The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1865-04-13
AITLTE RAY.
HY FANNIE G. WILLARD .

Aline Ray sat BY the Grc one cold De
cembcr evening. her slippercd feet upon
loW stool. ard her thin hands folded, IS
she gaZed drcamilv at the glowing cmbcrS
She was not young. neither had time tcai.
unkinily with her. / few threads of
silver g.is.sne6 in her hair, once 50 dark
IN is closSy beauty. showing that the
neeting hours had marked some sorrowful
passages il her lites S history Bat the
glossy tresses ripllcA over brow IS fair
and shaded eyes as beautiful in their soft
eyed light as, when girl, she moved
among her companions the gayests 81 The
-ay
The cold h,ast vhricti dis naIly around
the corners. and tried angriiy 10 force &
way Into tie cozy little sitting room, but
al n vain I'ihe eo.d s.eot dashed violent
j. ae9irst he shutters. and he ieaAess
bough5 oi The old elm tree before the
door ratified warnino'y over tl,c heads Of
Tie few pedestrians who were of necessity
compelled TO be out N tie dismal streets.
II TIC storm king could have but gianc-
cd MO The room where Aline Ray sat.
there would have been ample reason for
his angry mood, afforded in the contrast
between his own dominion and the one ex-
posed to his view. Aud 50 thought poor
siiivc-ing mortal who crept Cor shelter into
the deep doorway. and, more fortunate
/ than the rude blast had been. heard the
low Music oi 1 s3ft voice chanting 4 song
! that seemed 30 come laden with sweet
memo. es to the ear of the listner. for she
erouchad low in the deep shadow and sob
bed bitterly, while the tears seemed to
freeze on hcr checks
OF what w4s tie solitary woman in ,he
cheerful parlor thinking! Every note of
the Gear Cd song she was singing was Ia
den W;th:. dream OF the past and sac sung.
! familiar faces looked at her from lie glow
Ing cnbers. The old arm chair in the
c-gner vas filed with portlv figure AID
! benevolent coun cuance shaded by thin
White hair; lie l91 .y.lir.- c!..ir closc by
holds another fcrn. Slight anl fraaile
with smoothly banded hair over her time
fuTro|ed forehead, yet bearing traces in
his countenaace q great beauty;aad other
shadowy lures Glide cu, irou the secret
corners, amu fit noiseiessiy round in the
i,tiui iifclisht; & brother, fond sisters.
iriends-ihe dearly loved ones gone be-
t"re Al who had made LIE pleasant
and beautiful SC her had taken hat long
journey, had crossed the dark river, leay-
ing her alone an! mourning npon the
earthly shore. Al Il it only had been
SC =. s.le vas thinking to herself IF
could only knox that she was at rest with
the others; that -he Yas not suffering or in
want ~ And - size said this to herself
she shaddcred, lor she fancied, as the
heayy gusts of Wind shook The windows
that she heard a l5w: sharp cry Of mortal
agoay.
Some years agoue she had fair. youna
sister, her darling, and the pet and pride
4 her old rarcnt.' hearts Beautiful i.
\ dream artlcss IS child-~-to know
her was to love her. And they scarce
that he vas too beautiful to lvo-tlii:
child Of earth Aii il shc had OILY died
ere Grief for Los had borne the lovins
. hearts OF the old folks to the gates OF death
and brought dcsolation and care into on,
. Of the iairest aud happiest homes upoI
, earth. There had been the cid story;
o handsome and fascinating stranger hao
won the heart OF the innocent girl; an,
. then tears, expostalations, threats, com
t mands-all given with loving severity
yet all in yam. One bright winter morn
ID ing the loved one was gone-had fc,
!; from the old homestead, leaving those Win
had given her lifo, and who had though
nothing too beautiful or too good for her
for the arms Of stTalse They hear,
nothing of her fer long time, and thel
came news from foreign land, of an un
!, certain sort-a few timid words bcggln,
1 forgiveness, ashiu9 10 see the dear old home
:, with every now and then a sentiment q
p fear or terror evident in the trcnulou
d lines Then, after short interval, NOR
m distressing news-a wife ill-treated, the
deserted, and then claimed again, only {
: be obliged to follow the fortunes Ola dis
sipated and brutal husband. But er
this last bitter news had reached then
d the two loving old folks had found thei
perfect rest Through long and chock