Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-10-14

uIedu, W uleeC bne careless, eSCrangeu glance
OF the dark eyes chat had looked once into
mine full of love. ..n-, d
1t seemed that Mark not unfrequently
accompanied Milly part of the way home;
but he never came near enough to our cot
tage for me to catch even the most~distant
glimpse Of him, and my little sister had
somehow ceased to talk of him after the
first. SO, though knew he still stayed at
the Hollies, he might almost as well been
across the wide ocean, as far as was con-
cerned. And .yet-oh, no!-the sense of
his presence seemed borne. to me upon
every breath of the sweet summer air that
fiYated into my room. i Gould, not sleep at
night, nor rest calmly by day; and often,
while Milly was Withh her friends, fused to
wander out, scarce needing where l went,
impatient only Of rest. y, 'A ,... ,,... ~
One day, when this terrible yearning was
strong upon me, took my sketching
materials, from force of habit, and set out
to walk to pretty wood at some distance.
Ihe cool, green fragrance of the leavy shad-
ows was gratefulaft the glaring sunshine,
and sat down to rest where they felt the
coolest. But sudden sound of laughter
and merry voices close at hand startled me,
and, not waiting to see who the speakers
were, l gotup and fled swiftly down the
darkest and most tangled of the paths that
Dranched away into the heart of the wood.
soon lett the merry voices far behind me,
ana slackening my walk, wandered on,
dreamy and absorbed as ever, till suddenly
turning into another path, saw what caus-
ed me to stand still and forget everything
put what my eyes looked upon. Mark
Sutherland! yes, Mark, older, dark
er, thinner, but Mark himself. All, how the
green marshes and the winding sea
wall; and the lark singing far up in the sky,
all hoate before my eyes as l saw the
downward bend of his stately head to look
into the face beside him--the face that look
ed up again into his with those candid blue
eyes, and smile on the soft parted lips.
The smile seemed to reflect itself upon
Marks grave face for an instant,and then he
TOOK up little hand lying on his arm and
Kissed 1t tenderly. looked no longer.
crept away; stricken, with dumb anguish,
dreadful sullen despair, | crept away
ana went home. For knew the candid
Dlue eyes, and the sweet smile, and the
floating golden hair : and they were nv
sister Milly's. Oh, had not done enough?
Had not sacrificed enough? Was my cup
not yet so full but that this bitter drop
must be added to its overflow?
So 1cried out in my anguish, and it was
long before better thoughts came to me, or
that coming, could hold them firmly and
take comfort. But by-and-by / rose from
where had flung myself down, and sat by
the window to watch for Milly. She came.
along presently in the quiet evening light,
and looked at her with my eyes freshly
opened. had never yet ceased to think of
her as child; l realized in one minute
now that the child was woman. looked
at the fresh beautiful young face, and in
Voluntarily glanced at the reflection OF my
own in the mirror opposite. Inever could
have beedin my best days what MillyF was; !;
and now turned away with a sigh
from the image of that faded woman, with
pale lips, and weary dark eyes, rpI non .
Milly came in the,next instant, threw off
her hat, and coming up beside me, took my
face between her two soft hands, looked i'm
to it tenderly for a minute, then kissed me,
and sat down with her arm around me.
a ''Het, my dear, haye something to tell
YOU" she began with strange tremble in
her voice, though she was smiling too.
wonderful thing. l don't think you would
ever guess it," 1000 a'"
"Milly dear?" I asked, pressing the
little one close to my throbbing breast.
"You never could, and yet how your
heart is beating!' she said, looking up at
me timidly. II believe you really do. Then,
sinking her face down to my shoulder once
more, she added, almost in a whisper
'Hester, he told me to ask you whether
you would see him tomorrow"
"He means Mr.. Sutherland, of course! 7"
"Of course. Hester, do you mean to say
yes!" asked Milly, stealing another of those
timid glances at me. .
dear" Hu' l.G7l -
God bless yon. Hester !-my darling, my
dear, dear sister % cried Milly, fervently;
and for long while we both sat silent.
Nor indeed did she mention Mr.. Suther-
lands name again nor recur in any way to
the subject till, about the middle of the next
day, she suddenly sprahg up from her
place by the window, and glancing at me
with vivid blush and smile, ran out of the
room and heard her flying up stairs loA
Then knew who was coming. and sat
still, because to move would have been out
OF my power. So when. he entered the
room, sat, and though T held out nv hand
and tried to utter greeting, knew nv
lips only murmured inartieulately. He
looked at me as he held my hand in a NOM
entary grasp, and thought there was both
pain and shocked surprise in his face
Then he began: ....., .,. ....
81 have not come unexpectedly, I hope ?
Milly promised to ask you--to tell you
"She did tell me; l expected you.''-
strove to say, and hope said it quietly.
did you guess why wanted to see yon?"
he asked, with that directness of speech
remembered so well. ,o,t,.
"fes, Ieven went so far as that" an
swered, and smiled-ohi what a wintry
smile, If it did not belle my heart. n.. -
"Of course, could have only one pur-
pose in asking to see you again." he went
on quickly; "but, ah Hester, what will
you say to me this time? - .I,.., ...
"What does Milly say?''o ....oe, y. ,...]
"Milly! always Milly still but, Hester,
it is for you to answer me first, he said
and abruptly walking from his position
on the hearth, he came and sat down beside
me. ,+,eJ ..t t,i,,.
'Hester-I must call you so1rdid your
sister tell you what I said to. her gester-
day?" ,aaal oj sbq,g qnig9 D,p6"a n
"She let me infer IT, 10 bslr,as.i ,guniaiaI
"Infer-fiddlededee. Nothing like plain |
speaking to express plain meaning 3 he
spoke out rather impetuously. But you
are 50 cold and unlike your old self Hes i
ter, that could not just take it for, an an
swerto what | came to ask, Did Milly tell |
you that yesterday-fori I haye grown to |
love the little girl dearly-Hester! Hes
ter what have | said? What is the mat
ter?" 1f2 ahf 30 3aftsnF.
1hated, despised myself for the weakness,
but the mortal struggle of yesterday was
hot done yet. l could not hear this man,
whom had loved so deeply, so long, ayow |
tony face his transferred affection to nv |
sister, and be iinmoved.o InVoluntarily I |
Vrasped the arm of nv chair for siinnnrt Il