Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-11-03
Twice in Love.
BY ELLEN MARVIN,

Harry Bulfinch was twenty-five {:
handsome, hopeful, ardent, and had
been for three months in love with his
employers daughter. One day Alice
Brent rejected him. ~
"Whetler he seemed too sure;
or she drew him, with smiles and lure,
TO spurn from her feet;''
or whether "it was not her time to
love no matter. She let fair prize
slip through her fingers when she sent
the handsome young clerk home to a
slcepless couch, and days of soreness
aod wounded pride. a great passion
either floods a life with sunshine, or
overshadows it with gloom. But the
lesser loves, ii they do not carpet and
cushion ones path, too often tease like
insects, and tear like brambles. Harry
chafcd against his fate.
In this sullcn mood he stood onss
morning at the window of his counting
room looking out on the street. 1t was
dismal, disconsolato morning; and
just at that moment his wound was
fresh and irritating. He had begun to
fancy 1t was healing over; was learning
to philosophize upon It; was mending
rapidly,
But five minutes ago she had whirlcd
past him in her fathers carriage; the
white plumcs curling over the velvet
hat, and nodding against the peach
blossom checks. Her eyes were blue as
the ribbons that fiuttered in the braese
The witch alWaxs wore ribbons to mattel
her eyes. How glum and prosy tn.
store looked after glimpse at that pink
breezy, triumphant beauty! How dis
mai the street was! Ragged children
toddled along the pavement. Irish wo.
men IN ruf1led caps, frowsy girls, and
red-!aced countrymcn, substantial-look-
ing merchants, and sieek-looking ner-
chants clerks--men and women in ev-
cry grade of sickness and shabbiness-
jostled each other on the sidewalk. II
was wearisome, wholesome, dishcart-
ening. 49, :.
A group of working girls came by
some in jaunty hats, with dresses trayed
and faded at the bottom as il draggled
through uncountcd storms They were
laughing and chatting in the most IRE.
sponsible and young-girlish MANNER
Several looked up as they past, and cut
ef the group Harry suddenly became
conscious ofa single pair of eyes. They
were large, dark, and lustrous, with
something wistful, appealing, and sweet
in them. :
INV - ~ ctidiSt pp"tlE ~ t,ysNs.
IL was cne magnetic, forceful glance.
Then the eyes dropped, and the whole
group passed out of sight. But Harry
Bulfinch turned to his work curiously
comforted. .-.. ~.
The train thundered into the little
town of Ashcroft late of O stormy night
In February. Three or four carriages
stood in waiting, with which the half
dozen travellers set down on the platform
at the depot were instantly absorbed
jhere was one exception. Il young
man mufiied to the chin, and carrying G
an umbrella and va!ise, stood moment
hesitatingly on the steps, and then
plunged into the thick black night
Not quite SO black, however, as he pro-
ceeded down the street; for through the
thick fog and gloom, he soon perceived
siagie 1agure preceding him along the
muddy street.
" Some child sent out OH an errand in
the storm, he thought. "These coun-
try-bred children are brave little crea-
tures.n
He fastened his pace. It was girl,
ana she wore waterproof with the
hood drawn over her head. He was
doubling whether to overtake her and
offer her the shelter of his umbrella,
" hcn she suddenly slipped and fell on
the wet ice.
He was her side i'm moment, lift
ing her up.
Are you hurt .much, my childpn
The tender, naaaly voice would have
been a passport anywhere. s...ss.
lie saw the face appraised in unayail-
ing scrutiny as she steadied herself on
her feet. But not q feature of the face
OF either was visible I'm the gray gloom.
Ashcroft was too rural village for the
metropolitan luxury of fstreet-lamps.
"Ihank you; not in the least she
replied.
she was no child by her manner or
voice; yet the tone was thrilling, low
and lucious as the melody of blackbirds
and thrushes sifted through alder and
hazel thickets in dewy May mornings.
Allow me to shelter you the rest OF
the way" he said, suiting the action to
the word, and proffering his arm. 4
Thank you; 1t Is not far"
bot she accepted the courtesy; and, az
they went along, she told him that her
mother vas i'll, and she had been out to
the druggists for medicine.
seemed to Harry, as he listeped to
these 9rtless explanations, aud inter-
posed his umbrella between the little
figure and the dripping mist, that it was
all repetition of some experiente long
past; as II the low thrilling tenes were
something long known and familiar.
As they stopped before the door of the
cottage which she indicated as her home,
Harry said: 4'9D
The storm precludes etiquette. My
cards are buttoned under my ovcrcoat.
Rut nv nanp Ia RulAnch r hoya a
little sister at home, about your size,
who calls me Harry.pa y
"Ah! she responded little sadly,
have no sister or brother. have
only my mother.' +
She stood with her hand on the latch.
He had not seen her face. He did not
know her name. The house was like =