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

60 - ''' 'dO VIRUS Drought
no joyous sparkle to her soft back ero.
and she answered in n listless p,anre.
and sat still looking into tie Gre. Tb.,
as he looked at her, and saw how M,
she had grown, and marked the pa!lor of
her fair young cheek, and real in h.,
whole mein something that tod Of s,,
row crushed down by a strong will, but
st u g ing yet for mastery.
care YOU i'll z" he asked almost iryol
unfairly. 'You look So l did not M
tee at FIRST, but you have altered ve,v
much"
She grew crimson. Her cheeks, he,
neck, her brow, were sufFasad in mn
ment, and she looked at him with
strange expression Of mingled grief AID
anger. II am well, very wal," $40 sail
proudly: ct is strange that you should
think me altered"
The young minister arose. "Foraiyo
me- he said. 81 presumed upon =
friends privilege, for we were friends >
year aga, Miss Graham, an! shall lie bat.
ter friends tonight than re have ere,
been"
ga year ago. she murmurei, rs
though she had spoken against Ter will.
"a year ago. Yes, it Is Christmas time
again. | had almost forgotten it,
Her cheek was winter now than tho
snow without The door; AMI stagi4l "
her wild glance and hollow voice, William
Be:sworth sprang forward Just il time 10
save her FROM falling to. the si3or. Sense.
less and white she lay, an! he paced her
IN great arm chair and knet beside
her. Such agony as at tliat momeat
wrupg las beast had never tortured i'll be.
ioro-for in that one cry, in a sobbins
ulterance Of his name, in an unconsto.s
elasp;ag of the arms aboat his neck. he
lad read the truth. She loved him-sLo
the hetrothed wife of his absent bro.ior
| even as Le loved her. ''Lct me ia
now" lie murmured-''let me de h5.s.ra
1 am tempted beyond my fabe
strength. HIS heart must not te broken
aso;" and rs the color came 70 her
white face again, lie laid her softly down,
with one long parting kiss upon her fore,
head and 50 left her.
On that Christmas morning, when he
bells were ringing for church, . stranger
occupied the litle pulpit, aad there were
t.ushsi voices and softened foots.eas ia
lie parsonage, where the yoang minister
az near the gates Of death; and weeks
. .ssed by before tue shadow q b,
5ormer self stood al tie little wiu.-s
.aokng ont upon the grayest,n'ss IN Ike
e. urciyard, al wondering if If. w91l
always be 50 dreary. rs lie g'zai, =
lie saw form among tie gras~,
waking TO and fro, AMI looking " f!oal
,ime 10 time towards tie wu45w. !!
was gray twilight. Lal TIE oa:iae q 4ar
form to,d him j; was Caroline, and LID
SIGHT confirmed resolution formed H.
rug those days Of convaIesonee. Llt
would leave tie country, an'l - ..lr a"ase
to some heatlen land rs . missionary
lie W Juld lie wanlerer upon tie e.l.h
a homeless, lonely man, seeking only tue
good Of others, weaving for himself no
tender ties. He would die there, and
he buriel by savage hands, or lie un"ared
Tor on some desert spot. until the viai
had bleached his bones m! the beasts Of
the forests had made a dainty moa upon
his flesh,-but not for al The word
would he remain where lie could daily
meet the woman whom, in a few br.ei
l7ys. it would be guilty to love.
As lie turned from the window with
this thought at his heart, he saw Jasi.F
Standing close beside him. Ills face Vas
glowing with JOY, and he clasped BIS
brother about the waist in his own by
ISL fashion.
.You afs well row, Will," he sai3,
,oflly. "aul 1 may talk to yoa again.
may | not? cant hart yoa nov. o"9
viii be my wife next Sunday, if you aFs
strong enough 70 marry US. And
have just told mother, and sic IS cryIpg
in ker own room as women always VIII
on such occasions. Come, VIII, you
must make Efiia mine next Sunday
William Bctswor,h gave great start
and clutched bis brothers arm. "E!l'.
he cried; ''you DO not mean Eiii'|
"Who else should meant gaugled
Jasper. ,.You have not forgottea!'
"Efio and not Gardiner" faltsFsd
William.
Jasper stared at him in amazomea''
'.You never thought 500" be SAID
IN.