The Shasta courier., 1869-05-15
COURIER.
UNITED.

The soft rays of the summer sun linger-
ed lovingly around the sweet briar-thick-
cts and beds of bright piDks in the pretty
cottage garden, kissed the unpretending
Quaker dress of little wren that was car
rolling its little heart out in rivulets of song,
and, stealing through the wealth of honey
suckles and climbing roses that over-ran
the rustic porch, looked saucily into the
blushing face of Lille Maynard
"I-I-really, I'm obliged to you for
the honor, Mr.. Berry-but you know my
sentiments"
Now Lille was a shy little blossom, with
great blue eyes, in which were mirrored
the souls purity and truthfulness hair
that would set poet raving, and a form
that was the envy of half the girls in the
country round, and the admiration of all
the beaux. But around her ruby lips what
heaven of witchery sported
You refuse me, then p
William Berry spoke in voice of con-
centrated passion, while a dark scowl over
spread his naturally handsome face, and
his eyes cleaned ftfully.
81 cannot be your wife, replied Miss
Maynard, with gentle dignity.
"But consider"
"'Tis quite useless sir, to longer dwell
upon subject that can only give pain
My decision is final"
"And you-you scorn the position
would give you for that miserable poltroon
coward who has no recommendation
other than pair of shoulder-straps. By
Heaven | admire your taste, Miss May
nard p he sarcastically continued, as he
sprang to his feet, his face fearful in its
contortion, and the veins standing out on
his forehead like huge cords But you
will neuer be the wife of Paul Dana-re-
member p
And with rapid, naughty steps he strobe
from her presence, out into the soft sum-
mer sunshine which was flooding the earth
with its resplendent glory, his heart sadly
at variance with the deep holy quiet which
rested, like benediction, over all terres-
trial things; his face, like the passion
cloud that faunts its shadowy outlines
athwart the azure heights, marring for
moment the harmony of that elysian scene
Environed by an atmosphere of cold,
proud reserve, with selfesteem largely de-
veloped, the owner of handsome estate
and many acres OF woodland, and accustom-
ed all his life to the cringing and almost
servile homage of the less fortunate class,
surely, say, when we remember all this,
we find it not difficult to comprehend how
sorely the refusal of the little rustic beauty
to become "part and parcel OF himself
should have wounded his inordinate vanity.
But that it should have surprised him out
of his studied politencss, and brought into
full activity, with lightning rapidity, all
the latent aud evil passions of his nature,
is simply infamous.
Man has yet to learn the beautiful truth
inflated specimens of the species in
question to the contrary, Notwithstanding
that It's not power, position, or riches that
the heart of the true, loving woman Graves,
but rather warm, sympathetic earthly
friend, in whom she can confde, on whom
she may lean, and around whom the deli
cate tendrils of her affection may twine
themselves; and whose purity of character
is only equaled by his nobleness, and whose
heart is instinct with that God-like love
that knows no change, even when the OBJ
ject of it may have passed beyond the
portals of the Silent Land.
Thoroughly imbued with these noble
attributes was the soul of Paul Dana.
though the tickle goddess of fortune had
thus far persistently refused to bestow on
him any of her golden treasure. And
Lille Maynard knew it-felt it-felt. too
peculiar felicity in thinking that he
would one day be her own. His love was
to her panacea for every wound. a per-
petual well-spring of delight; and now,
when her poor, sensitive heart was culver
ing with the pain oceasioned by William
Berry's cruel words, the essence Of ecstatic
bliss exalted her above her vexation. She
forgot to weep; and anon the sunshine was
ripping over her face, attesting that she
had uprooted all thought of the naughty
rich man and his implied threat from her
breast, as she would an obnoxious plant
from her garden, and that only Paul-her
soldier love was remembered.
Twas only few short months before
the opening scene in our story that she had
given her fresh, young heart, with all its
wealth of love, to the gallant soldier, and
at the same time hidden him "God speed"
in the noble cause.
Your country needs you, Paul" she
had said, "and you are the only tre,snre
l have to offer on the altar of liberty Go.
and may the Great Infinite return Won s,fs
to my arms again p
There was no romance in their love. but
it was warm, tender and true.
And now on swift wings the beautiful
summer months went by. William Berry
had ceased to trouble her, and what with
the long missives from Paul, who had risen
to the rank of colonel, and the warm and
enduring love of her widowed mother
Lille was quietly happy Somtimes it is
not true that :'
"coning events east theiy shadow, bas,,.,, ,,