The Lincoln County herald., 1870-11-24
HEART AND Han ID.

II think you will be sorry, Alma"
"Sorryp Sorry for what? Sorry
because | have shaken off an enga,:emsnt
that was Lecoming perfect slaveryY'
"No, Alma sorry because you have
grievcd as noble heart as ever thrOb-
bed ; sorry because you have tri6ed with
sincere, pure love, such as is given to
but few women to win.
"But, Aunt Mercy, you don't know how
exac ing and disagreeab!e Lccn had be-
come"
GLOW disagreeablc, Alma ?"
"Scolding me all the time"
"Scolding? For what?'
Well, not exatly sco'dug but finding
fault, in his quiet way. | don't know
but | could have borne it better if he
had flown into q ,uge. and given me real
scolding, but when he commences, a ma,
dear, then know there is Il catalogue Of
faults and shortcomings at long AS my
arm to follow. The fact is, Aunt Mercy
Leon Harris il too good for nc. He
ought to fud saint, | am much nearer Il
sinner u
But, Alma, you have not told me now
the cause of your last quarrel, your ruP'
tured engagement
81 hardly know myself"
"iAlma You cannot mean that you
have taken such step without grave
cause?'
at was walking home las, evening
from Marry Williams valentine party
Leon sent me beautiful boquet in the
morning, and carried it to the party.
was dancing with Warren Simpson,
when some chance remark about flowers
brought my bouquet into notice, aud
Warren asked me for flower. OF course,
gave him one, and Leon chose to imag
inc that | gave it with manner that
might lead him to httach Significance to
the gift. OF course, there was lecture
waiting for mo as We came home. One
word led to another, till finally | told
him that was weary Of his continual
fault finding, and he had better look
further for o wife, Yho would combine
all the projections of o saint with the
patience of an angel. As for me was
aware that l could never aspire to the
character.
"Alma Alma And you parted so ?
ayes. We were just at home, 80 he
babe me fraewell on the steps, and he
went away. But he will come back /; he
always does when we quarrel, though
never did 20 SO far as that before"
"And If be comes ?" r'
~ shall repeat my decision. an
heartily tired Of his fault.6nding and
dictation. / won't be bound 80 strictly
to guard every word aud look. au
glad to be free dgain." "rt.rf
Aud before the remonstrance she saw
lin Aunt Mercy's face could be uttered
the wilful little beauty sped away to be-
own room.
Glad? Of course she was glad 2
So she said to herself hundred time
that day, wondering q little herself, q
q dull, restless pain in her heart tha
would not be driven back. As the da.
faded into the carly twilight Of Febru
ary evening, she dressed herself carefully
saying in whispers to her heart: He vii
come back TO night, and-aud perhaps,
be is real sorry, wo will make up sgain.
So the blue poplin he admired was pu
on, the pretty lace he loved nestle
against the white throat, and when al
else was donned with an especial care
Alma bethought her Of her boquet Sh
had thrown il pet,ishly into corner j
her anger the preceding night, but pei
haps there was one flower yet unfade
that she could put 10 amongst the fold
Of her hair.
Perhaps one Of the scarlet geraniums b
loved to sec against the glossy jett
braids, was yet bright enough for orna
meut. Rather slowly tho young gi'
went to the corner where the flower
/ lay upon the floor, and, lifting them. 81
down to search for one fresh one. NJ