The Republican journal., 1870-11-17

1T seems to me you'd be a sight more cut
up if you didn't" put i'll her aunt. Its all
piece OF loolishness, any way. | should
think YOU were two children.n
did you ever try it, Aunt Rhoda ?n asked
her saucv niece.
"Well, no; but | know who did to her sor-
row, and that was Liddy Knight-you've
seen her john ?-as sorry an old maid as
ever brcathcd. You see she had q lover
round these parts, and she went to visit in
the city, and Jest got her head turned and her
brain added, and home she came, and up
and tits this poor fellow, cause he wasn't
quite so fine as lace and that verv night
lot of cm girls together took it into their silly
heads to look into the brook after fate, they
said Liddy she was the first to tlv it, and
up she GOES to the brook-sile rs bold As YOU
please and begins to say
Whoever my true lovers to be-
Let him look into the brook with me !"
And then she gave Shrek like the last
trump for there at the bottom of the stream,
looking up at her with staring, dead eyes.
lay her old lover Y
''Mercy." cried Lii, Il won't 60 near it.
Why didn't you tell me, John ?n
Il never heard it before | think the fcl-
low was n fool -
-'Oh, it makes my blood run cod,n said
Lii. shiyering and nesting nearer to John
just for human cOmpanionship.
1T was an awful thing-an awful retribu-
tion," said Mrs. Rhoda; sit shows the dan
ger of playing with fire. There, John, it's u
dreadful creepy subject; let's have some
music. I'm real thirsty for some, and |
guess Lil is too.'
''Im afraid to go in there in the dark after
all this hobgoblin talk, unless Miss I'LL will
come and take care of me-"
II will 60" said ILL, rising and taking
Johns arm to the dusky parlor and sitting
there beside him something happened to ILL,
something that had never happened before
The moon had got up high enough to look in
at the window and hold the two in 4 circle Of
light, as if it would tain shut them in to-
gether in 4 charmed world Of their own.
John had been Idly playing some lingering
melodies and listening to Lilrs interprcta-
tons.
''That," said she, 'reminds me of a young
girl sitting before the fire of a dull evening.
She has n lover, you know, but she must not
think of him, because he is poor, or-Somc-
thing no matter what"
"Would that keep you from thinking of
your loyer?" interrupted John,
"Nonsense, | am not speaking of myself.
So she sits down, not meaning to allow her
self the pleasure Of thinking of him; and for
hidden thoughts like forbidden fruit, being
sweetest, She falls perforce to think OF him,
and of nothing but him. Then she remem-
bcrs what she is about, and catches herself
up and reprimands herself. There, don't you
hear what it seems to say, ''Ill think about
my new bail dress, on Amaranth and her
! IT,-aoi Ia ppy,1 ! ,aa1 InI and
yet-and yct-it is So much nicer to think of
him. OF his tender ewes and the touch of his
loving hand, and Oh. Mr.. Yarmouth Y
cried ill., for poor John 1t the mention Of .
loving hand, had almost unconsciously put
out his own, and had clasped lill's fingers in
a carcss rs gentle as friendship, but rs intense
as love
.Lil." he said. speaking very low. a
have 81 heart 10 give you-vcry little besides
just now. VIII you have it, dear? +? 1t is all
your own, whether you will OF not"
ooh, Mr. Yarmouth, what do You mean ?'
Il love you, didn't mean it at first, |
fought against it like lion, but love is
mightier than reason; it prevailed against
me Ill, have You anything to give me
back ~
ooh, Mr. John, am so sorry. do not
love you-that is-eXcuse me--I can't help
it-I never thought OF it perhaps if had it
might have been dii1trent-who knows?
There, let me go Mr.. Yarmouth; don't speak
to me any more, please can't accept your
heart, you see. II don't need it; there,
don't mind what | say. am quite beside my
self Nobody ever loved me before"
"Oh, lie Miss Lillian" walking away to
the window, and seeing nothing but q great
blur before him. 'You. with your rare skill
at playing with mems hearts!n
"Oh, indeed John, | never did such 4
thing. You really don't believe it? The
men played with knew the game q thousand
times better than |, and thought they We're
all alike the tears rising to her eyes Il
speak the truth when declare that nobody
ever loved me we'll enough to say so before,
and though II can't-rcturn it, thank you.
II appreciate your goodness"
"Contound appreciation :, mnttered John.
cam to blame for your loving me, John
Did bring it about?"
Il don't know, | am sure, Lii. Some
times | think You did, and then again have
a feeling that if | had been one of the gay,
idle young men YOU know in the city, with
their white hands and ladyllc ways, and q
fortune at their beck and call, you'd ncvcl
| have gone on with me rs you have without
thinking OF love-
$50 you are angry with me, sir, for having
been civil to you ?"
'No; but when | have given my best,
don't expect to be repaid with an inferior ar
trc. Lillian, you are not loved every day
as | love you. | would 50 through fire and
water for your sake
IF you really cared for me you would not
torment me with the expression of your re
gard, when you see how painful it is for me-
4 to listen y
"My regard is a torment to you! mear
to torment you all my life mean to marry
you, Lillian -
"Do YOU, indeed?" half pleased and hal
angry with his vehement determination
The days for that sort of thing are past
thank goodness, Nobody can be married
against her will now"
Il mean to marry you, Lillian, and Vol
shall give consent. mean to do it -
John had business at the market town mex
day which detained him a week, and while
he was Jogging home, a travelling carriage
passed him, and q fair, tantalizing face show
ed a moment at the window, and Lillian
waved him her alieus in 4 flrt of her hand
kerchief as much as TO say, 'IIerc | escape
YOU. after alr'; then She sat back in her car
riapc quite satisfied with herself; hcnccfort
she knew what love was like-she should b(
able to distinguish the counterfeit from tho
real. John had furnished q noble example
what ;, nity that She had not been able +,