust away The arm that encircl.
| cd him.
, sand So" continued Jasper, although
| have been so wild, ard so little doserv
!, ing Of pure young heart like hers.
G have somehow won it, and ton ght she
t gave me the sweet promise that she woG
] he mine; and l am going to lead differ
ent life, and stuly hard, and make both
: fame and fortune; and just yet we are {,
i tell no one but her sister and yourself
] and am going 10 the city, and come
: back IA claim her when l am what
! should be to be her husband: and then,
: when her parents can 10 longer call m,
i Will and undaserying, and ny own are
n as proud Of me as tLay Row are Of you
t we viii tel them ali, and You shall mar
~ US, aud We shall all DO 50 happy TO
+ gether. Shall we not, WIH:'
And William forced his broken hear
q into silence, and answered Yes
] Alone that night lie Struggled with hi.
' agony, standing in the cold midnight be
s side lis chamber window, whence Ii,
; could see The white stones Of the grave
0 yard rising from the winter snow tina
e lay around them. lie had suffered, ana
he would suffer il silence. lie could no
} reproach either Caroline or Jasper. How
should they guess his secret when he had
I. not suspected theirs9 Aud she would
be happy, and his brother would be LED
to seek parer and a boiler life, and bis
mother would weep no longer for her
youngest born, and none shoail know Of
the cross which had been laid upon him;
and at last, the slamber under those
white grave stones would be more vel.
come, and the Chains which bound bis
heart more easily broken. Aad then rs
he thought of her in her beauty. The man
cast down tho martyr, sobbing forth
; But l thought size loved me! o, my
God, / thought she loved me!' he flung
himself upon the ioor, ana lay there I'M
til the gravestoncs were kissed BY the
red suurise, and the blessed mora of
Christmas dawned once more upon. the
world. + =
Jasper was in the city, redeeming his
promise 20 the letter, and William had
succeeded in buryirg love and grief in
his breast together. When Jasper wrote
to him he always found tiny note with
out direction of any KIM, and be always
handed it with few brief words to Car
cline. But be went no longer along that
road at oventide, aud sat no more beside