Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-01-09

liking me! III she VIII DC sucn 1901,
why LET her."
lyon encourage her to love you,
Frank" said /; "you know you do, both
by words and by actions"
Pooh you arc jealous" he sneered.
mo, Frank, not jealous. for | have no
claim upon her. Would to heaven |
had ~ | exclaimed with such vehemence
that he gazed at me quite silenced anil
subdued. "Remember," | said solemnly,
"she is not like other women. Her
great calamity has made her pet in the
household; she has been t.eated always
like a tender little child, and she looks
for caresses and love from everybody
Unsludied in the ways Of the world, un
spoiled by the arts Of society, sho has
not the cunning to hide her attachments,
but conferes favors upon them she loves
with child's arless readiness. Be care
full, Frank, be careful how you trif1e with
a human heart, especially with hers. for
few women can feel rs she does"
Frank Appleby laughed little, but l
could see that he was touched. as he
turned upon his heel, saying, "Well, ]
will leave her TO you. Unmask my
treachery if you will, but ! tell you |
meant no HARM"
If he had left her to me as he said, if
his vanity had not prevailed over bis bet
ter judgment. all might have been well.
That evening she sang the sweet song,
"A Ring of Gold," and all applauded.
But she looked around in vain for a
word of praise from Frank. l never
shall forget that touching, eager glance,
asking so mutely, SO mourpfully for that
one beloved voice. For few DAYS
Frank was very distant, seldom speaking
to her, and l endeavored to fill his place.
At all practable times | sang to her,
read to her, walked with her, and after
some little time had elapsed she
lost the look of painful reverie that had
for long time become habitual to her,
and learned to watch for me. Oh, those
precious hours when she seemd all my
own! can | never forget them! she was
so innocent, and yet SO wise, so confiding,
so graceful!
| think she was beginning to transfer
to me the affection she had felt for
Frank Appleby. For me the eye grew
luminous now for me the little silvery
laugh of welcom sounded.
Meanwhile Frank was wooing the re.
ally elegant Charlotte Houston. She
was worthy girl, and loved her blind
sister almost idolatrously. | wondered
she had not noticed poor little Emile :
infatuation, but she was so accustom d
to seeing her loved and potted that it
seemed rs n matter of course. She was
q belle, aud number Of suiturs contend
ed for her hand; so that Frank. who en-
joyed monopoly of her smiles and
graces was esteemed fortunate fellow.
One evening | came home aud found
my little rosebud, as | called her, unusu-
ally oppressed. l thought she had been
weeping. In vain exertcd I'll my pow
ers 10 please her-she smiled but the
smile was followed by a sigh. Finding
an opportunity, l inquired of Charlotte
what could be the matter with her sister
.Rcally cannot tell" woo ber reply /;
"she seemed TO be very happy when she
came homo this afternoon"
"Came home this afternoon eiacu-
lated. spray where did she gol'
"Eor drive with Frank" was her re-
ply.
There was pang at my heart. saw
though the sadness, the tears Old i'm
pressions had been revived, and tender
ness renewed. The sound of his v.,ice,
even if he had not spoken lovingly land
| knew the man too well 10 know that he
had not), had awakened the sIumbering
emotions of the past. My fairy temple
was dashed to thu earth, | feared, hope.
lessly. | determined Mt once, SO soon
as an opportunity occurred TO tel her Of
his then existing relations with her sister.
! had wished to spare her the knowledge
until | was sure she had forgotten him !;
out now it seemed thing inevitable. :.
That night we all went to the Opera.
Emily was passionately fond Of music,
and she enjoyed il the more perhaps from
the sense of her isolation in the midst of
crowds. We tried to get box together
but could not, and | did not know exact
" where Frank and Charlotte Houston
sat, though / had the impression that
they y ere quite near. Two strangers sat
behind u.s. who in the pauses Of the mu-
sic talked almost necessarily. Emily
heard with almost prete,natural quick
ness, sounds which | could not distin-
guish, and noticing suddenly her singular
paIlor, found that shs appeared TO be
listening to the speakers in our rear.
caught the words, 20, yes, engaged to
be married. He has been paying his
actresses to her for some time. L
shouldn't be surprised if they were mar
ried in the autum H."
Iknew Immediately that they referred
to Frank Appleby and Charlotte Hous-
ton. Looking around | saw them, near
" opposite. Frank never looked more
brilliant. There was an exuItant smile
on his face, vivid light in his eve as he
caught mine. Poor Emily! BY acct
dent her hand came in contact with INV
own. Death could not have been colder.
Over her beautiful eyes mist seemed
drawn. She shuddered. and no longer
listened with rapt attention or gentle
earaoit,, 70 tl,a ,,,,s,o. On tha oo,.....