The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-06-07
FIRST AND LAST.
nr MAnY ]. AIIgX.


ln ,he suusct al hct knitting
Sang lonely maiden, sitting
Unslerneaih her thfcallpid tree
Aud ere daylight died before as,
Aud the srspet starr shohr Ger us,
Fiifni rose the tender chorus,
JAmic's ON The stormy sos.'
A young girl sang Il, sitting among
twilight shadows--Christinc Frost =.
And outside, among the shadows, some
oDc listened, through al the song, IN
its tender path"s, to the last vcFsc
aIIow could bal lint, bot iiugrr.
To Tbs Fons hpd near ibr singer,
Swcrity ppping heaven - bnHg her
jamie from ibr stormy sca
And while set ber iips did namc rnc.
Forth spfsng -mt heart a'rr csmr me-
Grietc ma matg, sWesi. aR Jamie.
Home retarti'd 70 love aud thee"
This Jamie turned, insicadg and walk
ed away down tho garden path aud out
through tho liltle Iron gate that closed
with sharp click bchiud him.
A goollo0king fellow ygu would
have called him, noting the fuc, erect
figure. and the handsome. bearded face.
over which the lamplight iell Tho face
had a troubled look gn it now a. be
said to himself, striding along tho qoict
street
II used 20 repeat the Lords prayer
when ! waa child, and part oF il, I
remember, was Lead us not into temp.
la,ieu Well, rcsistcd that temp,n.
tiou Two minutes more aud | should
have proved myself scoundrI p4st re.
denpiion by going 10 her whore she sat
aud telling her What / have no right
ever 10 tell hcr--lba, | love her Dear
hule girl Darling Christine +. She
would never again welcome nae with
that shy grace II she knew that am
already a married pan, griYding The
last words oui sayagoiy through his shut
teeth
It was no coumon trouble tHat could
bring that dark look into the strong,
proud face There was SONG great pliu
or wrong in his life. sou would have
bedn sure. Vet among men, Bruce
Harper was "hlLc fellow well met, aud
among women. man greatly liked
Aud there were not few who cnyied
him bis position and prospects Rich
and care-iree, whose lot in life could b.
plcasautery So litlle go really know Of
each other,
4 lady aittgd past him as be walked
on 10 moody abslraction-a slender wo-
man, with a veil or some such gauzy
thing thrown lightly over bead, instead
Of bonnet She half turned ~ she
canae up with him, "Ah Mr. IIar.
per, putting out white hand
"Airs. Clcndenning," aud the haud
was taken into cordial clasp
aChurlcy has been wondering Whist
had become of you, sir; | think you
must render nn account to US for your
long absence" with an arch glance
positively, We haven't seen YOU for
two weeks pursued Doctor Charley
Clendenuing's lively little wife.
Mr.. Harper smiled and made some
polite reply, then
Here we are at the door. You win
come in p
Not this evening, thank you. Ishnll
be happy TO come in the course Of day
or two, though. My regards to Doctor
Charley, and good night" bowiag him
self Off
Mrs. Clendcnning looked after him
thoughtfully.
Something has gone wrong with our
Scottish chicitain. wouder if Chris
tine Frost has anything to do with it y
She was pondering on the matter still
when Doctor Charley came in; aud after
huttering hike maguificd humming
bird about that young giant, helping
him on with his dressing gown and
bringing his slippers aud cigars, she
settled herself, at last, on his knee, aud
by aud by surprised him by the ques-
tion, abruptly put:
''Charley wouldn't Bruce Harper
and Christine make splendid coupler
Christine Frost Docs he 90 thercY"
quickly.
"Yes-every day, almost. 8Ic's a
devoted lover. Wouldn't it be good
match
Occupied with her own thoughts, the
little lady had not noticed how grave
her husbands face had suddenly be-
come.
II thought better Of Bruce than that.
Does-does she care for him, do you
think z"
"Christine (? ] know her well, and i
think she does. But what ails you,
Charley2 You speak as seriously as
if it were funeral VIC were talking