Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-01-31

afraid Nathan was come back, and every
thing must needs be right.
lie spoke not one word of Lanisie, and
Matilda Ind not the heart to name her. He
called Matilda his good angel and said how
much he had needed her help and guidance
amidst the temptations that were constantly
being thrown in his way. She would never
forsake him, he hoped; never cease to be to
him a steadlast star, let come what would.
She was very dear to liim-dearer than he
could say; and he almost wished il were
possible to die for her then and there to
have the bees humming about him and the
long grass blowing over his face were an end
to be coveted indeed. And then he sighed
and hung his head, and they remained long
time silent, Matilda pitying him from the
bottom of her innocent heart, and wonder
ing why so strange and sad n mood had
come over him.
If she had been older or wiser In the
worlds wisdom she would have seen that
that she did not see; 1t put the evil day afar
off,
She did not remember till after he was
gone how little he had said that was not
shadowy and vague; as She looked back
and tried to catch it, it escaped her like the
mist or the moonlight, and she conld not but
wonder what ii was out of which she had
gotten 50 much happiness at the time.
| "a e1- l,..,
Nathan was coming again, she was vexed
with her mother. He had said nothing
about coming again, and when pressed and
forced to admit it, she was more vexed than
ever, but not with him. Oh no. He had
not thought of 1t perhaps, and perhaps, in
the multiplicity of his cares and the cmbar-
rassmcnts of an occupation new 10 him, he
did not himself know when he should come;
but it would be as soon as possible, she was
sure of that.
Had he not called hsr his angel, ant
said he was ''ready to die for her?" This
was not saying he was ready to live for her
if she had CHANGED to think of it, but sht
did not chance She saw through the me
dium of her own affections, and she saw il
some sort, as we all do, what she wished tt
see. And there was besides, even yet, un
derlying all her fears, an almost unshakel
belief in his moral integrity. Almost un
shaken, say, for il had been, as the reade
knows, Jared if not moved. She loved hin
all the same, aud she could not bear hin
OF his falsity, but somehow she found n,
rest in her love.
One day, when month was gone by sinc
, his last visit, there came letter from Nath
an. Matilda dare not break the seal, sh
feared so much. She hid it in her bosom
and there il fluttered over her heart the lon
summer afternoon and not till the evenin
work was done, and the door of her cham
Der was locked, did she venture TO draw
forth. A sitting sensation oppressed her Q
the first words. "AIy lifelong friend, M
good angel it began. And than he wer
on as though no other relation had ever e,
listed between them. He had fallen in low
he said, but he distrusted his Judgment will
out her sanction, as he always did, and
, she did not send him her approval she shoul
certainly be very miserable.
, The lady was not so young nor so beaut
, full as herself, and to be frank, he fcaret
nay, he knew she had not her excellei
!, qualities; in truth he wished she We're MOI
like his own good little Tillyi But Ill
meshcs of fate were about him, and he WI
committed irretrievably He could say
her. his angel, that lie hardly knew wheth,
to be glad OF sorry. He hoped, howeve
in case that the aUorst came to the iU0l,
(this was underscored and pointed with u
exclamation), she and his Lamsic would a
; : ways be the dearest of sisters, and the true
of friends.
i, This was the hope that gave him ii
:, sweetest happiness he knew. He thougl
daily, nightly, almost hourly of the deligl
. ful hours they had spent together, when
had sometimes seemed to their foolish ima
> nations that such hours were never to er
', -ay, he thought of them, and thought
y them regretfully. Did Matilda rememb
, them: And would she consent to rene
those happy hours with another, more clos
;, w Joined, but scarce dearer than she? /
!. there was nothing too much to expect of Ii
=. generous nature though, if the cases we
reversed, and he should venture to propo
such thing to his wayward Lamsie, 81
. would tear his eyes out All, my angel,n
. lost angel, would she were more like yo'
i. Then he said the wedding day was II
IN even spoken of as yet; indeed it could har
: " be called real engagement, though
10 seemed to be regarded as such, insomu
that he felt himself tied TO an apron-strin
,f And then he said, ''Do pity me,my darlin
!. am sometimes almost miserable! !" No, [
= wedding day had not been spoken of, but
N ever there were wedding-he hated We
"a dings. and wished the whole affair We
n overland if there were bridesmaids, and
course Lamsie must have her way abG
that would she, his dearest, best, sweetI
friend, honor them and make them hap
NJ by being ones He would send her a dress
10 he supposed some tlmsy affair would be
Ia quired--he would send it, that she mig
n have no trouble about il. '.And now !
n dear Lamsie --Lamsie was carefully erase
and Matilda inseried-.'l want you TO WI
ii me long kind, loving letter, such as
al other woman would on could write, but j.
A what Your generous nature will Of its
i prompt. Write me, darling, from Your W
to heart, and if you do not approve Of the ST
Ia am committed to, your better judgmt
Nd shall be my thus far. This promise y
a sacredly, and that means Il promise to
:. kept come what will II, however, he i
nt her sanction he hoped she would make ha
rs to follow in his footsteps, and that her nj
Of would he more perfect than he had found
10 And with this hope he was ''always her
10 fectionatc friend and devoted admirer.
"a Was ever kindness crueler than this!
NJ Matilda read this letter calmly from iirsl
nd last, and then she read il again word
nd word, and then she folded it, and went W
ma it straight to her mother, and when she
put it in her hand she laid her head on
on bosom, and said: " Read it, dear moth
| l., Iat 81 f,,