The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1870-05-28

if she's not devoid of appreciation"
My heart swelled with gratified vanity
as put the glittering toy in my pocket,
and started. She followed ne out, and
then down to the garden gate.
" Good by, my boy" she called, as l
hurried through.
Something in her voice made me look
back, and noticed that her face had
strange, white look, and her eyes running
over with tears.
What is it, mother ?" I asked, turn
ing and taking her hand.
g Nething--nothing at all, my dear.
Only this new JOY won't make you quite
forget me, will it, Charley z"
Oh, mother, no. l cried, throwing
my arms round her neck, and kissing her
white cheeks. g / shall never love any
one1else as I love yon.s --s.
My darling, my pride" che mur-
INJURED. I" No other mother ever had
such son-you never caused me mo-
ment's sorrow, Charley"
=" I'm glad of it, mother Good bye"
Good by, my boy"
| left her standing there in the autumn
dusk, and went up to Major Weavcr's.
The fates were propitious; I found Jessie
alone in the parlor, singing to her guitar.
=" '1is you, Charley" she said care
lessly, as I entered. ''There, sit down
while [ sing to you"
[ obeyed reluctantly enough, for Twas
in fever of impatience. To this day |
have no idea Of what she sang; but the
instant she finished, [ was at her side.
jessie I said, unfolding the scented
paper that contained the brooch, g here's
a present I've brought you, and
But she cut short my declaration,
which f had g cut and dried - weeks be-
forekand, with a scream of delight.
g For me, Charley she cried, as the
elittering toy flashed on her sight g It's
the very thing l wanted. You dear,
darling boy-how shall | ever thank
you 2" and siezing me round the neck,
she gave me hearty kiss.
The touch of her red lips fred my blood
excitement. In breath [ was on my
knees before her, pouring cut my love,
and the hopes | had cherished, in frenzied
accents. At first she stood amazed, then,
as the full sense of what I was saying
dawned upon her; she broke into a gay
laugh.
Oh, Charley you silly, silly boy :"
she cried; 'syou are too amusing. l gave
you credit for more sense than this. Get
up, and stop this foolish nonsense. I'm
to be Marie d IN six weeks to Sir Wal
ter Dunbar
What I said or did, how [ got out of
the house, I never knew. | found my
self in the meadows, making my way
toward the canal. A dull pain throbbed
through both heart and brain, aud one
strong, irresistible impulse impelled me
on. My mothers loving watchfullness
had hitherto kept my life from all care
and sorrow and | shrunk from pain,
and only thought of ridding myself of 1t.
The great autumn moon was just up as
I reached the bank, pouring down her
silver splendor on the water. sat down
beneath the shadows of dropping willow,
| listening to the moaning rustic Of the
branches overheadn, Kensal Green Gem
etry was plainly visible. A solitary bird,
a nightingale, perhaps, sang mournfully
from a neighboring thicket. All these
sights and sounds were as familiar as my
ownadentity and | felt an infinite pity
for myself. looking upon and listening to
them for the last time-for the last time
it surely was after the cruel blow had
received, life was out of the question.
/ One plunge in those dark waters would
end all ! And then, when Jessie heard
| of my sad fate, she would repent of what
| she had done, and love when it was too
late. I even fancied how my funeral
! would be conducted, at that very cemetry
] after my body was found and actually
suffered good deal from fear that there
/ would not be an appropriate epitaph writ
ten for my tombstone. IF l had had q
scrap of paper and pencil, l should have
composed and left one myself; but not
having the requisites, l had to resign
nyselfto my fate.
Divesting myself of the new blue dress
coat, and hanging it very carefully and
conspicuously on the branch of tree,
prepared myself to make final plunge
But at that instant my mothers face, full
of beseeching love, seemed looking ur
from the moonlight waters. A keen pan.e
shot through my heart. How would she
bear my loss, she who had alawys loved
me so / could not do this deed with
out even bidding her farewell-I could
not break my mothers heart! !! Snatchine
down my coat, struck across the field.
at rapid pace. At the villa gate
paused, chilled to the very soul by feel
ing of awe and dread. The moonlight
streamed down. There sat my mother il
her great arm chair, could see he
white face plainly. | opened the gate
and went up the gravel walk with sup
pressed steps. She might be asleep,
thought--and she was, that quiet, dream
less sleep that knows no waking. Sh
was dead.
Two or three days after her funeral
our old parish clergyman came down t
see me.
g Well, Charley, my lad. !" he said aftc
few moments comforting conversation
q what do you propose doing In the wa
of profession ?'
i" am undecided, sir, I havn't though
much about it. I've been writing goo
deal of late, and thought, perhaps
i But he cut me short by gesture.
q No, my lad, Give that up; liters
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