The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-05-13

haps, but some time she might learn how
true and fond Charley Cahil's heart was,
and find her happiness with him. But l
dared not whisper this secret hope of mine
to her. She would not let me blame Cap
tain Saltonstall, and could do nothing else
but hold her in my arms, and tell her how
! | loved her.
The next morning went down stairs be-
fore her. and Charley Cahill met NE. l
thought he had claim to know the truth.
| was sure | could trust him, and | did not
think Marcia would be unwilling he should
know SO told him.
Poor fellow. he said slowly, when wa.
through.
1t angered me. had expected ali his
sympathy would be for Marcia. and his cur
ses, deep if not load, for the Cool Cap
TAIN
Poor fellow l cried irefally. Don't
you think he was vilan?'
NO; villain would not have told her at
all. You forget how easy that would have
been. can understand just how he could
drift into love and not dream Of danger. |
pity him as much as do her. He will have
to bear all the pain she bears, and a weary
load of self-blame BESIDES
| then suggested my own trembling hope
that this disappointment might some day be
the means of turning her to him. He shook
his head sadly as he said:
Il shall never love her any les. than / dc
now; but girls like Marcia DO not chang
easily
Just thenIwe saw her coming, and sepa-
rated. knew how the thought Of Lew
love would shock her now, and wha: l haG
been saying to Charley made NE feel ike .
conspirator.
We stayed nearly week longer at The
Cliffs would have proposed to 60 at orcs,
but Marcia preferred that We should slay our
time out, an ! would hear of no change in
our plans. How proud that girl was. Tne
acutest observer could hardly had guessed
of her pain. fancy most would have pro
nounced her gayer than ever. VINO could
tell how much those careful toilets. those
merry jests glad sorgs, and gay dance. al
cost her? They were the price she paid for
secrecy-that no one might guess her heart
ache. In her own room only she put off ali
DISCUSSES, and night after night | held her
shivering and moaning in nv arins-ny
poor flower. broken by the blast ali TOO soon.
AT last we went home. The change in her
could not be concealed from the watchful eyes
there but she would not GO, as | should
have done, to my mother with her sorrow.
For the first time in her life. | think, she
missed the tie OF blood. She told NE /
might tell them what chose, i would only
keep them from saying anything to her or
asking her any questions. | am sure She
had never been less dear ts them than |, and
| know her reserve panied them; but thay
did not force her confidence. and were tender
and gentle to her beyond words.
After a while she settled into a sort of a
calm. She spoke no more OF the past, even
TO me. She tried to interest herself In her
old pleasures and duties; but 1t was easy
, enough TO see that her old broyancy of
spirit, the old power to hope and enjoy were
gone. Only twenty and she said She was
growing old.
I Charley Cahill was most kind while those
slow months passed On. Marcia was very
gentle to him, perhaps because she knew hi.
heart was suffering the psngs of a sorrow
akin to her own--so gentle that | almost
: thought she would care for him in time.
though am sure had FAR more hope for
: him than he had for himself. thought such
simple, sincere, unse!hsh devotion could not
fail, after time, to win lis reward.
: My hopes received a shock now and then
when she came upon the name of Guy Sa.-
tonstall in paper, and | saw how it had
power to move her. She read of his brave
deeds and his promotions, for he was Colo
: nel Saltonstali before spring. But from HIN
directly she never heard one word. Silence
t and severence as complete as death had fall
en- between them.
t She never talked of him now even 10 ME.
But there were not wanting indications how
| closely she held him in memory. She would
e never sing the songs she had sung to him
&; never wear such flowers as he had given her
t or even the dresses he had praised. The
r little scarlet cloak she had worn in her ram
? bles by his side was folded carefully away and
D., she never put N the Tudor hat with its long
e dropping feather.
Still. when the spring came she grew NOR,
cheerful. She had changed a good deal
The violet eyes were sad with an unspoker
= longing. The cheeks were paler and ever
It the bright lips had grown little dim. Th,
1 perfect figure was thought too thin. Ant
: Vet to me, and ! believe to Charley Cahil
}. also, she looked loylier than before. Sorrow
IS had impaired to her more subtle charm
If she had dazzled You once she won yo
e now-found her way TO Jour heart ike plain
e tive music. thought it could not be SO al
ways-that time, which makes roses grov
l. even cut of grave mould, whouli have 20.
= or at last to soothe a sad womans heart.
n There came at length an afternoon in Jun,