The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-12-18
scarce needing where I went, impatient

scarce needing where I went, impatient
only of rest.
j One day, when this terrible ysaruing
was strong upon me, took my sketchiEg
materials, from force of habit,and set out
to walk to pretty wood atsome distance.
The cool, green fragrance .of the leafy
shadows was grateful after the glaring
Sunshine, and I sat down to rest where
they felt coolest. But sudden sound OF
laughter and merry voices close at hand
startled me, and not being willing to see
who the speakers were, got tsup and fed
Iswiftly down the darkest and most tan
lgled of the paths that branched away In
Ito the heart of the wood. / soon left the
merry voices far behind me and, Stacking
j my walk, | wandered dreamy and absorb
ed as ever, till, suddenly turning into an
other path, saw, what caused me to stand
still and forget every thing but what my
feyes locked upon-Mark Sutherland
Yes, Mark, older, darker, thinner, but
Mark himself. All, how the green marsh
es and the winding sea wall, and the lark
singing far up in the sky, all foated be-
fore my eyes, as Isaw the downward bend
of his stately head to look into the face
beside him-the face that looked up into
his, with those candid blue eyes, and a
smile upon the soft parted lips. The
smile seemed to refecti upon Marks
grave face for an instant, and then he took
upa little hand lying on his arm and kiss
ed it tenderly. | looked no longer;I crept
away; stricken with a dumb anguish, q
dreadful, sullen despair. I crept away
and went home. For I knew tie candid
blue eyes, the sweet smile, and tho float
ing golden hair; they were my sister Mil
lly's. Oh, had not done enough? Had
| not sacrificed enough? Was my cup not
yet SO full but that this bitter drop must
be added to its overflow? @ .b s
So I cried in my anguish, and it was
long before better thoughts came to me,
or that coming, I could hold them firmly
and take comfort But by and. by / rose
from where I had flung myself down, and
sat by the window to watch for Milly.--
She came along presently in thes quiet
evening light. and looked at her with
my eyes freshly opened. / had never yet
ceased to think of her as a childII / real
ized in one moment how that child was a
woman. ] looked at that beautiful fresh.
young face, and inyoluntarily glanced at
the reflection Of my own In the mirror
opposite ! never could have been in my
best days what Milly was;and now ! turn
ed away with sigh from the image of
that faded woman, with pale lips and weary
dark eyes. a1an
Milly came the next instant, threw of
her hat,and coming up beside me. took my
face between her two hands, looked into
it tenderly for minute and kissed me,
and sat down with her arm around me
"But, my dear, I have something to
tell, she began, with strange tremble
in her voice, though she was smiling too.
wonderful thing"
"Don't you think I would ever guess
| il, Milly dear?". ! asked, pressing the lit
tie one to my throbbing breast.asa
"You never could; and jet how your
heart is beatingl" she said, looking up at
me timidly. Il believe you really do" !"
Then more, she added almost ina whis
per, Hester, hetuld me to ask you 8heth-
er you would see him to- morrow.
ssYou mean Mr.. Sutherland, ,ofcourse!
aOf course; Hester, do Jeu msan to
say yes" asked Milly, stealing another
/ of those glances at me.
.My yes will 60 with yours, Milly,
dear. =
i ':God bless you, Hesterl my darling, my
dear, dear sister, cried Milly fsrsertlyI
and for long while we were both silent
1 Nor indeed.did she mention Mr.. Suther-
lands name again. recur in any way to
| the subject, till, about the middle Of the
next dsy, she suddenly sprung up from her
place by the window, and glancing at me-
5 with vivid blush and srnile,ran out Of
|, the room, and / beard her fly up stairs
i Then / knew who was coming, and
sat still, because to move was entirely out
of my power. So, when he entered ths
loom, sat, and though | held out my
hand and tried to utter greeting know
!. my lips only murmured inarticulately =
| He looked at me as he held my hand in q
momentary grasp, and I thought there
was both pain and q shock CT surprise
in his face Then he began: - 81
~ have not come unexpectedly, / hope
Alilly promised to ask you,to tell you
! "Sho did tell mel I expected you,a
strove to say; and hope | said it quiet
/ ".
/ ibid you guess why | wanted to SCI
, your he asked, with that directness o
! Ispeech | remembered so we'll
"Yes, | eyen>went SO far as that
J answered and smiled-ohl what wintry
smile, if it did not belle my heart.
. 'sOf course | could only have one pur
! pose in asking to see you again." he wen
on quickly; '.but all Hester, what vii
you say to me this timer"
J "Wbat does Milly say?"
"Millyl always Milly still. but Hester
: it is for you to answer me ffst," he said
and abruptly walking from his position
on the hearth, he came and sat down be
f side me-.
, ,IIester-I must call you sod,
your sister tell what said to her yester
= day."
! "She let he infer it,
r "Infer. Fiddedee! Nothing ike plai
t speaking to express meaning he spok
: out rather impetucusly. "But.you are S
n cold, SO unlike your old SELF, Hester, tha