The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1870-10-06
His voice was low and deep, and the

could tnus feel anu act, allowing no
sordid propcnsities to bins bis choice.
"But let US think and speak no more
Of such disagrceable subject" con-
tinued Clinton. #..
"Come, Miss Benton, let US have
some more of that splendid music we
heard to-day when We surprised you at
the piano." said he; at the same time
rising to lead her to the piano. Lille
would fam have excused herself, but
they would not hear single excuse
If there was anything in the world Lii
lie really loved il was music. For
getting earth and earthly things,
her mind could soar with the exalted
strains beyond the starry realms ofthe
sky, even unto God himself. Turning
over the leaves OF the music book, too
much confused to think of anything,
she soon found favorite piece, to
which she played prelude. Then her
voice, sweet as the carol Of a bird,
started an accompaniment. And soon
Clinton's deep mellow bass joined in
with her clear rich soprano. Their
listeners were entranced. And when
she would have left the piano, they en-
treated her for another and another,
until the little French clock on the man
tel tolled the hour of retiring.
Days and weeks passed away. The
Whites had now refused to consider
Lille in any other light than as com
panion, and every day she wound her
self more closely around their hearts.
They were surprised to find her so &C
complished. Next to music, drawing
or painting was her favorite recrca-
ton. In those long summer days that
followed, Lille and Lulu and Clinton
would take long walks or rides to the
most romantic places, and all would
chat gally while Lille would draw the
scene. Or else Lulu, IN almost child
ish happiness, would wander off to
hunt wild flowers, or robins nests,
while she would charm Clinton with
the beauty of her intellect, and her
brilliant powers of conversation. Or
she would sit for hours entranced by
his graphic descriptions of foreign
lands he had visited, his vivid magma
ton and intellectual powers lending a
double charm to his variations, Now,
in Imagination, she climbed the lofty
Alps, "whose submits kissed the
skies" She seemed to see their snow
capped peaks rise one above the other,
in all their wild grandeur and magnfi-
cence, the light heecy clouds of morn
ing wrapping them in a bright silvery
robe of beauty, and the evening sunset
displaying their lofty peaks rising
higher, yet higher, showing
" How earth may pierce to Heaven, yet lave vain
man below"
Now she strolled along the blue wa
tiers of the Rhine. gazing into its airy
depths, or gathering Wild flowers from
its banks, while listening to the hum OF
insects, the carol Of strange, bright
plumaged birds, and the rolling of the
beautiful river, while the eye drank in
and almost every sense seemed wrapped
in the beauty of the surrounding
scenery. And now she wandered amid
the pyramids and ruins of ancient
Egypt, and in the crumbling mauso
leums and tottering monuments of the
glory Of past ages, and read the fiat OF
Fate gone forth against all human glo
ry and power. Then she crossed the
plains of Palestine, and wandered
through the Holy land. She saw the
Manager which witnessed the birth Of
the beauteous babe of Bethlehem, and
the sepulchre which enclosed his re
mains while folded in the cold embroct
Of death.
Thus days sped on. The COLDER
hours were fraug ht with happiness, and
Lille acknowledged not to her OWL
heart how dear Clinton Ashton had
grown to her.
Returning one evening from one Of
theft accustomed walks. he told them
his business called him away to New
York. Said he did not know how
long it would be before he could come
back. Probably several months.
Lille started. For the first time sht
realized how dearly she loved him, ant
how lonely she would be after his de
parturc. She felt that without him lift
would be blank; while Lulu was LOUD
in her protestations against bis depart
ure. She escaped as soon as possible
to her room, and there gave way to al
the deep humiliation of her feelings
!. She felt that she loved Clinton Ashton
with all the feryency of ncr nature
And when a woman finds she has givel