North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-12-19

him before; nor did she notice that his
hand tremblcd when at parting he touched
mine, .ut it did. | know now whose eyes
had recognized when | saw Harold.
When returned home, Mrs. Murray
was expecting her son. for his man and
luggage were there already.
at is just like him." said Lydia; che
comes and goes like Will-o-the Wist per-
haps you may induce him to stay little
longer this time
"Diu offend you, dear T. said Lydia
kindly, as she passed her arm round my
shoulders, and we walked up and down
the terrace together.
e NO." said /, mot in the least; if | in
huence Mr.. Murray at all, it will be to drive
him away"
Then l told her of our meetings but of
course was careful what l said. ''He is
very strange aud moody at lines, my dear;
you must not notice him"
In the evening he came home. but he was
not strange or moody, and during the
whole six weeks he stayed | found him
rather the reverse, pleasant, kind, consid-
crate. He was always waiting on his
mother, going about with Lydia, and rath-
avoiding me, still in kind, gentlemanly
way. So matters went on, till one evening
| stood on the lawn with baby in my arms.
1t was glorious sunset ; the brothers re-
turned from their walk, and came to my
side. Mr.. George Murray had rose bud
&c L..ll - al nh 'ha
little thing laughed ard talked TO IT in ba-
by fashion, and stretched out her little hand
to take ii from him. Her hand touched
his. He trembled, dropped the bud, and
TUNED away. Mr.. John was good natured
and, believe, sincerely fond of his BROTH
cr; he took the child from my arms ssmiI-
ed sympathizngly at George, and ran into
the house to his wife, vino had been spend
ing the whole day with Us. Mr.. George
looked very handsome with the sunshine
lurking in his soft glossy beard, the rest OF
his face IN deep sh dow from the broad
brm of the felt hat he wore pressed close
Oh his brow. | was sorry for him, but |
did not dare break the silence, though it
was awkward. and We We're quite alone
We came back to the house side by side
rs we passed the drawing room window
we heard Mrs Johns cold voice say pre-
ciseIy-
ANY one would think they were low
ers !"
lie looked keenly in my face, I AIN
afraid blush was there. He passed on
to the library and wien | rose the next
he was gone. Lydi> was dis
treSSed and out of spilts. We WANDERED
over the house and grounds, and
walked with Mrs. Murray to the rectory,
where she always spent the first days of
Georges absence. When we returned,
went with Lydia to her brothers room to
put away the many pretty things she had
arranged to welcome him when he came
home.
"He had not stayed so long for years,
said Lydia, a> she disc"nsolately collected
the pipes that had been scattered on a
side table. II can't think what sent him
away again SO suddenly poor fellow ~
did not speak | dared not tell her
Mrs. Johns remark then. So / sat, idly
looking from thu window. and LYDIA bu-
sled herself with the dressing table. There
were some papers there. left al together
just as they had been sorted ont to take.
Mr.. George must have gohe off in hurry
at last, and so have forgotten them. Lydia
looked through them lstlessly, saving,
''Perhaps | must send them on!' Sud-
denly her hand stopped turning the crisp
leaves, and an exclamation burst from her
lips. rose and looked over her shoulder
In her hand she held small square pa
per, that might once have been leaf in
sketch. book. On itsa girls head had been
roughly drawn in pencil. The hair waved
off the temples, the eyes looked up anx-
iousy, pleadingly. The lips Were silently
apart Round the throat a little ribbon
was tied, and on the ribbon hung a small
locke,. Beneath the drawing tie letters
ID, G. were written, and these two words,
: Kyrie Eleison." 1t was not an artists
sketch; it was drawing of a hand that
loved. Lydia held up the sketch, and
placed her finger on the looking-gla lass be-
fore US. The reflection WAS reproduced
in the sketch. | turned away, for it was
not my own reflection that saw, and l was
sorry to have stumbled on another of his
secrets. But my heart bounded, and
new life seemed to come to my soul. Lydia
put her arm around me and kissed me.
"My dear, a red rose; miId, full, rich.
crimson rose, from the second staddord IN
the large conservatory, and your long
white dress"
1t was Lydia that spoke; she had come
to bid me good by for the afternoon. She
was called from home, >he said | must
excuse her and try to amuse myself. A
bright bloom was on her cheek, aud she
looked quite young again, though she was
dressed soberly in black with only violet
ribbon to relieve it Those delicious hours
of solitude, if solitude it coul0 be called!
No, no it was life new life a happi-
ness too great to realize luxurious; no
ly future, in sweet uncertainty and shad-
oxy brightness. One figure, one face, in