Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1870-11-24

And we anchored safe in harbor
When the morn was shining clear.
FIRST AND LAST.
BY MARY J. ALLEN.
"Ere the twilight bat was fitting,
In the sunset at her knitting
Sang q lonely maiden, sitting
| Underneath her threshold tree;
And ere daylight died before US,
And the yesper stars shone DER US,
Fitful rose the tender chorus
Jamie's on the stormy sea-"
| A young girl sang it, sitting
among twilight shadows-Christin'
Frost. And outside, among th'
shadows, some one listened, through
all the song, in its tender pathos, tt
the last verse:
"How could 1 but list, but linger,
To the song and near the singer,
Sweetly wooing heaven to bring her
! Jamie from the stormy sea;
| And while yet her lips did name
Forth sprang-my heart o'ercame me
Grieve no more, sweet, am jamie,
Home return'd to love and thee'
This Jamie turned, instead, and
walked away down the garden
path and out through the little iron
gate that closed with a sharp click
behind him. ----------
A good looking fellow, you would
have called him, noting the fine,
erect finger, and the handsome,
bearded face, over which the lamp
light fell. The face had troubled
look on it now, rs he said to him.
self, striding along the quiet street:
81 used to repeat the Lord s
prayer when was child, and part
of it, / remember, was LEAD US
not into temptation" Well, 1 re-
sisted that temptation. Two min
utes more and l should have proved
myself a scoundrel past redemption
by going to her where she sat and
telling her what have no right ever
to tell her-that 1 love her. Dear
little girl! Darling Christine! She
would never again welcome me
with that shy grace if she knew
that I'm already a married man,
grinding the last words out savage
ly through his shut teeth.
1t was no common trouble that
could bring that dark look into the
strong, proud face. There was some
great pain or wrong in his life, you
would have been sure. Yet among
men, Bruce Harper was ''hail fellow
well met" and among women,
man greatly liked. And there were
not few who envied him his posi-
tion and prospects. Rich and care
free, whose lot in life could be pleas
anter? So little we really know of
each other.
A lady fitted past him as he
walked on in moody abstraction-a
slender woman, with veil or some
such gauzy thing thrown lightly
over head, instead of bonnet. She
half turned as she came up with
him. aAh! Mr.. Harper" putting
out white hand.
"Mrs. Clendenning," and the hand
was taken into cordial clasp.
"Charley has been wondering
what had become of you, sis; l
think you must render an account
to us for your long Absence" with
an arch glance. Positively, we
haven't seen you for two weeks"
pursued Doctor Charley Clenden-
ning's lively little wife.
Mr.. Harper smiled and made some
polite reply, then.
Here we are at the door. You
will come IMP
"Not this evening, thank you. I
shall be happy to come in course of
a day or two, though. Ny regards
to Doctor Charley, and goodnight"
bowling himself off.
Mrs. Clendenning looked after
him thoughtfully.
Something has gone wrong with |
our Scottish chieftain. 1 wonder if |
Christine Frost has anything to do
with it?"
She was pondering on the matter
still when Doctor Charley came in;
and after fiuttering like magnified |
bird about that young
giant, helping him on with his dress
ing and bringing his slippers
and cigars, she settled herself, at
last, on his knee. and by and by sur
prised him by the question, abrupt
ly put.
Charley, wouldn't Bruce Harper |
and Christine make splendid
Christine Frost! Does he go
there?" quickly.
Yes-every day, almost. He's
a devoted lover. Wouldn't it be a |
good match" .- 81 !
Occupied with her own thoughts,
the little lady had not noticed how
grave her husbands face had sud-
denly become.
81 thought better of Bruce than |
that. Does-does she care for him,
do you Think"
Christine? I know her well, and
/ think she does. But what ails |
you, Charley? You speak as seri- |
ously as if it were a funeral VIC were
about"
d" 1t was something sadder than a |
funeral that 1 was thinking about. |
You didn't know, did you, Lydia,
that Bruce Harper is a married |
man"
Married? You're joking now,
Charley?"
"No. 1t is no joking matter"
"Bruce Harper a married man%
eyes, and has been for half n |
dozen years. l myself saw the
knot tied that made him Bene-
dick"
"You! CharleyE'
In her amazement, Mrs. Clenden-
ming had nothing but ordinations.
81 don't suppose there is soul
in this city who ever heard of it,
though. 1t was a long time ago;
before / ever saw your face, my |
darling. Bruce was young fellow
then, just out of his minority, and