The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1871-05-25
~ will!Iw wilt" she cried.

stood gazing beSsstefed at the scene
before him. Ada and Aileen both
stood by; the first pale, trembling; the
other pale too, but with look OF de-
termination and courage. On the
ground, few PAGES from her feet, lay
frigttful, venomous. snake, stunned
by the force with which che had thrown
it down.
In moment Ralph, as if by instinct
knew all. And Ada, in the same sweet
emotionlcss manner, told that they had
come to hunt for him, by his mothers
desire, and found him sleeping. And
she had stopped down to waken him,
when she discovered the dreadful snake
stealing round bis neck. She had run
away SO frightened. And Aileen went
up although she told herit would sure
ly bite her--and caught it close up by
the head, threw il off and dashed it to
the ground.
Ralph's dream flashed back to his
mind so vividly then! and he felt to-
ward Aileen as he had never before,
and much relieved to be sure he was
not bound to the cold, beautiful girl
beside him. And he believed if she
should ever be his it would be as in the
dream. If danger threatened she would
fly; while Aileen, dear, noble, loving
Aileen, he knew she would never de-
sert the man who called her his. She
would cling by, to save or die with
him.
Turning to Alcen, he said:
"Thank you! You are a brave little
woman. Aileen! You have saved my
llfew
There was q tone of deep emotion in
this, which caused Aileen to raise her
eyes to his. She saw in them some
thing which made her heart leap with
a wild bound Of joy. And she was
happier than ever in her life before.
She had'been in a distant part of the
conservatory that morning and heard
much of the conservation between
Ralph and his mother. 1t was her
sigh that Ralph had heard. Oh. how
miserable had life appeared to the poor
child then. She little dreamed how
soon the cloud would pass away.
Ralph was very quiet after their re-
turn to the house. He could not ban
ish from his mind the occurrence
which had so plainly shown him the
difference in the character of the two
girls. He was disappointed in Ada,
and something almost amounting to
dislike was stealing into his heart
against her; while Aileen was growing
hourly dearer to him.
How pretty she looked that evening,
he thought. And indeed Mrs. Living
ston gazed at her and wondered what
had come over the girl to make her
look so bright and happy. Ralph
longed to be with her alone. He found
an opportunity during the evening
After again thanking her, he said:
"Did you know how deadly was the
bite ?"
"Ccrtainly. That was the reason l
fastened to get it off"
"Did you think of the danger to
yourself. Aileen?'
"Oh, yes. l thought Of everything"
"And you feared not?"
"Only for you, Ralph"
"Aileen, the man who wins your
heart will have priceless jewel! l
believe you would die for one you
loved"
Her face grew paler than usual then.
She was striving to still the wild
throbbing of her heart, and hide its Sc
cret too.
"Would you not, Aileen ?"
"Would not any woman ?" she re.
turned, yelling her:eyes./
"Aileen, if you had known that
snake would have bitten you, would
you have touched it-have braved
death for mep" he asked, striving to
catch ner eye.
She spoke not, nor looked on him.
"Aileen, you must answer me-" he
said, putting forth his hand and clasp,
ing hers.
"You have no right to insist--to
speak thus to me-" she said, evading
still his gaze.
~ have, Aileen, the right to know
the heart of the woman love! Now
look at me and see if l am not speak
ing the truth"
She raised her eyes then and met
his.
"Will you answer me now, Aileen 2"
be asked, opening his arms.
"You know! you knowp' sobbed
she.
He caught her in his arms and said
"My own darling! lido know! My