The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-03-22


story which, thank Heaven people never
tire Of listening to any more than we do Of
seeing the buds swell aud the leaves I'M
folding, and the world made young again
by the coming Of spring-the story, 70
which as we listen, our own youth comes
back, and once more the flowers bloom
and the skies are blue, and our hearts are
beating joyously, and it is May.
I am not young now, neither is the day
on which / am soberly writing this little
record Of q long-p period, balmy one
Of spring, or anything like IL; and ye, ma!
comes freshly back to me as recali 'na'
day Of which am going to SPEAK.
A lark was singing far up In tne oiae
sky, few sheep were pasturlng In the
green distance, and tall figure dressed In
gray, with gun on his arm, and one or tive
dogs frisking around it, was coming lei.
surely along the sea-wall. l had been fully
intent but the minute before upon the
sketch Of an old boat was making but
now felt but the beating Of my heart, ant
saw nothing but Mark Sutherland coming
leisurely along the sea-wall, with his dog
playing around him.
The little picture was never finished, fol
at the instant that became conscious o
the advancing figure, dropped my brush
and hopelessly ruined my distance by
great smear of vankyke' brown. 1t was
never finished, no-but have it yet, and
mean it shall be laid beside me in my
coffin.
He was $ long way off when / first saw
him, and vet il seemed almost the next
instant that he was standing Desiae i.o
speaking. MY heart had not lett on peat
inc. and could feel the color not In my
face as / looked up; but my merry f,tle
terrier took exception to his dogs, ana new
NJ them with tumultuous disapprovai,
taking his attention off me for the moment.
When this little fracas was quoted, he
mt his gun on the bank, made his re-
frievers lie beside it, and sat down himself
by me. ., .,s
by way of saying something-anything.
nNo." he answered "but don't COM
plain. / didn't expect any. came out
here because / thought should see you,
and wanted to tell you piece OF news
and ask you a question"
News is a precious commodity, indeed,
in these wilds; but please remember my
Scotch blood, in expecting an answer TO
the question" :.
He did not seem to be attending to what
I said; he had taken up one OF my sable
brushes and was absently playing with it, but
he threw it down the next minute, and said
softly:
"Hester, have got an appointment that
I have been trying for, and | shall leave
for India next month-that's my news"
NV heart, that had been beating so Wild
", seemed to stand suddenly still, and
drop downtown. The water and the
green marsh rocked, blended hazily into
each other, and the sky, and then voice
that sounded dim and far oil, but was my
own, too, said: cit is good news, sup
pose."
Good news Well, yes, hope So"
He stopped a minute here. His voice
was very deep one, for he was large
broad-chested man but when he spoke
esais -! j. -aifaa. q soft undertone in it that
used to ring in my ears afterwards-it does
now.
81 thought it good news this morning,
TOR without it / could not think of a wife.
That troubled me little enough till lately
till ah till knew you, Hester. My dear
think you have guessed my question"
Guessed it Ay, yes. But my face was
down upon my hands; he could not hear
the cry that was sitting in my heart, and
he went on gently, pitilessly-
"But shall not get an answer to it so.
Will you 60 with me to India %
did not answer-I could not. An !!
those who have had deliberation to kill
their own happiness, to raise up themselves
the barrier that shuts them out from hope,
and love, and life, will know how hard 1t
is-will pity me.
"Will you be my wife, and go with me
TO India ?"
81 cannot" And no wonder that ne
made sudden movement OF surprise, LOT
! myself wondered to hear the hoarse
passion of my own voice. .ox
"You cannot What fool | have been
then, / hoped-I hoped Hester, IS u pos
sible that you have not known what have
been thinking of all this time =
Knowino what he had been thinking
about All, the light, and life, and joy of
those moments when i had dared to hope
that I aid. All! the anguish Of feeling
now that they had been in vain
"Look at me, Hester, don't think I'M
derstand-you, my DEAR" he said patiently
and gently. "You say you cannot be my
wife, and yet tell me you cannot love me,
and am answered at once"
He put his arms over my shoulder as
leaned forward with my face buried in my
lap, and whispered,
81 think you don't love me, Hester"
ooh, do, Mark, do" ! cried, lifting
my head "but l cannot marry you. l
shall have to give you up"
"Give me up, my dear love !" and he
held me closer.
Il cannot 60 to India"
"Why not I" and he looked half amazed,
half amused.
could not bear the glance of his kind
dark eyes; shrank away from his arm
and said:
81 cannot leave Milly."
To our own thinking, had pronounced
our doom now but Mark Sutherland
could laugh, and said:
"Well, then, you shall not; Miss Milly
shall 60 too"
"Ah! if that could only be; but Milly
would die in India. We came home be-
cause the climate was killing her."
"And you will not leave her p
81 promised mamma before she died !
never would; that If married it should not
separate us; that my home should be
Mily's till she did not need it," answered
i, faltering under something in the look OF
his face that was new to me. Up to this
time had been thinking of myself now ]
was reminded that was giving pain to him
He was silent two or three minutes
looking away into the distance. He had
taken his hand from my shoulder.
swell, Hester" said he presently
gravely, not unkindly--but an! as il
seemed to me, very coldly-"you have
simply to choose between your sister and