The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1868-02-13

nestled closer, closer stillto me; when
she talked, with an assurance that moth
| ING could break, of future hours OF 50.
cred peace; and when | responded to
all she said with words ofcqually con
filling and truthful love-I knew quite
well what the end must be. was
calm then, and happy, but could des'
cry the phantom shadow of disaster
floating high above-soon to overcast
all.
| Il was wayward anl wild. Her faith
er distrusted me her friends interpos-
cd words of bitterness and calumny
between us. Still she trusted mc-told
me that nothing could ever shake her
trust, I smiled, and said / knew she
would be true; but smiled not because
my knowledge was hers, bccaHsei it was
far more certain and far less bright.
Poor child what was she to do? We
were parted, and then when strange ru-
mors reached her, magniiicd thrcetoid !;
lying speeches Of her enemies and
mine, bit by bit the rock Of her conf
dence gave way. Bravely she bore up,
till at last it was all gone. Her love
| think, never left nc; nor would her
trust, had ] been near, and had she but
been able to gaze, wrapped close to my
heart into my face and eyes as in the
old bygone times. But long leagues
separated us, and she fell away from
me. The venom Of calumny had done
its work; the poison Of false counsel
had dihused itself through all her be
ing; and so she ceased to be mine.
heard of her, but heard Of her as be
! ing another's-or as soon to be anoth'
ers Yet this too, kncw--by the
same unerring signs as those | have al
ready mentioned-was destined never
to come to pass. Why or how knew
this, I could not tell you then, nor can
tell you now. 1t is enough that l
had the knowledge without being able
to account for the manner in which |
had gained 1T.
At last heard that the day was fix
ed on which she was to pass altogether
away from me. They talked Of her as
soon become as rich and great as she
was beautiful ; they talked other future
mistress ofhouscs and lands. OF wealth
incalculable. Yes, in my presence did
they talk Of all this,--actually before
me-before me, who knew that none OF
these things would be. Often as l
heard them, ! laughed to myself; often
l wondered how they could he so blind
But said nothing. left them to dis
cover after the event that what said to
myself was true. And so months and
days rolled on; and ut last it was the
day but one before that which was tc
be her bridal. We were miles away
from each other; but something tolc
me that on the night before the wed
ding morn I should see her 10 tha
wedding l had been invited; but | salt
ill health would not let me attend.
waited to discover whittier and how
should be led to her; for l felt assured
that nothing would prevent it.
Twas right. On the early morning
of the next day departed to visit hel
for the last time. Ihad to travel
long distance first--more than two hun
dred miles. Long watching and sleep
less nights caused me to s'umber il
the train as journeyed towards her
And as journcyed dreamed q dream
E 1t was simple dream, and easy to b.
remembered. Some form--half angel
half devil-scemcd to descend before
me and display to my eyes cloth o
whitc-white as the driven snow; bu
dyed here and there with crimson spots
woke with start, and, ponderine
{ what / had seen, was ut loss to know
what it meant. Fool, and slow of un
. derstanding! But knew afterwards
5 The train stopped, and | alighted at TIL
{ station. 1t was the dusk ofa gloriou
e summer evening. The air was heav.
!. with perfume but for some reason
r other, as l scented the breeze. the We
r ry perfume terrified me. l had som
r miles to walk before could reach til
r house in which she was, and some Ii
J. tie difficulty in finding the path, whic
j. was strange to me; but reached it q
# last, nearly an hour before midnight
II Itwas one of those old country hou
G es which are now growing scarce
+, every year in England-low, long, an
Is rambling. Outside it was covered wit
|, jasmine and roses and ivy. No ligh
n were to be seen down stairs, save
IT that portion of the mansion which
X knew must be allotted to the servant
J. who were busted about tho comm
marriage festival on the morrow. b
,t in all the bedroom the lamps were J
-e burning. Round the house wand
Q. stealthily and silently-treading on Il
i grass lest my feet should disturb 4
!, gravel and give alarm; keeping in tt
t. shades of trees and shrubs, whence
could observe everything around witt
" out myself being seen. o, how car
ii fully l walked. At sudden turn
in was met by dog chained to his kc
i. mel, who began barking furiously at IN
q But was not afraid; crept cunnin
4. ly around, got. behind him, and the
I'd at q moment when the brute was n
re looking, 1 stretched out my hand
" wards his throat, clutched it tight
.. tight-and in minute the only Gre
m ture that could have disturbed me W
W dead.
10 As looked at his body lying 81
in quivering and painting upon the cart
- there rose a strange feeling within
Of "A feeling that / cannot and do n