The Placer herald., 1871-12-30

How soon can you be home!
So. upon bright Spring morning, Frank
and met once more in England; ard tired
with iiredness which had never felt be-
fore, rested that evening in my own chair
beside the CHEEKY home fire; striving TO look
back joyfully into my brothers beaming
face.
"You are very tired. Max" said Frank,
in his quick, glad tones.
ga little; but was not thinking OF that.
I was thinking how perfectly content you
look, Frank
$50 | ought to, ought not because l
am go perfectly content. DO look changed
in any other way?"
"No, none."
$50 look perfectly content, do ~" Yet
l have had trouble, too. You ought to say
you zee the traces, Max"
"What trouble has it been?" ! asked.
ga trouble of five years ago, Max" he
answered quietly. GA trouble never felt
shat cot!d tell you in letter. When
first asked Lettice to be ny wife she-re-
fused me, Max
feared so, Frank" said, so low that
he stepped forward 10 catch the words. 81
feared so from your silence at that time.
But never mind, dear fellow, as it has ended
so brightly"
"No, | don't mind now one atom. 1t has
ended so brightly, as you say"
1t seemed like dream to be walking once
more at Frank side, on the shadowy street;
and still more Ike dream TO be entering
unannounced the pretty familiar room,
where Lettice sat alone at the window sew
Ing in the twilight.
"Lettice," cried Frank, in gay eageness,
"here's Max"
was standing opposite her, looking down
upon her with still calm eyes; the grave elder
brother of her aflianced husband. She drop
ped her work, and 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 childlike in its sunny beauty was a
womans face now; deeper and graver, but
infinitely more beautiful, | thought, as saw
its old bright, sunny smile still there. She
looked up at Frank, a wonderful light shin
ing in her eyes.
Now you have all you wish, Frank. "
And felt that she was as happy in his love
as he was in hers. stood beside them,
talking in laughing, genial tones; hoping
that she could never guess how hardly had
schooled myself 10 this.
Presently Frank passed out through the
open window, and LetIice, looking after
him, raised her eyes questoningy to me.
" You think us all changed, | suppose,
Max. Even Frank 2"
eyes" | answered, absent|y.
"But you have not seen sister Amy yet, ="
she went on, smiling. "She of course is
most changed of all. Frank is gone to fetch
her fancy. He says she is like what was
at her age, but this is only his pleasing fat
terry, for she is very, very pretty"
followed her words dreamily, wondering
whether it could really be seven years since
Letlice and stood talking to each other
last, while felt how impossible it was that
the little one whom we had all combined to
pet and spoil could be at all what Lcttice
was in those sweet old days.
"Frank seemed to know exactly where
she would be-" Lettice went on, little
nervously. | fancied in my silence You
remember the low old seat under the lilacs,
Max? Amy is as fond of sitting there as
used TO be when | was her age. You
used to say, too, that you loved TO rest there
on Summer evening; but you have been
away so long, doing so much, that those old
memories will be all buried now?"
eyes. They are all buried, answered,
feeling the scarlet mount into my face 10 con-
tradict the coolness of my words.
She smiled a little wisiful smile, which
had strange brave tenderness in it.
81 too have lived seven years since then, .
she said; "but the old memories are dear to
me, Max, and would not bury them for all
the world.
"Because it is so different with you and
me-" l faltered. "I-I think l have no
courage left. How long Frank stays''
81 see them in the lower garden now, she
answered gently, looking away from me as
struggled with my pain.
GLOW quickly Amy would have run in
to greet me in the old tmes,' | said, speak
ing once more as had scbooled myself to
do, only that a little bitterness would creep
into the tone.
eyes" laughed Lettice, sfotly; "but she
will not come this evening without Frank.
She has been quite timid about your return.
She asked me to-day if You would think
Frank had chosen unwisely because she is
so much younger than he is, so ignorant and
untried, she said
In the bewildered breathless silence which
followed Lettice's words, she looked up at
me, deep shadows gathering in her eyes, as
if she too felt the agony of the doubt and
hope which stirred me.
"Do you think Frank has chosen wisely,
Max, in taking my little sister," she asked,
speaking plainly the truth, which she knew
now had never heard
"Lettice-L Lettice, is it SOP" stammer-
ed, my fingers tight upon the chair below
me, and my heart beating wildly.