The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1871-02-16

bright days Of my life, which were
fraught with so much happiness.
Scarcely single unhappy moment OF
that time can / recall. We must on to
the time when stepped upon the stage
Of the world, and with other men and
women played my part in the great
drama Of life.
| had become tall woman, with
Features somewhat resembling my
mothers, and with spirit chat brooked
no control. One day I was reclining
Iunder the shade of an elm, reading q
book Of poems, In imagination I had
wandered far back into the past, and
in dreamy maze was travelling in the
caravan with Lallah Rookh, listening
to the disguised prince in the person
Of the poet, as he, with an impassioned
emphasis, related into her enraptured
ear the story of the Yelled Prophet of
Khorassin. I was startled into
thoughts Of the present by the sound
of horses feet falling on my ear.
Looking up, l saw gentleman equip
ped for hunting, upon a nobly capari-
soned steed, ambling slowly to the
spot where I sat. Then there was q
snort, a terrible plunge, and the rider
Hay at my feet apparently lifeless l
uttered piercing scream, which reach
led the ears Of my mother, old Dora,
End Jonathan, who were in the house,
mot a hundred yards distant. When
lthcy arrived at the spot, | had brought
Bwalcr from the brook, and was wash
Ding the blood from his broad white
Forehead, which kept trickling from a
wound in his temple. My mother had
\ lim conveyed to the house and laid up
on bed, where lie lay so pale and mo-
tionless that l could not but think him
dead. But my mother said not After
applying rcstoratiyes he soon rccoy-
cred.
The acquaintance thus begun did not
cease as suddenly. He came often to
our house. We found him to be gift
ed, possessing an accomplished educa-
ton and polished manners He had
seen so much Of the great world OF
which I was 50 ignorant I loved to
4 sit for hours and hear him tell Of life
n in the fashionable world, so different
froa our quiet life in our home among
{ lhe Llls. He seemed to me 50 grand
so noQc, so intelligent. But why pro
long tA tale? | loved him with all
the wildCervency of my nature. And
he loveA me- l suppose my very
: freshness Qnd innocence in the arts
t and decepbons of fashionable life at
tracted himA And SO it came that "the
same old taleNo often tod and yet ever
new,' was whispered in my ears by
fond, passionate lips, and my heart
readily respondal. My mother sane,
toned our engagement, for he brought
credentials to SATISFY even her maternal
solcitude. So the ring was brought
and placed upon my finger. Our nup-
, tials were to taa place in six months.
NV mother woid not consent for it
to be a day soner We were very,
, very happy for awhile, and might still
have been so, ht for my passionate.
willful nature, hat would not permit
even the voice d love to chide me-
We mingled with society now. Char
L. lie Graham wal proud of his Oracle,
and wanted the World to see and know
his treasure 81 he said. while urging
my mother to cave her secluded life
for our sakes. So we removed from
our little cott.ge to the great city.
Here | was introduced TO the first So
ciety. For although we had always
lived life Of great secusion, it was
from the choice Of my mother, and not
from necessity. The world would
have called us vGy rich. People said
| was beautiful and l liked TO hear
them say 50. courted admiration.
I hirted outragebusly, and so wounded
tn. heart that loved me. One day he
demonstrated with me.
"Gracie,' said he, "don't you know
people will make remarks about the
way you are flirting with Robert
Sinclairj'
"What care ] what people say" re-
torted I bitterly. For his words stuug
me. "Why should not talk with
whom | choose, and whose business
might it be 7"
"Why, Oracle" said he, in tone Of
reproach that cut me to the heart, ''if
the world would make no remarks, 1
. would insist on yoar pursuing q diIier
+ ent course of conduct. Now, Oracle,
does not your own heart tell you that
/ you are acting wrong"
Why. oh why, did not, in answer
T to the dictates OF conscience, lay my
, head on his bosom. promise TO amend