The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1869-01-07

"My dear Mary" said her husband,
laughing, "ifhe is not dead, what do
you suppose has become Of himl 1t is
two years, or nearly so Isince we heard of
the loss OF the Amethyst"
"True," asseuted Mrs Carter,
thoughtfally. "Wel, hope it is all
right, What a shame, though. Poor
Herbert Clavering. Here am | wish
ing that be may be dead. John, that
ali comes Of these hatefal second mar
riagesi they make one wish all sorts Of
horrid murderous things"
The meal being by this tine ended,
Mr.. Garter rang the bell, and ordered
candles to be taken into his gtudy. His
wife settled herself to her evenings
work, but still, as she piled her needle,
her thoughts were busy with the sad
little village romance of which new
chapter seemed to be opening.
Meanwhile, the two parties princi-
pally concerned, whose affairs we're the
engrossing topic Of conversation among
all classes in Sedgbrook, were happily
oblivious Of every human being except
themselves.
Elsie Clayering had lived all her short
lie in the Churchyard Cottage, as it was
called; picturesqe, iyy-grown, incon-
venient little abode, close to the church
yard gate. There her grandmother,
the widow of former vicar, had re-
eeived her in her orphan babyhoodi
there her young husband had seen her,
and wooed her, and won her, all in the
course of his fortnights visit there he
had left her during the voyage which
had ended SO fatally there she had con-
tinued to reside, first with her grand
mother, and alone after the old lady's
death; there she was seated now, on a
low chair close to the CHEEKY fire, which
lighted up the little square parlor with
comfortable red brightness She
looked very, very young to have pass
ed through the greatest JOY and sorrow
of yoman's life, Younger even than
her twenty years warranted Hers was
the soft, fair, fower-like beauty which
seems to belong to childhood. 1t was
difficult to believe that the thin black
dress which set off her dazzling fair
ness was worn for husband, or that
the bright locks, which curled down on
her shoulders, were too short TO plat
or twist. because they had SO lately
been cut and tucked away under wild.
owls cap. No doubt she had known
anxious days and watcIlul nights, but
they had left no traces on the fair young
face there was a sweet pensive gravity
on the dropping eyelids, with theiI
heavy dark fringe, and on the quie
mouth; but the delicate tint on hel
cheek was fresh and healthful, and there
was not a furrow ON her brow to tell o
the heart-sickness of hope deferred
Her lover sat close beside her, on sea-
lower than her own, so that he was al
most at her feet. The contrast was
striking, between her peculiarly fragile
youthful beauty and the. dark middle
aged gravity which made him seem old
er than he really was.
ssLet it be the fifteenth, Elsie" h
was saying; '1ife is very short, and m.
last four years have been almost NOR
| than man can bear. | shall neye
rest till you are quite my own"
"Whst are you afraid of" askel
Elsie.
aAnything, everything "a gost fron
the grave, / think When ! was bo
at school, Elsie, / used to think, as tn,
holidays drew near, that / should neye
live till the day came. / think ] fee
the same now about our wedding-day.
"Let ii be just as you wish, Phillip
said Elsie, with little sigh. 81 sha
he very, very thankful You do nc
know the rest and comfort it will be {
me to begin my new life, with you
care for me, and With duties to do.
have been so very unhappy tor such
long time"
The tears filed her eyes, and role
down her cheeks; but he caught he
in his arms and kissed them away h
called God to witness that not clou
should come across her sky when ST
was his wife; he vowed that when h
life was in his keeping, it should be on
long summers day Of brightness. IL
. vehemence seemed to scare her sh
! drew back, shrinking, from the elias
4 of his arms.
: .Do not talk so," she saidi "yC
|, friobten me. Who can tell what Hea
I en- has in store for u.s. l have lear
a not to build too much on happlnes
and, above all, not to think too mu'
about the future; it is not in our oN
e power"
a sIt is more in our own power th'
q YOU think" Philip Denbigh answere
h II believe that to wish thing intens
~. perseyeriugly, to the exclusion
= every other thought and feeling, brin
Il to pass oftener than people suppose
! He checked himself, for pang
self rsoroaoh struck on his heart as
e asked himself, had not his love for /
sic taken the form of just such a lon
. ing. and had not bis passionate wi
: been fulfilled at a fearful cesti He spo
!, snlilingly, and in lighter tone, as
!, said:--
II, "We see when mans fate Is
4 much for him; but who can tell h
1. many times a mans intense will c'
d quers his fate7'
at Perhaps it was relief to both
tban that their tete-a- -tete was interful