Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1871-06-28

a suIlen, angry roar came from the
deeper woods into which we had not
and it became evident that
one of the sudden, violent tempests Of
autumn was upon us.
We hurried on, while it grew darker
and darker every moment, and the
and shrieking Of the wind and
the ereaking of the tossing boughs raised
a bewildering tumult about US. Taking
a hand of each, Walter tried to urge Us
forward. But our feet became entangled
in the brakes and underbrush, and We
made slow progress.
'Hark! is that thunder said Miriam,
under her breath.
1T is too cold for thunderstorm
Walter answered. Ttis only the wind
Even as he spoke fearful gust tore
our hands apart Deuser darkness,
darkness that could be felt, fell about
us; We could not sec an inch before our
faccs-we could not see each other.
Suddenly the air was filed with flying
particles, and crash after crash resOund-
ed from the forest. We were in the
very path of the tornado. Great trees
fellprOstrate 70 the right aud to the left
of US, aud huge branches we're borne like
straws on the wings Of the tempest.
Stricken TO the ground, crouching there
in dire extremity, we waited for what
might come.
But high above the roar OF the Gle
ments, the fierce beating Of The storm,
I heard my husbands voice.
Barbara. Barbara! Barbarau | heard
it through the darkness, and could not
answer him.
Barbara-nOt Miriam-eveu in that
supreme moment when soul spoke to
soul, and we stood upon the confines Of
the other world!
When / returned TO consciousness l
was in darkened room, and there
were two or three strange women about
me. tried TO move my left arm, but
could not. 1t was baudsged from the
shoulder down Walter knelt at the
foot Of the bed,
The women went out.
cannot tell you about it, Some
things arc too sacred to be made subjects
of common speech. But / knew that
night by my husbands tears and cares
ses, by the silent kisses that his trem-
bling lips pressed upon my cold ones, by
his few scarce articulate words of thanks
giving, by his whispered prayers, how
grievously had wronged him by my
jealous doubts.
learned more, by aud by, after Mir
lam had gone, and my bruised arm had
got we'll. One day told him all had
thought and felt and suffered. For a
long time he sat silently, with his hand
clasping mine. Then ne said:
al want to show you something, Bar
bara," and left the room.
He came back presently with little
blue velvet case in his hand There
was something in his face that I had
never seen there before; something that
showed that his whole being was stirred
to its inipost depths.
4 want to show you something he
repeated. You are wholly mistaken
about my feeling for Miriam. Rumor
coupled our names, as was but natural.
But I never loved her, even when we
were boy, and girl together, with any
other than quiet, brotherly affection.
If | had | should have told you before !
asked you to be my wife. But want
to show you this picture Of the young
girl who ,rqs my first love. There must
never be any more concealments be-
tween US, Barbara. You must read my
heart to the very last page
My hand trembled SO that it WAS with
difficulty 1 unfastened the clasp.
Itwas my own likeness little mis-
cradle, worn, faded vignette, taken in
my early girlhood; and under the glas,
were a withered flower or twO-the first
I had ever given him. l looked up
There were tears in his eyes.
That is a relic of my callOw days he
said, half laughing, 4 stole that picture
long before you dreamed that 1 loved
you; and I have been ashamed to show
you the poor old thing, so magnifcently
encased in blue and gold. But it tells
the whole story, my Barbara. You
shall keep it henceforward, and study
it at your leisure whenever you are in
elined to be jealous Of your husbands
first love-
Conclusion.