Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-06-08
THE FIRST 1oTE Ind THE LAST.
From OassoIps LOndOn,1 Family Paper.

1t is the old story I am about to tell
that story which thank Heaven people
never tire of listening to, any more than
we do seeing the buds swell, and the leaves
unfolding, and the world made young
again by the coming spring-the story to
which as we listen, our own youth comes
back, and once more the flowers bloom,
and the skies are blue, and our hearts are
beating joyously, and 1t is May.
am not young now, neither is the day
on which am soberly writing this little
record Of a long past period balmy one
of spring, or anything ike it; and yet
May comes freshly back to me as / recall
that day of which l am going to speak.
A lark was singing far up IN the blue
sky, a few sheep were pasturing in the
green distance, and tall figure dressed
in grey with gun on his arm, and one or
! two dogs frisking round it, was coming
| leisurely along the sea wall. had been
/ fully intent but the minute before, upon
1 the sketch of the old boat I was making !;
but now felt nothing but the beating of
/ my heart, and saw nothing but Mark
| Sutherland coming leisurely along the
| sea-wall, with his dogs playing round
! him.
The little picture was never finished.
| for at that instant [ became conscious of
| the advancing figure, l dropped my brush
/ and hopelessly ruined my distance by a
! great smear of Yandyke brown. It was
never finished, no-but have it now,
and / mean that 1t shall be laid beside me
| when I am in my coffin.
He was a long way off when l first saw
| him, and yet 1t seemed almost the next
| instant that he was standing beside me
so speaking My heart had not left of
| beating, and I could feel the color hot in
my face as I looked up, but my fiery little
terrier took exception to his dogs, and
few at them with tumultuOus disapproval
taking his attention off me for the mo-
ment.
When this little fracas was quieted, he
put down his gun On the bank, made his
retrievers lie beside it and sat down him
| self by me.
Have you had good sport?' I asked
By way of saying something anything
"No," he answered "but l came Ou
here because I thought should see you
and I wanted to tell you a peice of news
and ask you question"
News is a precious commodity indeed
in these wilds; but please remember m!
Scotch blood, IN expecting an answer tx
the question"
He did not seem to be attending t.
what [ said he had taken up one of m!
sable brushes and was absently playing
with 1t, but he threw it down the mex
| minute, and said softly,
"Hester, l have got an appointment
that have been trying for, and 1 shal
leave for India next mOnth-there's m.
news.
, Ny heart that had been beating so wildly
seemed to stand suddenly still, and dro1
down, down. The water and the gree
e marsh rock, blended hazily into eael
other and the sky, and then a voice tina
! sounded dim and far off, but was my OWL
+. too, said, 1T is good news I suppose"
: Good news Well, yes, / hope so"
+ He stopped minute here. His yoic
was a very deep one for he was a large
full cbested man; but when he spok
/ again it had sweet undertone in it thG
/. used to ring IN my ears afterwards
does now.
a'I thought it good news this morning
for without it I could not think of wifi
| That troubled me little enough till latel
till, ali till knew you, Hester. M
dear, [ think you have guessed my que'
: ton
/ Guessed itl All yes, But my fac
was down upon my hands he could NJ
/, | hear the cry that was sitting in my hear
and he went on gently, pitilessly-
But l shall not get an answer to 1t s
Well, then, Hester, viii you marry me
Will you go with me to IndiaY'
I did not answer could not. Al
those who have had deliberately to ki
o their own happiness, to raise up themselv
the barriers that shuts themselves O1
from hope, and love, and life, will kno
how hard itis-Will pity me.
- "Will you be my wife and go with 4
TO India?'
''I aunot"-And no wonder that !
rs made a sudden movement of surprise, f
be myself wondered to hear the hoarse pa
niOD of nv own VOIcn
ye been I thought hoped-Hsster, Is
possible that you have not known VIII
[ have been thinking of all this time p
- Known what he had been thinkil
about Ahl the light, and life, and j
of those moments when I had dared
hope that I did. All the anguish
feeling now that they had all been
vain
Sc ''Look at me, Hester. I don't think
to understand you my DEAR" he said D
Q" tientIy. You say you cannot be 1
my wife, and yet-Tell me you cannot 10
me, and I am answered at once"
He put his arm over my shoulder as
leaned forward, with my face buried
my lap, and whispered
l70 II think you do love me, Hester"
"Oh, I do, Mark, do !" I cried, Ii
ing my head; "but cannot marry yC
I shall have 10 give you up."
1dl "Give me up, my dear love !" and
L held me closer.
"Why not?'' and he looked h
- amazed half amused.
"a. could not bear the glance Of his XIII