The Lincoln County herald., 1871-12-21

that he 10 not unkind TO her, even when
drunt. My sister will gls lily oversee her
education, and We can send her whatever
money is needed for shat purpose. Dear
Hannah, think Of it, think Of the weary
years that must slapso before l can re-.
turn, and for the sake Of the love you
bcar me, do not let this child blight both
our lives. am to sail in less than q
month shall it be alone, or with you ?
"If you knew how hard it was to resist
this plea But I did. And before he
went Richard ackn nowledged that was
right, evcn while he deplored the hard
necessity that separated US when We
needed each other most He promised
again and again to be faithful during his
absence, and demanded from me like
VOWS Of fidelity. Just think Of it / said
he. Miriam will be just eighteen when
1 return, just your age now, and shall
be thirty -four. Will tho years have
changed us much, l wonder? Who
knows bnt Won will nrafor a vnnnaer
lover then2 | laughed and replied that
| had more to fear from his Inconsistency y
than he from mine, that women grow old
iastcr than men, and that he might trans.
fer his affections to Miriam herself when
he compared her fresh young face to my
faded one. Truer words we're never
spoken in jest, and though am not super.
stit,ous, thrill OF apprehension crcpt
over me at the time, and would have
taken them back if could.
IL will pass over our parting. and 60
on to the years that oilowcd How long
they seem.d, those years of waiting and
how full they were Of cares and anxietiss
Miriam biossomed into rare loveliness,
and was to me child aud sister both in
one. For her trled and s,rugg ed, md
bore my burdens uncomplaining'y. But
she was not grateful | knew it even
then, yet blinded by affection, found ex.
cuses for even graver faults than this.
"Father died when Miriam was twelve
Strong drink had killed his better sell
long before, and the degraded wreck left
we could pity, but not respect. Yet VI
mourned him sincerely, for the ties that
bound him to US could not be severed
without pain. This calamity, (and We
held it one, whatever others thought, ;,
, was soon followed by another. A hnan
cial convulsion swallowed up the little
fortune settled on US at mothers death
| kept this from Richard, and grapplsd
with poverty, alone and unaided Twas
even harder task for woman then than
, now. But found work, and Miriam
was still sent to school, and comfortabl, !,
it not daintiy clad. What hurt me mos
was when she complained, as she oftel
) did, Of suffering hardships and priva
tons, apparently unconscious that
t tnilsd early and late. and practicad con
stcnt self denial, to keep her from want
That this was though,less rather thar
selfish | tried to think, for she was such
r q winsome creature, one could not judg
her barshIy.
, ~ corresponded with Richard regu
y larly, aud to the last his letters neve
e lost their lover like tone. Az the tim
0 drew near for his return, even Miriar
t noticed my restlessnsss, and wondered
Il little curiously what he was like, an
D whether he had changed much, and wa
rich or not. This last che thought
y most important question, and 1t reall
:. had more to do with her likes and dis
likes than cared to ack Wedge.
Q Orchard came, and Miriam saw hi,
| FIRST. know not wha. he said, but be
j cheeks we're flushed and her eyes radiar
n when entered the room, and as sh
turned to 90, saw her coqusttish smiI
g and his admiriug look. Then the grave
handsome face was bent close to mine
and the dear remembered voice viii,
o pered Hannah I and forgot evcrythin
;, else 10 the rapture of that meeting"
It The hand that Faith held trembst
It and Miss Ware broke off suddenly. b.
o the girl waited in silence, for the stor
Il had been to her like q revelation, an
y more than half guessing what was I
II come, she shrank from it with Q vagu
}. sense Of pain and pity.
Y "The years had touched Richard moi
g lightly than me-" continued Miss War
after long pause. "He was 10 the fus
n of manhood | bad lost the bloom
f. youth forever. The slow waiting, ii
p long struggle with care aud poverty. hs
told upon me fearfully, and though l vi
!, but twenty seven, / looked far olde
. Richard noticed the change. but delicatel
l. forbore allusion to 1t, except when h
e spoke of what the past had cost US bot
10 with an air, half plying, half regretfu
l "Those first days Of bis return glea
.. out from the dark woof of my life lik
e golden threads. He vas brave, an
o tender, and helpful, and leaned upc
10 him with sense Of perfect rest an
o safety. Miriam, too, whom | had foun
SO difficult to manage, was another ere.
10 ture in his presence, and seemed to ha,
II lost her giddy girlishness. snd develops
.. into gracious womanhood. did D
d recognize this IS coqustry at first, br
, later saw the snare spread for both Of U
=. and watched with feeling like death
. my heart, the tender eyes aud smilir
IN lips that sought to lure him from mo
=. her. She was the tempter; he, Il