The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-12-22

"And yet it is a long good-bve, /,
added Lettice, jestingly; "you ar,
not coming home for a long, long
time, are you, Max?n
Frank and / have made an i'm.
portant arrangement about that |
answered, trying to jest, too, because
| fancied she would understand what
he asked me to do. 81 am going
away to stay ten years unless he
wants me-" -,
.'If he does not want you, you pre-
fer staying out there?
eyes. What prospect is there OF
any one else wanting me?n
81 suppose nOne," she answered
quietly, "as you say so, but we shall
be glad to see you when you return.
Not that you will care for that either,
for you care for nothing, you know,
except fortunizing your life."
Her words, in their quiet, simple
scorn stabbed me to the heart.
'"That is a wide word, Lettice," |
said, "and a word which even vet
| have not fa.homed.
But you expect to do so in Mel
bourne?''
81 hope so."
With an odd little laugh she
changed the subject, and very soon
Frank drove up to the gate. Mr..
Oldfield and Amy went out and stood
beside the dog-cart talking to him,
while | followed more slowly. Let
| tice came with me, and stood min
ute under the hare old lime tree,
with tba xyipfa.. canpcbina ON bar
| bright young face. And /, looking
down upon her, knew that this pic
ture would dwell in my heart through
all my lonely life.
Her jesting scorn was all gone now;
only her eyes were little puzzled
and little sad.
You will be quite happy, Max"
she said, with that happiness which
makes Others happy too"
"Tell me how, Lettice," | cried,
the strong and passionate love of my
heart trembling in my voice. "Tell
me how to win this happiness"
II cannot,n she answered softly
II cannot teach you what you know
so we'll"
'Lettice," / said, "my dearest
friend, this is the last moment. Give
me some few words of help to take
with meas sister would have given
them to me-"
Very softly, while her clear, sweet
eyes looked bravely into mine, she
whispered the little verse, which has
ever been with me since, and has
helped me often, as her voice could
help me in those far-off days:
There is a cross in every lot.
And an earnest need Of prayer:
But lowly heart that leans on God
Is happy everywhere.
From the gate looked back wist-
fully 10 where she still stood under
the winter branches, and she smiled
one bright, quick smile and ran in.
Then sat down beside Frank, and
Amy sprang up, and gave me, with
tear-filled eyes, the only kiss among
all my sad good-byes.
Later on, in the frosty winter morn
ing, we two brothers, who had been
together all our lives, parted on the
deck of the great waiting vessel, with
only few broken words, and one
long close, lingering hand-grasp.
"The ten years are passing, and
you must keep your promise, Max,
and come"
/ read the words over and over
again. 1t was not yet ten, but over
seven years since / had set foot in
Melbourne, and in every letter Frank
had sent me through those long years
| had expected him to tell me what
he had told me at last. Yet, now that
il was told, the lines seemed TO swim
before my eyes, and my fingers would
not write the glad and congratulatOry
words ! wished to send him.
Nov that nay reward i come" he
wrote, Il claim your promise. We
only delay our marriage for your arri-
val. Max, old fellow, you would have
felt happy for me indeed, if you had
seen how willingly Mr.. Oldfield gave
my darling to me. had been a son
to him for years he said could hard
ly be nearer when was his daughters
husband. And now my cup of happi-
ness will be full when you come. How
soon can you be home?n
So, upon bright spring morning,
Frank and | met once more in Eng
land, and tired with tiredness which
| never felt before, | rested that even
ing in my own chair beside the cherry
home fire, striving to look back joy
fully into my brothers beaming face.
"Gou are very tired, Maxi said
Frank, in his quick glad, tones.
"A little; but was thinking how
utterly content you look, Frank?'
so ! ought, ought | Hotf hecause |
am 50 utterly content. DO l look
changed in any other way??"
"No, none.n
$50 ! look utterly content do |? yet
/ have had trouble too. You ought
to say you see the traces, Max"
What trouble has it been?" |
asked.
"a trouble of five years ago, Max
he answered quietly; "a trouble |
never felt that / could tell you in a
letter. When first asked Lettice to
be my wife she-she refused me,
Max"
II feared SO, Frank" | said, so low
that he stepped forward TO catch the
words. II feared so from your 81
lence at that time. But MEYER mind,
dear fellow, as it has ended so bright
ly.n
"NO, j don't mind now one atom.
1t has ended so brightly, as you say"
II seemed like Q dream To- be walk
ing once more at Franks side, on the
shadOwy street, and still more like a
dream tohe entering unanpnunGed the
pretty familiar room, where Lettice
sat alone at the window sewing in the
twilight.
"Lettice,n cried Frank, ip gay ear
nestness, 'here's Maxi
was standing opposite her, look
ing down upon her with still, calm
eyes, the grave elder brother of her
afiianced husband. She dropped her
work, aud put her two hands into
mine in quick glad greeting, and /
spoke to her just as / knew Frank
would wish me to speak to her /;
watching all the while his face as well
as hers. She was changed more than
he was. The face that had been al
most child-iike III lis sunny beauty
Vas woman,s face now; deeper and
9raver, but Infinitely more beautiful,
i thought, as ! saw its old bright,
sunny smile still there. she looked
up at Erahk, q Wonderful light shin
ing in her eyes.
"5Now you have all you wish,
Frank n she said, And | felt that
She was as happy III his as he was in
hers. | stood beside them, talking in
laughing, genial tones hoping that
she could never guess how hardly /
had schooled myself to this.
Presently Frank passed out through
the omen window, and Iettice look
ing sftet niM, hsaissA hss eyes sues