The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-08-19

tnougntS, though She remarks
whether one enjoys things or no.
was thinking of him"
At this juncture my newly gained
wisdom serves me nothing. lump up
10 bed. straight as an arrow, and the
hot blood paints my face N streak'
my passion try TO be sarcastic.
20, indeed - 1 say "and he I sup
pose, was thinking of you Z"
l laugh in what inteud to be an
incre daloQs manner, but even to my
own ears it sounds weird and wretched
and feel thar there are great tears in
my eyes. Throush h them, through that
mist of unshed tears, l look up at her
Ard she looks down at me amazed
"How strange you are p she says
"and | didn't think you knew Yes
Ne have been engaged these three years
bu. we are to be married almost di.
rectly now he is coming down here
next month
She bushes. Her face fills with
color, until it is red as the barri's on o
mountain ash, and her little. delicate
ears became scarlet.
lean back on my pillows, ecstati-
cally happy.
1t does not even occur to me to in
quire to whom she is engaged. or any
thing about it . She is evidently moth
ing to Bernard, and beyond that, moth
ing signifies. / think she is hurt by
my want of sympathy, for she goes
away sadly.
The instant she is cone, I jump of
the bed, plunge nry flushed face into a
basiu Of water, brush up all the wet
hair into a great bunch Of curls shake
ont my dress into fold, and go down
stairs, Trusting to my conn osu 9 for not
telling tales.
I edge up to Bernard, and propose
a walk. a.#. 5aa
He agrees at once. although, poor
fe low he has but just come from
walk. He looks hard at the glued up
appearance of my eyes.
Our. walk is, of course, to the hay
stack ; and, sitting on the top of the
golden edifce, the last wave of trouble
recedes from my heart.
Says Bernard to a person who is sob
bing in his arms "Poor little Madge |!
What was it, Maggie ?"
But can not at first explain what
it was. I lift up my tear stained face,
and ther hide it away modestly in the
stubbIe.
Presently it transpires. Maggie has
been jealous. Bernard opens his sleepy
blue eyes wide at this intelligence, and
reflects aloud
"How strange !" he says !; "jealous Of
Flo'!'
1 tell myself how natural it is that
he should call my cousin ''Fl'."
"Qnite absurd-wasp't it ?" l ask
nervously.
Poor little grill" he says, 81 au
so sorry for her. She has been SO con
stant to that scamp of man. Only
TO day she was telling me how thankful
she should be when they really were
married And I dare say she will be
poor little thing for what with his
wretched health and his endless suspi
cions her life is at present not too
easy"
1 undergo pricks of conscience which
send me clambering up on the stool OF
repentance.
20 Bernard, have been SO unkind (!
But what different sort of girl she
looks! And if she cares about him
how can she be so nice to other reo
pie ~ .4 @
"Other people Mean me, I sup
pose ?" says Bernard, giving me a lit
lie squeeze, and bending down to try
to see my face "But she wasn't particu
arIy nice, Maggie. 1 was very sorry
or her, of course, but ! thi0k T wo1ld
sooner have strolled with my own little
,irl in The woods this afternoon"
This is as it tshould be. / compose
myself to listen, and Bernard leaves
fl. I don't care. ! am so very happy
low.
"W hen 1 60 in l catch Florence
'ound the waist, and as.onish my pretty
cousin with some very warm kisses, 4
81 am so sorry for you, ard go very
slad, and [ am sure you will be happy
when you're married"
Florence, the adaptable, fits into my
new mood. Exchanging condolences,
We compare notes. Her Bob and my
Bernard might be twin brothers.-The
1irtues'of both are so excellent, and
hey are so very equally exempt from
aults! ,ss
The Staffordshire roses are still
centiug the air, though their petals |
,egiu to lie thick on the ground. Ev
.ry one speaks of fair little bride. |
whose statuesqae figure shows soft
hrongh ber vail, but the sensation she |
make is lest upon me. I am dimly |
conscious OF the white buds and bios
oms in my own dark hair. of Bernard |
solemn beside me. and all |
lse is but dream, from which awake |
o fnd Florence married, and on my
wn hand a link. of shining gold that
'inds me, forever to Bernard.
We have risked all. and have mar
led without his mothers wealth.
"Madge," he says, as he takes me
way easily through a crowd that is
trapped up and absorbed in Florence,
of whom now in future, do you mean
D be jealous ?"
Whisper up softly, "Of all those
Ihom 1 think you love better than
,e."
Bernard lifted his hande and eyes,
Ike prophet looking backward. I!
fMldge, 1 see iu the distance host
f such rivals. misty shadows in the
ackgrouud, softly turning into air."
laugh at this conceit.
"Before what, then, have they van
bod 2u |