The herald. (Smyrna, Del.) 1870-1871, 1871-04-01


like silken vapor, and on her breast
were cluster ofsnow- white lilies. Her
blonde hair Il hate brunettes,) was swept
back from brow that really seemed of
alabaster, and fell in maze OF light ring
let's on the most beautiful neck and
shoulders that ever sculptor dreamed
Of"
''Not of the scrawny style, then 90
He glanced at me, half Indignantly.
II beg your PARDON" I haftened to
say. "The word slipped unawares, sug-
gested by a thought of our ballroom
beauty, Miss Skinner; very handsome,
certainly, very thin. Pray go on"
mot the least like Miss skinner in
that respect. Indeed, heard one young
lady hint that Miss Rutherford might
have been little less"
"Fat?" l suggested, observing him
hesitate slightly. But being instantly
admonished by his glance that had
committed an error, 1 resolved to hold
my own counsel in the future.
ITO correct taste," he resumed, ig-
noring my remark, "hers was the per-
fection of a gracefully rounded contour,
without to much fullness. And can
not describe to you the queen-like grace,
the almost angel-like purity with which
she stood, clad in white, crowned with
lilies, and holding bouquet of the same
flowers in her hand. The pure stately
lily has ever since in my mind been as
sociated with her. She never wore Jew
els, which to me was an evidence of her
pure .aste.'
Perhaps she couldn't afford them ?"
"Her father had died bankrupt, am
told. She was dependent upon the aunt
before mentioned," observed Maxwell,
calmly.
"Ah! And you fell in love with her at
first sight?''
Why, not exactly. was captivatec
by her grace and loveliness of person,
but loy was of slower growth. fol-
introduction, waltzed with her to that
divine music which we have just heard,
sweet voi"e and gazing into her clear,
earnest eyes; and then it was that fell
In love with her, as you call it. Yes
he added meditatively, "mine was no
headlong passion-no love at the first
glance. l had fully satisfied myselfthat
her attractions of mind and disposition
equalled those ofperson before l allow
ed my feelings to develope from admir-
alton into love-"
"And you could discover all this in a
few hours2"
"In one as frank and artless as her.
self, never saw any other woman
with sucl sweet simplicity of manner,
such graceful ingeniousness of speech,
such purity of taste and sentiment. You
may, smile, my friend; but I an not ex
aggcriting. 1 have met with numbers
of charming and beautiful woman, but
notsone, amongst to equal in loveliness
of persoii and chalacter to Kate Ruther-
ford"
"But if you loved her, Max, and she
loved you, as you say she did, how was
it that you did not marry herY Ofcourse
you proposed?"
"Of course. 1t was on the hillside
yonder, III the moonlight. lold her how
L adored her. / took her haud, and was
certain that felt pressure of her own
fingers in retarn. placed my arm
around her waist, and drew her to mo.
She let me do it, ever leaning her lovely
form against my shoulder. She let me
draw her closer, and kiss her check
and then her lips. Perhaps 1 ought not
not to tell of these things; but l want
you to understand how it was. And
when she raised her fair face, and looked
into MY eyes with her own full OF ten
derness, and whispered that she loved
me-that she had never loved before,
could never love again-de you blame
me for believing that she was mine as
surely as though we were already wed ?
And that is why, on being compelled to
join at day-break deer-bunting party
to which was pledged, : wrote her ii
note, calling her my ovn darling Kate,
and asked if she would walk with me on
the hillside that evening"
"And she did?
Maxwell suppressed long-drawn
sigh, took the cigar from his lips, and
dreamily watched the vapor fade away
into the air.
"My friend, never saw her again.
When l returned that evening, / found
note awaiting me. She had gone; un
willingly carried off by that aunt of hers.
She wrote that she loved me; would
never love another; never forget me;
but that her aunt, who read my note,
was resolved that the marriage should
never be. Il owe her the duty and obe-
dience of a daughter, she added, 'who
has been mother to me; but dearest, il
You will wait patiently for one gear, re-
maining true and faithful to me, as IN
heart I shall be to you, we shall surely
be happy yet" Remember every word
Of that letter. 1 have it STILL"
''knd you waited ?"
ST pould have waited, yea, fifty years,
had she desired it, with such hope of re-
ward. But"
"But what?'
"rwo weeks aft r." sail Maxwell,
slowly, and as if with an eflort-"two
weeks after, when was vainIy seeking
some clue TO her whereabouts, read in
fashionable paper the announcement
of her marriage"