Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-01-11
D., THURSDAY, JAN. IL, 1872.

genial souls. Mr.. Gregory was delight
ed with the ready repartee of Miss Tay
lor; Mr.. Clinton with the dark eye
and youthfulness of Allie JOY; and MI
Armstrong saw, admired, and respects
the mobility that characterized ever.
Hook and motion of Edith Howard. TIL
lingering diffidence of Mr.. Armstron!
enabled him to be the most faithful o.
the three to the VOWS together formed
Except for the following circumstance
this story would never have been writ
4 ten. A concert was to be given in town
Gregory and Clinton thought it wouiC
be pleasant to take the ladies, and pro
posed as much to Armstrong. He, af
ter some persuasion, consented, and in
vited Miss Howard, who, with mucf
grace, accepted. The moon had jus
risen when the performance was over
1t was one of those lovely nights When
one feels 10th to remove himself from
the influence of the cool breeze farming
the cheek, and from without the sight
and sound of the gentle swaying and
rustling of the leaves, for the oppressive
heat within. Delighted with the pros
pect, Mr.. Armstrong remarked:
Wouldn't you like TO have the ride
continued, Miss Howard, before we re-
turn?' ..-....
Itis really too pleasant to go indoors.
Suppose we do go OH a little further
And so they went. Circumstances
were favorable. The barrier of reserve
was broken down. They told much OF
the history of their lives. She of a
brother whose memory she loved who
had been her only confidant and friend.
but who was now no more. Her story.
with so much earnestness and feeling,
touched Mr.. Armstrong. He knew her
affectionate nature was yearning for
sympathy and love. He said:
Miss Howard, have sister who is
as dear to me as your brother was to
you. Many miles separate US, and am
deprived of all that her impulsive, low
ing nature conferred. l cannot fill the
place of your brother, but let me try.
Let me call you sister, ...
Mr.. Armstrong was quite stranger,
but the frankness and open modesty OF
countenance, and the tremor of his
voice, forbade any suspicion of insin-
cerity. An essential condition of her
being seemed about to be supplied. She
placed her hand in his, and said, in a
low, sweet voice: -.......i 'i..-..
'Thank you, brother
Thus begun, they soon ceased to re-
gard each other as strangers, and every
conversation deepened their affection
and familiarity. The little porch was a
favorite seat for all, and this, when
darkness compelled them to abandon the
evening game of croquet, was the ac-
customed resort of the three inseparable
couples. Sitting here one evening, the
dew began to fall, and Miss How ard re-
moved her chair from its close proxim-
ity to Mr.. Armstrong, and placed it
just inside the door, 10 explain her
conduct, she tore 4 fragment of paper
from a letter, and wrote:
Brother, love to sit by you, but l
am afraid shall take cold
This little note he kept, aud this little
note is not the only one that he kept as
a memento of that memorable summer.
The modern system of supplying
houses with water from a public reser-
voir had not yet been introduced at
Dalton, and so every house derived its
necessary supply from wells. Many
'old oaken' and 'iron-bound buckets
were still performing their unwearying
task. Passing by the college well one
evening, Miss Howard asked:
is there any water drawn, Mr.. Arm
strong?'
'Mr. Armstrong; Who is hep
'Why, you, of course
did your brother allow you to call
him Mr.. Howard?'
'Fred.'
would you like some, Edith?'
1T you please
No event, however trifling, fails OF
exerting some influence, and this did
not.
Mr.. Armstrong had gone with the
other gentlemen to the post-ofiice. On
returning, the latter went Immediately
to their rooms; but he, having letter
for Miss Howard, sought her. She was
sitting under tree, with downcast eyes,
so silent and still, and yet looking so
beautiful, that, for while, he could not
approach her. He stepped up to her,
took both of her hands in his, and
said:
Sister, dear, am going to make you
happy. have letter for YOU
She looked up. She had been weep
ing. and the bright tears still glistened
in her eyes.
In manly, but sympathetic, manner
he asked:
sWhat is it Edith?'
sOh! it's all over now. Twas only
passing thought. Let me see the letter,
please
He gave her the letter, sat down be-
side her, and intently watched her now
frightening countenance. She folded
up the letter, put it away, and in con-
fiding manner, said:
you are a good brother to bring me
such good letter. 1t is from my sister
in St. Paul. have been stopping with
her, you know, for the last three years,
and she wants me to return and remain
with her again, until at least, am en-
tirely WELL
4 am glad, Edie, if l have made you
happy; but tell you. But this sorrow
no human sympathy can alleviate or e,s-
pel.'
She knew of friend whose love was
greater than brothers, whose SYM
pathy was as much purer than mans
as the divine is purer than the human.
Of Him she thought, and, ,as she thought,
she felt His spirit breathed over the tu-
multuous waves that ragged within her
breast, and the calm and peace, which
only a consciousness of his presence
can give, where there. With radiant
face, she looked up; with eager joy she
thanks him for his proffered aid. He