Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1870-09-03


Is very welcome
Tom was evidently very proud OF
her. He was himself handsome, but
superficial and selfish. | felt that,
though she might admire him for a
time, such q woman as Alice Milford
could never be happy as bis wife.
"lIal, you are so fond Of music, yOu
must hear Miss Alice sing" Tom said
directly.
lie led her 10 the piano, and mo-
ti0ning me 10 a seatnPar her, returned
to resume his conversation with Mr..
Milford.
"Sing whatever you like best,
please,e said, as she turned TO ask
me as to my fayorlte. "My sister
used TO sing to me before she was
married; but of late | know but little
Of home, or home songs" .iaa
Softly she swept her white fingers
over the keys, and then broke into a
song full of feeling. 1 HE
II have neard you sing it before,
Miss Milford" /" ! said, quite forgetting
myself, when she stopped. iaft
"Ah!" she said and her face aglin
flushed crimson. t.R ...
"This is not the first time, | went
on, al have seen you, though you do
not remember me. The house you
occupied last spring was opposite my
lodgings. l remember your face well,
and your songs cheered many lonely
evening for mc.9 st --I.w af}
~ have seen you at your window,
she replied, half shyly, in a soft, low
voice, that made the blood quicken in
my pulses, though why could hardly
tell. rr
"Sing something more, please" |
Said directly. 1' p
She chose simple ballad, a sad one,
and her voice seemed like the wall Of
Q broken heart. When she had fin
ished, she suddenly rose and said,
3" Are you fond of hOwcrsI We have
some very fine ones in bloom now,
Tom" she added, "wOht you come
into the conservatory iifIIt
Tom rose, giving her his arm as he
did so. Mr.. Milford and | followed.
"Alice, DEAR" said Tom, with an
uncalled for show of affection, "giye
me q flower A rose, say: | likero-
scs BEST . ...t...
Alice broke some rosc-sprays hasti-
ly, and presented them TO him.
"You will not forget my friend =
he said, patrOnizingly.
She paused by a cameilia, which was
crowned with rich, white blossoms,
and, and plucking one just opened, she
timidly placed it in my hand.
understood her. She saw my love
for her and pitied me. Icould not
look up when | thanked hes, Oh!
could she but know what | knew
that the love | would give all the
world / possessed TO win was held SC
cheap by Tom.
"T am almost afraid have offended
Papa Milford" said Tom afler We
left. "The old idiot has gone to dab.
bling in shares, ami its plain to see he
isn'tup to it. 1t won't take very long
for him 10 lose all he has. But Ill say
no more on the subject. Are you 60
ing there again OH Tuesday night?'
"Thcy asked me, but have not yct
decided
$50 BY all MEANS he answered
carelessly. "They seemed to likC
you: and old Milford doesn't take tC
every one
Tuesday evening found me at Mr.
MilFord's.. | had determined not L
90; but | could not stay away. L
was not o party-merely friendly
gathering, with music, dancing, ant
cheerful talk. 1t was exquisite pleas
ure to be near Alice, although knew
that she was lost to Inc, and that
must crush out the love | felt for her
"COme and see us Often said Mr.
Milford, as | was lea ling; "come a
ans and all times
But / hesitated. had noticed tina
Alice had Stunned me all the evening
nor did she now Join in this invita-
ton. L stammercd something, ant
left, resolving never to enter the hous'
again. Tom was my friend at least
[ owed my introduction to him +; anC
/ would never lIe a traitor to him
even If could. Never to see Allc'
again was the honorable course.
Three days after | met Tom in TIN
street.
swell, old Milford has done 1t a
last ~ he said, stopping me. Los
every shilling just tas knew he would
That sudden panic yesterday did 1t.
And AliCc?" cried 5reaIhlessly
"Oh, Alice has just written me
note, asking TO be released from til
engagement on account Of her father
failure. WhichI did, Of course, b
continued, with = laugh. =, :
GThc heartless scoundrel ?" | nut
tered between my teeth, as t,irne'
on my heel and abrnptly left him.
An hour afterwards, | was at MI
MilCord's. The old gentleman claspel
nav hand eagerly di -5g fas 4
AMY dear boy, do you Know
he began. 49, t.--
II Know all | cried, -iuterpsmin,
him and came 10 sec il | could hel
you. & 4g fela9si.
s"NO, have something lett; am
even il | had not, ! AM not so yer
1 old bat could work for Alice.
! "Amd AliCe--Misss Milford-7hoS
does she bear it?' stamme ed. Y
like heroine But she has ha'
more than this to beaF----" t't
II know il. The william May
II wonder would it be asking p
much | stammered out desperately
aif | might see hergT. lewgu
aOf. course, my dear boy hc sait
but with some surprise. /" She Is i
\ tle Conservatory 3 Fm 1Ho 9sil 4.
.