The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-09-28

"In that house up yonder just peeping
| from behind that clump of naples" and
| he pointed as he spoke toward a respect
able farmhouse.
"And you have friends-a family?'
"Ah! Sir, they are kind enough to nae;
but they must be very tired of me by
this time"
Come" said ! encouragingly, laying
my hand on his shoulder, ''come, tell me
all about yourself. I'm good listener:
beside, am interested in you. Bob here
looks as if he was anxious for a story.
This is charming nook that we are IN,
so i'll just light acigar, and do you talk"
The free and easy manner | assumed
seemed to surprise him. He glanced
shyly at me out of his large blue eyes as
if suspicious of my sincerity; then he
heaved little sigh, stroked Bob's feath-
ers, as if to assure himself Of the presence
Of at least one friend, and saying, Gas
you please" commenced:
81 am eighteen hesaid; "you would
not think it, fer | know | look younger
than | am. Confinement and suffering
have made my complexion pale and
transparent, and the sun and the winds
that harden other mems skins and age
their features, have had but little to do
with me. Ever since l can remember
| have been paralyzedin the lower limbs.
For years l lay upon an inclined plane
of board, looking up at the ceiling with
mind very nearly as blank as the white
plaster l gazed at. My father died when
l was d mere infant, and there was no
one left in the house but mother and
Cousin Alice and me-"
"Cousin Alice" said "who is she ?"
His eyes wandered timidly toward the
house behind the NAPLES, as if he expect
ed some apparition to start from thence
on the very instant.
"Cousin Alice" he repeated vaguely,
"well, she's-Cousin Alice.o
Excessively explanatory" 1 said,
laughing. Is Cousin Alice young ?"
My age.o
" Is she pretty %
One deep, reproachful look of those
large blue eyes told me all. Poor fellow,
there he lay manned, useless, passing
his days and evenings in the presence Of
some beautiful creature whom he could
never hope to possess, but loving her
with all that concentrated intensity
which belongs to the passion Of the de-
formed.
He seemed to know what was passing
III LILY IiilHu iol W1tuOeo d WOiu lIoul
me, he continued: "She is engaged to
Raj ph Farnwell, wholives down Wonder.
She is very fond of him, and he of her.
1t is they who bring me down between
them to this place every fine day, and
sit here with Bob while they go off and
pick nuts, nd-and-" and here the
picture was too much for him, and the
poe s 1sow pafss i NV 5ea tI1s misfortune
paraded through necessity before the
woman he loved. TO be carried about
like piece of furniture by her and his
rival. How often that poor heart must
have been smitten bitterly! How often
those crippled limbs thrilledWi agony!
| took his hand in mine, but did not
say word. There are times when con-
ISOLATION is cruel. It was better than all
words to let him feel by the pressure Of
my hand that chad found a friend. We
sat this way for some time, until ! was
aroused from q painful reverie into which
I had fallen by long, black shadow
being projected across the spot in which
We We're sitting. | looked up and saw
tall, handsome young man Niti. bfon2ed
checks and curly chestnut hair, ON whose
arm was hanging an exceedingly lovely
young girl, whose face was q perfect
treasury OF archness and Innocence
They looked rather surprised at seeing
me, but | explained how it was that /
came to be there, and they seemed salts
fed.
" Harry, isn't it time to come home %
sad the young girl. " Ralph and | are
come for YOU"
"Thank you, Alice; bat I'd like to
etayan hour longer. The day is so bright
and sunny that it is a shame to be in
doors. You don't want togo home yet, :"
ard he looked at Ralph as he said this
with bitter expression OF countenance
thatI alone observed, but which seemed
to say: 1t will give you an hour more to
wander together. OF course you don't
want to go home.
"Well, as you please, Harry. Ralph
| and will go off to the pond in the cedar
grove and come back in about an hour.
But | say, Harry, look here isn't this
pretty 20 and as she spoke she held out
a little box for the inspection. He OPEN
ed it, and disclosed pretty little ring
set with garnets. While he looked at
it, Alice stopped over and with a blush
whispered something into his ear. which
made him to my keener sight culver in
all that part CT him that was alive. Il
was but momentary, however. for he