The Republican journal., 1869-04-22
Archie's Promise.

Ou w III Hot iOi ssSc INV, Ia SiAi': "Ai'A
you are among those beautiful ladies', will
you:" said the pretty girl, who stood with
her plump arm on the garden gate, and her
eyes uplifted to the tall young gentleman
on the other side.
"Forget you, darling Why should F:
Haven't l spent my whole lifetime among
these city ladies of whom you speak? All
Lefty, you do not know me J"
She looked up and held her lips for g
kiss.
"Forgive me, Archie But If you should
forget me it would kill me could not live
without you
And thus they parted.
They had met but few months before.
He, handsome and polished gentleman
she, a simple, beautiful county maiden.
They loved. He, with the passion of man
whose heart was world hardened and care
less-she. with all woman's trust aud
strength.
81 will never forget you, my own Lefty J.
The words rang sweet music in her ear,
and kept back the loneliness which threat
ened to overwhelm her. He went forth with
them upon his lips, and remembered them
until the busy metropolis, and its thousand
cares and joys, came to shut them from his
memory.
The first letter he sent her was long and
full of pathos and love. The second short
er, and yet tender aud loving. The third,
still shorter and business-like. The fourth,
well, there never was fourth. All this
while sweet Lefty Gray worked Oh as busy
as bee and waited with patience for the
letters which were toshe her life. She read
them as they came, and treasured them up
in the little mahogany boz, together with
his picture which he had given her; and
night after night, in the solitude of the little
room, she sat and read the them over and
over again, and kissed them through her
tears.
All, Archie Eardley, you little know the
wealth of love which lay stored within that
pure sinless heart for you! Had you but
known, methinks you would have turned
back from the bustling life, and gathered
her i'll your rms and kept her there for
ever.
Blu, he knew not Life had been rough
and beset with difficulties and disappoint-
ment had made him cold and selfish. Per-
haps in early life he had loved as she now
loved, and had been grievously dishe art
ened. If not, it was something that had
blighted his best feelings and made him
false.
She waited until her heart grew sick, but
no sign or word from him and at last she
took the mahogany box and it's cherished
contents, and hid them away, burying her
love with it.
A tired, world man was Archie
Eardey eight years later, when again his
foot pressed his native soil, and his heart
moro hard and selfish than when he left his
little Lefty Gray that Summer morning at
the cottage gate.
He had wandered through Europe until
its scenes of interest grew dull and mean
ingless, and his heart yearned for his native
land. And yet what was there to greet him !?
Nothing. Neither home, father, mother,
sister, brother, wife, or love.
Something brought back the old cottage,
the fair-haired girl, who waved her hand
to him from the gate and blessed him as he
went. 1t might have been far different had
he needed and cared for her.
SIT might have been !"
The beautiful lines of Whittier's poem
came up to memory:
"Of all sad words of tongue or peI
The saddest are these: 1t might have been"
Vas Thoro ;ob< !
home for him. But, alas it was too late
and there was nothing left but the bitter
knowledge of his own folly.
He was weary, and he turned his face
toward the city, and found at least a well
come from some distant relatives
"lou will gosto-night to Mrs. Berkley's
reception, won't you, Archie?" asked his
pretty cousin, Mrs. Watson. ''It will be a
grand affair, and all the first people will be
there. have many celebrities to show you.
You must see Mrs. Vavasour. She is the
belle Of our circle this Winter"
SIS she handsome?"
"Superb Beautiful Everybody is crazy
about her | doubt much, coz, if even in
your wide travels you ever met woman
more lovely.
81 have seen many fair women"
"Iou will pronounce her queen of all.
Mr.. Wylde, who but lately returned from a
Continental tour, says he never beheld a
women so beautiful. Promise me that you
will 60 and see her.
81 will go to the reception, for want to
meet my old friends"
He had been in crowds until he hated
them; but the elegant saloons, their heavy
pertume-ladened air, the brilliant dresses,
the sparkle of jewels, and above all, the
many dear familiar faces, charmed him for
the time, and he remained contented and at
ease.
1t was late; aud heated with dancing, he
drew his partner, who was an old friend, to
divan near the window, and sat chatting
with her Of the bygone days, when sudden
ly there was low murmur near him.
A voice said: "See, here comes Mrs.
Vavasour What perfect a beauty!'
"Mr. Eardley,' whispered bis compan-
ion. 'Look, there is Mrs. Vavasour !'
He looked in the direction indicated, and
his heart beat wildly at the sight.
1t was a woman, with face of marble
whiteness, save where faiut tingc of pink
crept in and dyed it with roseate glow
and a pair of large LIQUID blue ewes. frinred