The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1867-11-21

SuTUcIl Rutc, AS sltppfh ibN VIZ
saw her, little way down the path, in
her dainty Giorning gown and sroaa
garden hat, filling the basket that h!n-
on her arm with flowers, and softly
singing to herself. stopped Oh "a
lawn l wanted to come upon her una
wares, and test the effect Of my sudten
appearance, which l could not do if the
sound Of my foot on the gravel should
betray my approach ; thus got close
to her before she knew | was ncar.--
She started violently, and the color
rushed to her check. The slightest
thing would bring it--I have seei tier
flusl at the sudden rising of bird from
the thicket. The next moment she
smiled and held out her hand. "Oh,
it is you! You startled me. had no
idea any body was near" and the sweet
eyes were raised to mine trustinsly -
Won't you come in p
"Not il may stay ou.--lness yon
are tired 7"
"Oh, no, am never tired of being
in the garden. So you'll help me 10
gather my flowers see, you can reach
up to those sprays of h 'neysnckle; get
some ofthc best, the rosie5t, for me.
"Ah, how delicious y she sand, in
halng the fragrance with deep ecstatic
inspirations, and she held up to me til
blossoms that had just touched her
face. I kissed the flower; took the
hand that held it, l told her all that |
had to tell. She stood still, her hea"
bent so that the hat hid her fncc from
me, and knew not in whl' spirit she
listened till sigh thai W.. hNli sob
checked me. ..
She looked up with face so full oi
pain, ofpity, ofperpl1 kitty, of deprcc'
ting appeal, that though the hope in my
heart sank down l almost ielt more ioi
the sorrow in her face than for that IN
my own soul.
"Forglr" me-" she said. ~ am 50
.r!evcd, l ought to have told You. ]
did not know that you--that you cared
for me that way. have been cnga
ged these two years. He is in India
and coming back in August Oh, you
don't think / have been coquettish--
that l have been knowingly leading you
on to this-do yout' In her earnest
ness she laid her hand on mine, and
lifted her face with tremulous mouth,
and eyes brimful Of tears.
If l had died for it l must have
snatched the consolation the momcn,
otfered-the last, the only one l drew
her on my heart, holding her close,
close and stilled the quivcring ofthe
lips with twenty ki ses.
When released her she turned her
back to me, hid her face in her hands,
and sobbed till her frame shook.
"Loisctte, Loisette, forgive me J
could not help it u. | swear | could mot
help it, Loisette."
She shook her head
"Loisette, think how | love you
think what l feel in knowing all tn
hope l had of you is gone-yone for
ever! Loisette, am going away,
where can never offend you more
Think that what have done was done
in parting with you for the last TING
last farewell, Loisette."
She tried to speak, but sobs mad,
her inarticulate, still knew she vas
bitterly reproaching me.
"Yes; / know l have no right to eX-
pect forgiveness. l will go. won [
distress you further. But we have at
least been friends, dear, and you can
not think of that, and let me go forcv-
er, without one word"
Still she was silent paused, and
waited; then I flung up my arms
as a man does who has lost all; and
with great groan turned to leave
her. | heard her move, | heard her
attempt to speak, and looked back
Her face was still avcrted, still cover
ed with one hand. But the other Wa
held out to me, and springing back |
took it revercntly, and bent my lips up
on it.
"God forever bless you, Loisettc, the
one and only woman in His earth for
me-"
"And God bless you and comfort
you," she said. 'I wish could have
been better friend to you--I mean to
be. Always believe that "
II will, do"
And 80 Loisctte and | parted. The
May morning was darkened as passed
through the garden gate again. Turn
ed my steps knew not whither--away
where no one could see me. That was
the only wish or instinct | had.
| walked miles, seeking rest, and
finding none. At last l stopped at u
gate, and leaned my arms on it, and
looked blindly over the wide landscape
spread before me.
As | gazed, dull numhness fell on
my sorrow, and my perceptions Of out
ward objects slowly returned.
watched some children gathering
blossoms of the May, and thought what
q pity it was they should tear the
boughs down 80, and destroy 80 much
to secure 80 littl,. / watched stealthy
cat creeping through the long Lnduls-
ons of the grass, on the hunt for the
poor little tender young rabbits. Up
sprang lark, bursting into ripples OF
song, and my eye followed him, rising,
lowering, rising again, pausing, balan-
cling on the wing, soaring up once
more, darting away obliqueiy, resting
; awhile, but always singing-singing as
il he could not cease for his lifc-lhen
daships down like stone aud vanish
ing.
And then my great grief seized me
f once more, end dropped on the turf
! and hid my face in my arms, and cried
, a, hal never cried since was boz,
+ when my mother died, and when
d thought the world held no more happi
l. ness for me.
l. When our great griefs fall on MS vi
d treal them As bows do bOniires.