The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-05-07

ly ana softly, ana knew that moist
ure was gathering In my eyes, you
must answer one question. Answer
it as you please, and take my solemn
assurance that / ask it only for your
own good. Tell me do you love mep
Mono, do not take your hands away
yet. Answer me if you can. Fear
not-O, fear not; for [ had rather go
into endless night than do you wrong.
Tell me, Mary, do you love me?
Il can not speak falsely" she trem-
blingly whispered, " for my own peace,
perhaps, [ love you too well. 10
Listen to me one moment, l
added, drawing her nearer to me,
when / have told you that which |
have to tell, you shall be the judge. =
She did not strive to free her hands,
but looked up eagerly in my face, and
her eyes beamed with hopeful light.
You know Jack Stanton? said
Yes" she replied.
He was my best friend when we
were at college, and my friendship has
not grown less. He came to see me,
and told me the trials and suferings
of one of the schoolmates of his ear
lier days.
"Oh, Mary, I know well why my
hand was refused, and / blame you
not. 1t may be that our paths will be
different through life, but you shall at
least know, that he whom you loved
will so live that he shall not be un-
worthy Of. your kindest membrane.
/ know that have hitherto wandered
into the path of danger, but hence
forth / am free from the dread snare.
Under the new light that has dawned
upon me, hold the wine cup to be
fearless enemy. I will shun it as
would shun a shameful life and
clouded deathbed. For my own sake
viii / do this, so that my sainted
mother, if she can look upon her boy,
can smile approyinglyupon the course
he has chosen. .....-
And now, Mary, if at some future
time you should feel that you can
trust your happiness in my keeping,
you will give me some token thereof,
and | viii come and ask you again for
your hand; and should. it be my
blessed lot to receive it, / will devote
every energy in my being to make your
life joyous and peaceful one e
/ let go her hands, and bowed my
head to wipe away a tear. | turned
towards the door, really intending to
depart and give her time for reflection,
when she pronounced my name |
looked back, and her hands were
stretched out toward me- a
"Now, now" I whispered. / will
not ask your answer yet. Watch me
prove me. Only give me to know
that have your love and will. ! e9Gl
I stopped speaking, for Mary's head
had been pillOwed upon. my bosom,
and she was weeping ike child.
tNowl now!" she uttered, as /
wound my arms about her. Sob,
Charles, never doubted your truth.
/ know you cannot deceive me. God
bless your noble resolution, and let
me help you to keep it! Pc Ath
/ cannot tell how long / stopped
that evening" can only tell that /
was very happy, and that my pros
poets of the coming year were bright
and glorious
On the following day-a Sabbath
calm and pleasant--the organ. gave
forth new strain. The daughters of
Zion were no longer in a strange
land. They had taken their harps
down from the willows, and within
the chambers of the new Temple,
more respondent far than the old,
they sang the songs that aforetime
made joyous the city of their God. All
marked the grandeur of the music,
that sprang into life beneath the touch
of the fair organist on that beautiful
Sabbatn morning, and all seemed
moved by inspiration. In me it was
like tie holy outpourings of a re-
deemed soul, and with bowed head
and folded hands I gave myself up to
the sublime influence. As Mary
turned from the instrument / caught
her eye. Mine was dim with moisture,
but hers were bright, cleaning with
seraphic light. '.i''l 20 '''5' p f3
Ere many weeks had passed anoth-
er hand passed over the keys of the
organ, for Mary was not in the choir.
She knelt before the altar by my side,
and over US both the aged clergyman
stretched his hands with prayer and
blessing
And we went from the church to-
gether-Mary and I-out in the, new
Iife-bound heart to heart, and hand
to hand, to love, honor and cherish
for eyermore.