The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-06-28
PRICE FIVE CE NTS.

some time before, was left to my med.
itations, and, being idle, Satan of course
kept up his character, and found me
something to do in the shape of thor
ough resuscitation of the jealousy which
had been partially lulled to sleep.
could see the two figures each time
that.they turned at the end of the terrace,
and also that they were talking earnest
ly together. l envied him his stalwart
figure, his easy quiet way, his firm sense
and the manner he had of giving it
without letting it annoy you, or make
him appear pedantic. l did not won
der at Bells liking him; he was lust
the man to trust in, just the man to feel
pride in loving, and to whose iudg-
ment you could look as coming
right from an honest heart. was hor-
ribly jealous, and yet liked theman and
almost liked Bell better for having won
such love as his. As / lay a-thinking,
Milly glided very softly into the room,
and, without seeing me, went up to the
window. AS the two came opposite,
she drew back with sharp angry mo-
ton, and, leaning among the curtains
stood there. l could not distinguish the
expression of her face in the dusk.
but l could see she was watching with
an eagerness l could not account for.
"Milly," said 1, getting up and stand
ing beside her. She started violently,
and tried to push past me, but held
her fast. The spirit of the morning was
in me again. "Milly," I went away.
You are woman now."
"Yes, cousin Hal"
"You know all about the old engage
ment made for Bell and me?"
"Yes, cousin Hal"
"Bell does not like it. She never did.
Her cold letters kept me in India. l
didn't care if never came home. and
when l did start, the first thing heard
was the truth about this fellow Calvert
and how she hated me did not believe
1t until | saw it for my self l see it
now; so do you. Look there, Milly,-
look at them. Bell likes the curate's
little finger better than"
mo she does MT" cried Milly, pas
"but he likes her, and she
goes on in her quiet, heartless way, till.
till" But Milly began to cry, and
new light broke upon me. Suddenly,
her tears, Milly said, "You
are all wrong about Bell. She does not
show it, as l would but 1 believe she
loves you dreadfully."
My heart gave great throb.
"You don't belivc me?"
mo, Milly dear. It's very kind of
you telling me this; but am quitesure
you arc wrong"
Next day l found Bell in the garden
alone, and, tiguratively speaking, took
header at once. / told Bell | saw she
lid not love me. told her l was sorry
for my share in the engagement, and
that it had been miserable, ill-advised
scheme from the first.
1.-The long and short is, you would
.ell me that the engagement is broken"
she said, but without looking at me.
''1f you wish it so, Bell"
"Can you doubt it?" and rising from
,he garden chair she turned her face to
ne. 1t was frightfully pale, and her
yes had the same expression had seen
he day hefore. "You are quite free,
cousin Harry"
"Gourfrecdom is more to the purpose"
aid l, fiercely, half mad with love dis
and jealousy.
"What do you mean? ?"
"Only what you say,--that you are
rec, Bell, and that l am sorry have
nteriered so long with your happiness.
Had known the truth sooner it might
lave spared me much. l was a blind,
'Dstinatef fool not to give in long ago;
'ut, in spite Of common sense, l hoped
gainst hope. / thought if you did not
owe me yet, another year might make
difference. 1t was not your fault, l
know. You We're cold enough but |
owe you so dearly, IL"
"llarry! Harry!' cried Bell. "Do
'ou know what you are saying?"
"Too WELL" l replied, flercely; and
hen, like veritable madman, / leftny
ongue loose. | told her the whole
tory of my life, seeing it with Il now
knowledge myself; how had learnt to
Owe her, how her GOODNESS had crushed
ny love until thought it had died out,
md how TIE story l heard in the steam
n made it all blaze forth again.
Bell had been standing when | began
o speak, but long before finished she
vas sitting, her face flushed and her
lands nervously clasping and unclasp-
ng. As finished, her eyes rose to
mine, and absolutely startled me.
lad never cen such lights in eyes be-
ore. Her whole eXpr ssion had chang
d, and, thinking she might have cloak
d her joy, if only for dccency's sake, l
urned indignantly away. The instant
fcr Il hand was upon my arm. 'r
"llarry! Harry come back to me,
lre you blind? Won't you see that it
'as my love, that | only feared you
lought yourself bound to me, that
My wanted to let you try if you loved
ny one else ?"
But need not tell all Bell said, or,
ow she explained much which, Though
pbably quite lucid to the reader, who,
eing in the place of lookeron, pro-
erbially speaking secs most of the
anne, was dark and iueNplicable tome
ntil Bell put it TO me in the clear lig,t
hcrlovo, Oncthing, however, Imusl
ld. ! had been qui,cNrong abou, ,Hr
lntc, who was in love with Milly all