Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-07-22

love which ever had a nome II
the heart of--Arthur Der
mont. [ threw off the veil o
sorrow, rather to the outer
world, and went on in the same
old way; but the struggle
against love and pride was a
much harder contest than ever,
for | do not think that time and
absence can ever cure an honest
love-or at least, | know they
only strengthened mine
| recalled every look, every
word he had ever said to me,
above all his farewell, which
seemed written in letters Of fire
on my memory, and when ]
heard he was wounded, my
very heart sank with a crush
ing sadness on my brow. The
whole household was draped in
gloom. Mrs. Dermont's grief
seemed beyond endurance I'M
til she heard that her son was
not i'll, at least, not seriously,
and consequently he would not
be home as all had hoped-and
| had to go through the routine
of every day life again with
nothing to break the dull mono
tony which had hung its impe-
netrable folds over my way
trying to look, just exactly
what l really was not, but in
a few days a letter came, say
ing that furlough was to be
given to all who were in a con-
valescent state, so that they
might go home and recuperate
more speedily.
Notwithstanding Arthur's
last letter, urging me ifhe sur
vived the battle to write to him
| had remained silent, for what
reason never found out-but
how anxiously did [ watch for
his coming. Aye, waited for
it, as one waiting for the morn
ing. My fancy strained to
catch the rnstling sound of his
footsteps, coming like dream
from on high as it's echo would
fall on the doorway, All, yesl
and when l heard his salutation
fAalI]]lup agg ike S7,t the whispering of an
was opened around me, of ina
ginative beauty. 1t threw
around me the ultima thule of
delightfulness. How complete
ly lovely, how entirely charm
ing everything seemed, Heaven
seemed to have appareled itself
in new beauty, like Cytherea
rising from the bath. The
very zephyrs fitted by with
balm upon their wings, kissing
my cheek, brow, and lips, as
the doting darling Of the by
gone day kissed them, ere her
body fell asleep while waiting
for the return of her spirit from
the stars. Pensive and pleas
ant recollections came as the
hours passed, butalas, "a thing
of beauty is not a joy forever.
Our old walks were again
trodden. The same old songs
were trembling on my tongue,
while the pale moon flooded the
green grass with her silvery
brightness-but there was
very perceptible change in Ar
thurs manner toward me,
which was fast chilling my
hitherto pleasant expectations,
and which | feared would be
discovered by the rest of the
family. If he thought to win
me over by such a course, he
was never more mistaken in
his life-and although the wee
hours sped on hasty wings, lit
up with an unusual amount of
wit and humor, still there was
a void made in the heart, which
was not entirely filled up, dur
ing his stay.
CHAPTER 5,
"Ahl what are all earth's treasures
worth,
If we at length must lose them thus,
II all we value most on earth,
Ere long must fade away from us.
1t was now near the close OF
my last term at Maravatio, and
Luta and Lilly were considered
sufficiently advanced to be ia
ken from under my governor
ship to send to the Female In
stitute, where they were tc
remain until accomplished tc
enter the beau monde of fash
ionable life; so ! was dismissed
| l.1~oo 4lo l,,4.o - - 49,. L. p,