The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-08-03

she has waited for me, tell her she need
wait no longer Are you she, Lulie
Burt ?"
81 am," 1 gasped, leaning heavily
against the bridge for support.
After the momentary taintness had
by a great effort been overcome, l
raised my white face and fearless eyes
to his and said,- .....
"Tell me how he died. Have YOU
told me all he said? 1 would have ev-
cry word" 80
THAT is all he said. But, Miss
Burt, I have. been with him for FIVE
long ycars.-His secrets are mine and
mine were his. I know you as well as
he did; I know ofyour strange prom
Use and his. And you. have waited
for him all these years ?' ,.. -.
81 have"
sSince he could not come back to
you, could You not give me, his most in
innate friend, the right to protect and
care for you; to she'll yoa, as far as L
am able, from cares and sorrows OF
this world? For, Miss Burt, love
you fondly. fervently, for the same
reason Tom Morton did-because you
are so pure and artless; and more
because 1 kn w that yon are faith full
You have been true to the promise
made to him, IN childhood, 1 might
say. Can l ever hope that you will
return that love, or even give me the
privilege, the right of doting hus
band, to pour the dews of affection and
tender est love on the wounds caused
by his death 2" i... -.....-.... .......
"No, no /! a thousand times no
TINT can never be; can never love
again, and no other man shall ever
call me wife. l should loathe the
words of love that fell from another's
lips. No, mol l can never consent.
But we will be friends for his sake
nothing more," 1 said, extending my
| hand.
He grasped it, and drew me forc;bly
to his bosom without word, then
clasped his strong arms around me,
and the stout, brave man wept.
"My own, my darling!' he breath
ed. ....
"Release me, sir, command you?''
"Lulie, Dear Lulie, 1 can bear this
no longer. Do you not know me
Pardon my deception, and tell me il
Tom Morton can have the right to cal
you his darling little wife.
tom L know you now" That
was all | could say, for tears of joy,
soothed the tumult in my poor aching
heart, which but few moments b. :
fore had turned so coldly from things
of earth, thinking its loved one was
not among them.
lie raisel my head gently, and
brushedaway the tears; then holding
my tearstained face between his palms,
he saId,-
81 held you thus five years ago to
night, and could have taken a part.
ing kiss from those lips my toilsome
journey would not have seemed SC
hard now l feel that l have right
to one kiss-our betrothal kiss-that
will bright n my journey through life.
But first answer me one question
Have YOU ever regretted the promise
81 have not" L answered, looking
into those truthful eyes, that seemed
to be taking in my whole being.
Again he clasped his strong arm:
around me, and took the coveted kiss.
just as Aunt Maggie drove up on tn
bridge. ......... II.
Tom and are to be married in No
/ vember. We will have quite little
welding, and for our wedding tom
will ro to that fine new house which
has been the subject of the village
gossip ever since its foundation wa:
laid, which Tom says was built ex
presslv for me. ~
All wondered to whom it. belonged
but no one yet knows but me; L die
not dream it was Toms until he cal!
ed me one evening, saying
"Come, you must go and with mt
now to see your new. house"
"My new house?" I exclaimed il
great surprise, for that was a new idc;
to me.
Eyes, your new house, make haste
| So we. were soon spinning arounc
the corners after his spirited blacks.
-esOf course l like it, who coulc
help it? it is delightful ?'' 1 said il
answer to his query. 'tBut how il
it 2 that house was built in July, ant
you came back in September. =
''No darling, came back in July.
"AhI that is the secret of the new
house. So you were at home all thi
time without letting me know itt"
81 wished to surprise you, and yol
know did not promise to come baci
inside of five years. '''..~.'
"Well, it was surprise, and Aun
Maggie, to pay for her little rusc
must be with us on the twenty-sixtl o
November.
Emma Carl seems destined to liv'
in the blissful sphere and enjoy tht
freedom of an old maid. Ella Da7
married stranger, and a widower
who is extravagant and pennilcss, ant
will problbly soon spun the small
amount which she had.-Sue Wilber
the sweet daughter of poor mechanic
and my confidential friend, is left al
orphan. without relatives or home
She will live with us until a tev
months later, when she Will become
the bride of a worthy young man
: Tom and 1 are as happy as it is pos
sible for mortals to be, and, gentl,
reader, / trust we have your bes
wishes for the continuation of tha
happiness. ..'--''-i ..'i!
Half an acre of woodland in La