The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-08-03
Tom and {.
CONCLUDED.
Chapter II
BY ADDIE MOORE

| When to-morrow's twilight spreads
its somber curtains around this pleas
ant world, the five years will have
passed aNay; FIVE years since that
memorable night when Tom and L
stood on the bridge, in the clear star
light. ....... ...
l have grown changed since then. 1
sometimes wonder if Tom will not be
disappointed in the change.
/ While sitting in my room this morn
ing, thinking of Tom, Sister Anna
burst in, flushed with excitement and
delightful ride, exclaiming,
"IIere is letter from Aunt Mag
gle"
1 tore it open and read,-
"DEAa NIECE :-Come by morning
train, without fail. l will be at Dal-
ton myself to receive you. Don't dis
appoint me. NJ APLTNG.
| That was all she wrote; but l was
up bright and early, and at the depot,
ready to 60 to Aunt Naggie's, when
the morning train came putting in,
with its load of living freight. Ar
irving at Dalton, was met by Aunt
Maggie, and hurried away in her
sumptuous carriage to the old farm
house among the cedars, with the gar
den where we gathered the flowers,
seemingly unchanged.
/ had expected a surprise of some
kind, as 1 came from the cosy little
room assigned to me, after changing
my dusty travelling dress and arrang-
ing my toilet, so glanced expectant-
ly about me but the only object that
merited the term, was good old
fashioned dinner, spread i'll the neat
diningroom. But that was no sur
prised to me for 1 had been at Aunt
Maggie's before
But later, when she told me to run
and get my shawl, as it was cosl, and
ride out with he", l was very much
surprised, for that was something very
unusual for her. And coming TO the
bridge, where five years ago that
strange compact was made, she stop
ped, and looking around upon the
pleasant scene. said,- . .fr -
sMy dear, would you not like to
remain here, in. this delightful place,
while l drive over to inquire after the
health of farmer Barrows, who has
been confined to his room all summer
on account of extreme il. health j
shall not be gone long-half an hour
perhaps" ..-
This is very pleasant place, aunt
and I shall be delighted to remain F.;
the twilight is so dreamy and beauti,
full, the water so clear and pure" ]
said, thinking of another whom l had
met there years ago. ... -.
Aunt Maggie drove on, and L wa;
left to my own thoughts. which were
something like this /: ''He said
should see him tonight; those were
his last words. To night is here; i
his last promise TO me is fulfilled
+ shall see hlm in n few honrs, at most
How will ~he-feelc2s0sHow- l ap
pear TO him not like the child he saw
then, / am sure Ah he knew no
how my childish heart loved him, ever
while we stood here, in this spot, a:
near as / can remember, and how thai
love has grown since then, until it ha'
become a part of my being. But
alas ! he may have forgotten the scene:
of that night. He may never come
f back" l said aloud, being SO deeply
| absorbed in mind visions that heard
: not the approach OF footsteps, nor wa.
aware that any one was near, unit
t strange voice broke the stiffness, anC
/ saw tall form, with bronzed fact
aud heavy beard, bend over the bridg'
| beside me.
| "a pleasant evenings; and what ;
: delightful place." said the strang
voice, which, in the twilight, with th'
murmuring waters beneath, seemed
strangely to ''mingle with the strains
of departed music"
GAS l came across the bridge,
: continued the stranger, Il heard yol
saying, he may never come baci
again There was such strain o
sadness in the tone that / could no
: resist the impulse of stopping to in
, quire the name of the prison who wa
so cruel as by his fckleness to Gauss
: that remark-if such should be th'
case, and 1 judge it is by the tone il
which it was spoken if not, L though
|; perhaps L might relieve your suspense
as am a foreigner, and just returned
from the Indies, where 1 have beel
for many years. 1 bear messages t
!, those in this vicinity, who have friend
r there.
l ''His name is Morton; know yol
ought of him?" ! SAID, waiting il
breathless suspense for the answer
, 81 know one Thomas Morton, VII
care from this vicinity. Surely if it