The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-09-02

She chess d simpM BdhkB S&d6he,
and her voice seemed like the wall Of
broken heart. When she had fin
ished, she suddenly rose and Slid
Are you fond of fiowes} We have
some very fine ones in bloom now,
Tom," she added, wont you come
into the conservatory ?"
Tom rose, giving her his arm rs he
did so. Mr.. Milford and l followed.
"Alice, DEAR" said Tom, with an
uncalled for show ofaffcction, "give
me flower. A rose, say: / like ro-
ses best.'
Alice broke some rOse-sprays hasH-
ly, and presented them TO him. Wv
"Iou will not forget my friend?"
he said, patronizingly. lnin7-'i'''-.'
She paused by camellia, which was
crowned with rich, white blossoms,
and, and plucking one just opened, she
timidly placed it in my hand. roD
understood Her. She saw my love
for her and piied me. i could not
look up when L thanked he's. Oh!
could She but know what I knew
that the .loyeI wsuld give all the
world / possessed to win was held so
cheap by Tom.
az am almost afraid I hare offended
Papa Milford" said Tom after we
left. "The old idiot has gone to dab
bling in shares, and its plain to see he
ism I up to it.. 1t won't take very long
for him TO lose all he has, But III say
no more on the subject. Are you ge-
ing there again on Tuesday MI ht? .
"They asked me, but l have not vet
decided l.' : i'... , ga 20 'T''I''''', - .
go by all means,n lie answered
carelessly. "They seemed to like
you; and old Milford doesn't take to
every one" -.,, }
Tuesday evening found me at Mr..
Milford's. l had determined not 10
go: but I could not stay away. 1t
was not g party-merely friendly
gatherihg, with musiG fdal.cin@ and
cheerful talk. 1t was exquisite pleas
ure to be near Alice, although i knew
that she was lost to me, and that /
must crush out the love felt for her.
"Come and see us Often" said Mr..
Milford, as was lcaEing; I" como ut
any and all times" ? -saT'-'i roy 7lllz.
But 1 hesitated. L had noticed that
Alice had Stunned me all the. evening,
nor did she now join i'm this invita-
ton. | stammered something, ard
left, resolving never to enter the house
again. Tom was my friend; at least,
l owed my introduction to him; and
| would never be a traitor TO him,
even if could. Meyer TO see Alice
again was thehonofable yourse
Three days after 1 met Tom in the
street. ~
"WelI, old Milford has done it at
last? he said stopping ne Lost
every shilling just as knew he would!
That sudden panic yesterday did it."
"And Alice?" cried ,5reathlessly.
"Oh,l Alice has just written me a
note, asking to be released from the
engagement on account of her fathers,
failure. Which / did, of course" he
continued, with laugh,
"The heartless scoundrel? NUT
tered between my teeth, as l turned
OIL my heel and abruptly left him.
An hour afterwards, was at Mr..
Milford's. The old gentleman clasped
my hand eagerly. -- '
"My dear boy, do you know"
he began.
rIEnow .all,rI cried, intcrruptingl
him andI came to soc if TcOuld help
you.
"No, / have something left; and
even if | had not, / am not so very
old but could work for Alice"
"And Alice-Miss Milford--howl
does she bear it" / stammered. > 9
"Like a heroine But she has had
more than this to bear"
al know it. The william! May |
i wonder would it be asking too
much" stammered out desperately,
"if might see herr" % fftff
"Of course, my dear boy" he said,
but with some surprise. +" She is i'm
the conservatory"
flew to her side. She was sitting
listlessly dipping the fingers of one
hand im the water Of The fountain,
while She leaned her head pehsivcfy on
the other. At the sound of footsteps
she looked up, and rose in confusion,
crimsoning all over face and neck.
"Alice, darling" / cried excitedly,
you are free now, and l can speak. /
do not dare to hope. But love you!
Oh, give me but chance to show
that |, at least, am honest and true!"
Ever since used to see you garden
ing-ever since heard you sing last
spring, l have loved you
She had sunk, breathless, into her
seat again. Her bosom was heaving
convulsively. Her face one moment
was pale and then dyed with bushes.
All at once great hope leaped i'm my
heart, and stoppedin my passionate
and almost incoherent address.
Can it be?" l said, Selling her
hand and speaking i'm whisper. Oh,
Alice, do mot play with me- is it
possible YOU mag learn to 1ove me !?
She returned the pressure of my
hand ever so family, and murmered,
as her head fell on my arm, l am
afraid have learned it already"
And then heard, in broken senten-
ccs, in answer to my eager questions,
that she had long loved me but that
when she had fonnd out the truth she
was engaged to another, and honor
kept her silent, rs it had me.