Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-11-04

u.rrr BnIffnch was twenty-five, hand,
s,nle. hopeful. ardent, and had been fol
three months In love with his employ.
RS daughter. One day Alice Brent re
4ctcd him.
whether he sremed too sure;
&c u sha drew hInI, With smiles and lure,
r. spurn nom her feet
boz whether ut was not her time to love,
mo matter. She let n fair prize slip
through her fingers when she sent the
handsome yOun@ clerk home to sleep
~ couch, aud days of soreness and
Wounded pride A great passion either
Il S. Is life with Sunshine, or Overshad-
50 it with gloOm Bat the lesser loves
ethey do not carpet and cushion ones
path, too often tease like insects and
tear like brambles. Harry chafed against
MS fate.
La this suIIen mood he stood one
morning at the window of his counting.
roam looking ont on the street. 1t was
q dismal, disc0nsolate morning; and inst
Il that moment his wound was fresh and
uatating. He had begun to fancy If
Us healing over; was learning to philO-
sophie up1n it: was mending rapidly
Bat five minutes ago she had whirled
vs-t him In her fathers carriage; the
vLlte plumes curling over the velvet
Int and holding against the peach
blossom cheeks. Her eyes were blue as
ths ribbons that fluttered In the breeze.
Tie witch always wore ribbons to match
-sr eyes. How glum and prOsy the
store looked after a glimpse at that pink,
breezy, triumphant beauty How dis
I8l the street waSl Ragged children
titled along the pavement. Irish wO-
In in Tuttie1 caps, frOwZy girls, and
faced couutrymen, substantial look
ING merchants, and sleek-loOking mer-
chants clerk men and women in every
grade Of sickness and shGbbiness,-
i>tle.l etch other on the sidewalk. 1t
was WearIsOme, unwhOlesOme disheart-
enIur.
4 group of working girls came by;
some III jaanty hats, with dresses trayed
. aul faded at the bottom as If tlraggled
& through UucOnnted storms. They were
hHghiug and chatting in the most ir-
Iep1nsIble and yOung-giriish manner
Sryeral looked up as they passed. and
-t OF the group Harry suddenly be-
eaue conscious of a single pair of eyes.
lay We're large, d1rk, and lustrOus,
Fl'h something wistful, appealing, and
sweet in them.
There IS strange power IN eyes
II was one magnetic, fOrceful glance.
Then the eyes dropped, and the whole
BIlhnch turned to his work curiOusly
mfOrted.
The train Numbered into the little
town of Ashcroft late of a stormy night
N February. Three or four carriages
Stood IN waiting, with which the half
iOzen travellers, set down on the plat
ilrm at the depot. were instantly alb
4 s0rbed. There was one exception. A
Il Young man untitled to the chin, and car
4 Tyiug an umbrella and valise, stood
moment hesitatinglv on the STEPS, and
then plunged into the thick black night
Mt quite so black, however, as he pro-
caded down the street; for through
the thick fog aud gloom, he soon per
e-lved single figure preceding him
along the muddy street.
Some child sent ont on an errand In
'ae storm, he thought. ''These coun-
try-hrel children are brave little crea-
mrs.
d. hastened his pace. It was a girl,
All she wore a waterproof with the
L1t drawn over her head. He was
llbting whether to overtake her and
--r her the shelter of his umbrella,
Zen she suddenly slipped and fell on
t. wet ice
He was at her side in a moment, lift
ing her up
Are you hurt, my child?'
Tue tender, manly voice would have
oaen passport anywhere.
he saw the face appraised In unvailino
s'Tutlny as she steadied herself on her
let. But not a feature of the face of
slther was visible in the gray gloom.
A,hcrOft was too rural village for tine
metropolitan luxury Of street-lamps.
Thank you, not IN the least" she
replied.
She was no child by her manner or
'olee; yet the tone was thrilling, low
AMI iuciOus as the melody of blackbirds
All thrushes sifted through alder and
l4lel thickets in dewy May mornings.
Allow me to shelter you the rest of
4e way. he said, suiting the action to
'uH word, and proffering his arm.
Thank you; it Is not far.
Bnt she accepted the courtesy; aud,
4 they went along, she told him that
L-f mother was Ill. and she had been
D,t TO the druggists for medicine.
II seeIned to Harry, as he listened to
l4ese artless explanations, and interposcd
II umbrella between the little fig
n. -le and the dripping mist, that it was
- repetition of some experience long
f''t' as if the low, thrilling tones were
%Laethlng long known and familiar.
), A they stopped before the door OF
le cottage which she indicated as heI
nome, Harry said,-
Inc storm precludes etiquette. Ny
tLls are buttoned under my overcoat.
E bat my name is Bulfnch. 1 have q
ui'le sister at home, about your size
"lo calls me Harry"
An she responded a little sadly