Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-07-18

he had a younger brother Tor whom ne meant
me- He had all but said so this evening in
the garden. ''It would do John, who was
rather light, all the good in the world. !" |
could not bear it. l rose and went up to
aunt.
''What news, aunty2' I asked.
''News, indeed |" she replied, amazed.
''There's Jessie going to marry my cousin,
Mr. Norris, old enough to be her father |
wonder what he will do with the little firt. y
There was pause.
Mr.. Thompson came forward [ did not
dare to look at him
''What Jessie is that?' he asked Sure
ly not Mr. Raymond's cousin? ?"
Yes the same Do you know her?"
q have seen her at Mrs. Gray s.
He spoke very calmly. / suppose he did
not believe it. pitied him; from my heart
l pitied him.
perhaps it is not true, aunt, said:
''Not true why she writes it to me her
self-there' her letter.
looked at him now He was as pale as
nor quiyeling lip gave token of the cruel
storm within. Something now called my
aunt oat of the room.
Augusta, may l look at it2'' he asked,
glancing toward the letter which my aunt
had handed to me.
could not refuse him. [ gave him the
letter. He read it through with the same
composure, then booking for his umbrella,
which he would always keep in corner of
the siting-room, he said very calmly
81 think [ shall go and take a walk. +"
And he went out and we saw him no
more till the next morning, when he left US.
Ny aunt was disappointed to find that Mr..
Thompson had not proposed to me after all,
Il 81. L. = ~ Nhoa
coldness of his adieu. My value has gone
down with NV cousin faithlessness; mine
had been at best but a reflected light. l was
liked because Jessie was loved.
She became Mrs. Norris soon after this.
She was married from my aunt's house, out
Of regard to Mr.. Norris, who was related to
her, and who disliked Mrs. Gray. THAT
busy-body," she called her-and l am afraid
she was a busy-body She teased me un-
mercifully about Mr.. Thompson. She was
sure, she said, he had made love to me; and
she looked at me with cruel significance as
she spoke But betrayed neither his Sc
cret nor mine; and though she vexed me
when she quizzed him to MIR. Norris, e.
pecially about his umbrella, L did keep 81
lent.
'I am sure he Will be married with his
umbrella under his arm, she said the even
ing before her own wedding. Don't you
think SOP | did not answer her. / went
out into the garden and wondered how she
had charmed him. Alas L might have
wondered how, without seeing it, he had
charmed me-
Jessie marriage was blow to my aunt.
She had always thoughet that | should go off
first. She was also cruelty disappointed by
Mr.. Thompsons indifference, and perhaps
she guessed the meaningof my altered looks.
l believe got pale and thin just then. And
| was always playing Chopin's march.
MY dear, said my aunt to me one even
ing. lis not that very mournful 2
Il like it, aunt, | replied but l resolved
to play it no more.
dMr. Thompson liked it, she said with a
sigh. 'Iwonder he did not propose to you,
she said abruptly.
was silent.
''I wish had never asked him here,
she resumed; Il can't help thinking
'Don' t-pray don't!' interrupted.
She did not insist but she made me go and
sit by her She caressed me, she coaxed
me, and little by little she drew my secret
from me.
My poor darling" she said, when had
confessed all, ''he may value you yet.
NO, aunt, he never will. But pray dc
HOG IIOuDlC dOOuO hhSehh " SSe wv
it, and | will, -
| spoke resolutely, and my aunt praised
me- :.
''You have always been the best of girls,
she said tenderly, land | am glad you have
had confidence III me. l did not mean tc
leave home this year; but now | will take
YOU to the sea side You must have change
my poor darling.
She kissed me, and 1 remember how calm
and happy felt in that gray room, sitting
bv my dear aunts side, and looking at the
| starry sky. The nightingale was singing
again as on that sad evening when l had felt
so broken-hearted tears rose to my eye:
when | remembered it, and his last kind
ness, and my foolish, withered hopes but
| the bitterness was gone from my sorrow.
''You must have a change, said my aunt
again.
Alas the change came in the morning
Nv aunt was late for breakfast | went VI
| to her room and found her calmly sleeping
! But. oh too calm. to deep were those slum
| bers. The kind eyes which were rested OF
| me in love. were closed, the voice which hac
ever spoken in praise and endearment was
| silenced for ever and ever
/ suppose it was not Jessie 81 fault that hel
husband was my aunt's heir-at-law; but
found it very hard. Poor, dear aunt, she
always did mean to make will in my favor,
and she never did. Mr. Norris behaved very
handsomely / was told He gave me the
piano, which had been bought for me, and 2
| few other articles of no great value, and al
my aunt's wardrobe He kept her jewels
which were very fine, and the furniture, fol
which, as he said truly enough, had nc
use. Moreover, he allowed me to remain IL
the cottage till Lady day; though, perhaps
as he could not live in two houses at time
and must pay the rent whether | staid there
or not, this was no such great favor after all
| God forgive me, fear l was very sinful
during the dark days that followed. | had
some friends who did, or rather said then
best; but there was one who never came
near me, who gave me no token of his exls-
tence, who had 10 kind word for me-. who
let me struggle through my hard trial, and
L IL cl..s.,.- hrzad ~ aaIrrh.