Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1866-03-16
ROCKVILLE, Md FRIDAY MORNING. MARCH l6. 1866

" And how you used to tease me, b,
saying you would only come to my cas-
tie disguised as wandering minstrel
! and would never sit at the board between
5 me and the duke, Edward Yes, re
i member it all very we'll, foolish children
that we were! But I, at least. know
better now; am not ambitious in tina
way any longer"
i /" In that way? In what direction
then do your aspirations tend 7"
, q To be loved, said Mary fcrvently
''to be loved, Edward. with all the trus
and devotedness of which noble natur,
is susceptibility know that tho hear
on which lean has no thought save fol
ne-to be certain that. with all my
faults and waywardness, am loved fol
myself alone, not for-for any little
\ charm of face which people may attri-
butte to me-"
Edward rose abruptly and walked up
and down the room, which, from his long
stay in the house, had become familiar
to him. Mary" he resumed, stopping
as he drew near her, 'you do yourself
injustice. The face you set SO little
store by, must be beautiful, as the index
of your soul; have pictured you SO
often to myself; | have coveted the bles-
sing of sight, were it only for an instant,
that l might gaze upon you! The dim
form of my mother, as | last beheld her
in my infancy, floats before me when /
think of you, encircled with a halo of
heavenly light which fancy to be your
attribute. and radiance hovers round
your golden tresses such as gladdens our
hearts in sunshine"
." All, Edward, it is better you cannot
see me as I am ! You would not love-
mean you would not think of me 80
much ~
If l could but see you for moment
as you will look at the ball tonight, |
fancy l should never repine again"
The ball tonight! | had quite for
gotten it; wish mamma would not in
sist upon my going l do not care for
these things any longer; you will be left
alone, Edward, ard that seems so heart
less and unkind!'
Mary" said one of her sisters,
opening the library door, ''look at these
beautiful hot-house flowers which have
arrived here for us. Come, Edward,
come and see them too"
They were 80 accustomed to treat him
as one of themselves, and were so used
to his aptitude in many ways, that they
often did not appear to remember he was
blind.
| The flowers we're rare and beautiful,
and yet no donors name accompanied the
gift. Suddenly one of the girls cried
out leughingly, II have guessed, l
have guessed. 1t is Edward He has
heard US talking about this ball, and must
have ordered them on purpose for us.-s
Kind, good Edward y and they were
loud in their expressions Of delight; all
except Mary, who kept silently aloof.
i" Mary does not like her flowers :"
said Edward inquiringly, turning in the
direction where she stood.
q No." she replied sorrow fully, sit is
the ball that l do not like, nor your
thinking about decking us out for it. AS
if cared to go!''
look at these lovely roses" said the
eldest sister, as they we're selecting what
each should wear; "would not Mary
look we'll with wreath Of these roses
in her hair 2"
!" Yes, yes" exclaimed Edward, ca
gerly, "and let me weave it for her.
You know, Mary, it is one of my accom-
| plishments; you were proud Of my gar
lands when you were little girl. Will
you trust my fingers for the task p
If you really wish it, if it does not
seem too tri6ing, yes, said Mary gently,
with troubled expression upon her
brow, usually SO serene, as she moved
reluctantly away. But it must appear
such mockery to you, poor Edward p
and then, without waiting for reply,
she hurried 10 her room, aud did not
show herself again until the family as
sembled for dinner while Edward, seat
ed between the sisters, who were in great
delight in their anticipation Of the even
ing's amusements, silently betook him
self to his task.
Early after dinner, the large old-fash-
Toned drawing-room at Woodlands was
deserted the momentous business of
the toilet had to be gone through, and
then drive Of five miles accomplished,
before Mrs. Parker and her three fair
daughters could find themselves at the
ball. Edward was the only occupant Of
the room seated at the piano, on which
his fingers idly strayed, he now and then
struck chords of deep melancholy, or
broke into passages of plaintivc sadness.
Alone, alone! How the silence of
this room strikes upon my heart-bow
long this evening will be without her
voice, without her footstep! And yet
this is what awakes me to what is inevi-
tably drawing near. Next week l leave
the roof under which she dwells; shall
no. hear her singing as she runs down
stairs in the morning; | shall not have
her constantly at my side, asking me,
with her sweet childlike earnestness, to
teach her to repeat poetry, or to give ex-
preston to her music. The welcome
rustic Of ker dress, the melody Of her
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