Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-02-04
GI)s 5torp Geller.
The Old Love. ssay

Ing up the remotest corner OF the apart
rnent with ruddy glare. The warm light
fell fun over the lonely woman, reclining
In the wide easy chair, and brought out
with vivid distinctness every line and
curve of her motionlees fgule.
Miss Hayne had probably seen thirty
years OF life, though the silver threads in
her temples gave you the Impression that
she was older. She was slight and tall.
with deep gray eyes; abundant brown, hair
put plainly back from her forehead, well
cut, clearly defined features, eni q mouth
which had once been sweet and womanly.
but now its expression was cold aad hard.
The crimson lips shut tightly. and there
was q steel-like discrimination about them.
Ct variance With the tenlef light in the
downcast eyes. and the thoughtful curve OF
the fair brow. Looking in her face, you.
knew that all Miss Haynes life had not
passed as quietly as the days she was now
living. The existence OF her girlhool was
. thing entirely discovered from the pres
ent; looking back upon it, she could
scarcely realize that she was the game gay
girl who. six years ago. had made the Red
Rock farm horse vocal with the music Of
her laughter ,fa.
For six years she had been q recluse.-
Her only companions at the farm were the
sturdy hired man and his practical wife.
who, under her supervision, managed the
farm work. She hail received no eompa-
ny-gone none abroad; she had buried the
world and its interests; and little removed
from the turmoil Of the city, she dwelt on
in seclusion. Little children avoideilher
Neighbors never ran in OLA evening. for
an hours chat with her; the very dogs
trotted past her gate without stopping to
utter a friendly bark. Yet, Miss Haync
was unkind to no living creature. She
was only supremely Indifferent. Positive
i'll temper would have made her more pop
ular than this strange passionless apathy
through the ice OF which nothing could
penetrate.
At twenty-five. Hildred Hayne was the
acknowledged belle Of her .yicinity-the
liveliest. gayest girl for miles and miles
around. To der personal grace and beau
ty, she united charms OF mind and heart
far above the common order Sensitive,
high-spirited. coniling anil affectionate.
she won the love of Paul Iancastcr-the
only son and heir of Judge Lancaster, at
the hall; and with the consent of all con-
csrned. they were be.rothed.
Mr.. Lancaster was handsome, we'll edu-
Gated, engaging in his manners and self:
wilged. Never in his life had single
wish of his been allowed to die ungratified.
He knew nothing ofdisappoiEtn.en MOTH
ing of self-sacritice; he was noble and gen.
erous; but impulsive, almost reckless.
They had been engaged year, wen
there came to Portland-the city of Mr..
Laacaster's birth-a fair Southern lady,
distant relative Of Paul's mother Isabel
CORTLAND was beautiful and fascinating.
and was much in the society of the Lam
casters. There is no need Of charging on
the subject; it was but a repetition of the
old story--the first love was valueless be-
side the second. Almost before lie was
conscious of his periidy. Paul Lancaster
avowed his passion for the fair stranger.
and heard the words from her lips which
made life for him an Ellen.
Like flash of lightning from a cloud
less sky. came the knowledge to Hildred,
that her lover vas hers no longer. She
did not weep. nor rave--she heard it with
white face and nerves like steel; her own
heart was so true and loyal. that it was
with difficulty she cculd understand such
dishonor in the man she Lowell. She did
not censure him for loving another better
than herself. and remembering how he hal
kept her in ignorance of the change in his
feelings, she was cold and unforgiving; and
when she sent Panl free from her presence
Il was with the command never to show
bis face to her again as long as they both
should live.
From that time Hildrel was an altered
being. She did not pine. nor NOPE, but
her youth seemed dead. She went about
slowly and methodically; became hard and
calculating in Der disposition. and shut out
all love from her heart. When her parents
died, within few months of each other,
leaving her all alone in the world, but for
her little sister Mary. she refused to break
up tho old establishment at Red Rock
farm, as her friends advised, bnt lived
shere still, taking all the responsibility of
the large farm on her slender shoulders.
Mary, beautiful. golden-hsired Mary.
was her soIace-thc only thing she seemed
to love; to her, she was tender, devoted and
self-sacrifcing. The sole tie that bound
Hildred Hayne to humanity? Even this
was rent away. A malignant fever swept
over the vicinity Of Red Rock farm. and
Mary was among the first smitten. Three
dreadful days of dumb agony to Hillred
passed.. and on the morning OF the fourth.
she hold her dead sister in her armsi And
when they buried the sweet girl. Hildred's
human love was laid to rest in her grave
Thenceforth, for the dark-eyed, lonely wo-
man at Red Rock, the world held not a
solitary charinl
Only once since her Punishment OF
him had she seen Paul Lancaster. The
day her sister was buried, he had thrown a
snow drop into the grave: and. as he turn
ed away, they two met face to face. There
is wild, imploring. passionately tender
look in his eyes, stony. immoveable
look in hers, and not o word spoken. lie
understood her.
He went away into the world shortly af-
serusrd; the Hall passed ont Of tho hands
of his father. who removed to distant
State, and Hildred knew nothing more Of
the family. No one ever mentioned them
to her; she made no inquiries; she said to