Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-11-30
TWICE LOVING.
BY VIRGINIA F. TOWNSEND.


'eWilton, don't you ever intend to
get married? / declare Pm quite in
despair about you, Here you arc,
thirty-six years old next February,
and confirmed old bachelor! Why,
you ought to have q wife, and two
or three fine second editions by this
time. Just think of it, the trouble
Pve had abont you, tool Rides to
the country, and promenades in the
city; visits at home, and parties
abroad, all to no purpose. 1t pro-
vokes me to think of it. Once for
all Wilton Hughes, do you intend to
live and die an old bachelorP" And
the lady, still young and blooming,
put down, with an air OF despera-
tion, the jewel-case with which her
fingers had been playing, and con-
fronted the gentleman, who sat op-
posite her.
He, too, laid down his paper, but
with an air of lRnguid sang .JToid,
which was particularly irritating,
for dinner was just over and Wilton
Hughes alWay devoted the next
half hour to political and bank
stocks.
"Realiy, Sarah," he replied, and
his GOODNESS was in contrast with
his sisters vehemence, al cannot an
swer you, for, whether 1 shall de-
part from this life in a state of single
or double blessedness, is still an in
definite matter to myself. You shall
be apprised of any decision, when l
make it. Meanwhile, my dear sis
ter, recommend that you give your
self no uneasiness on the subject"
"You are the most provoking be-
ing alive, Wilton" calculated the
offended lady, as she rose up. 81
believe YOU are as heartless as you
are sarcastic, and l shall never put
another woman in danger Of break
ing her heart for you" And the
rustles of Mrs. Hills brown silk
was an emphatic peroration of her
anger, as she swept Indignantly
from the apartment.
Wilton Hughes leaned back in his
chair, and half closed eyes Now he
sits there all alone his face brought
into fine relief by the dark velvet
cushioning, we will look at it; fol
his eountenance is something more
than ga book with date"
1t is not a handsome face; and
yet it will win upon you strangely
The features are two long and thiF
for masculine beauty the forehead
is broad and high, with thick mas
ses of hair about it, ; the lips arr
thin, and in repose stern and grave
but You should see them when they
are in the light of one OF has smiles
"Thirty-six next FebruaryP' his sis
ter said. You would never believ,
he was more than twenty-eight look
ing in his face.
But as the man sit there, hi
thoughts wander OF on q long Jour
ney. 1t may be his sisters words
it may be the dim quiet of the room
have started them on path whicl
reaches away over the graveyard
Of many dead and buried years, to {
far countryside land of his youth
1t Is an old red farmhouse tha
he sees now A; the shopping roof j
! covered with moss, and in the sprinl
the weeds take root among the eve
and make long green fringe on tn
edge of the house. He has not seel
the old home since that night whel
he learned--lOok! how the col
proud mans mouth quivers, and hi
fingers clutch the paper, for tina
night has come out to meet him.
was ''laid away, and locked up" h
thought, where it would never fin
a path into the present; but now, a
some old friend-over whose deaf
we have Wept and prayed-cOme
back and takes our hand, and tn
seat by our side, and looks into ou
ewes with the old smile, and whi.
pers, ''It was all false! / was nc
dead 20 So this night came bac
like living presence, and took il
seat by Wilton Hughes.
He saw her Sgain the only VIC
man who had ever troubled th
deeps of his soul, as he saw her the
wi h her shining golden hair, an
her hazel eyes, as sweet picture {
ever the heart of man framed an
housed up in the past. They ha
Just returned from a long ride
the country, and they stood by Il
gate. He had assisted her to aligf
and he still retained her little I'll
gers in his own.
A young moon was mounting ovl
the forest, and the light lay soft an
sad in the hollows, and along II
road side.
He was only nineteen then, ar
it was the tenth of July! His hea
2 } would keep those two dates, till
took up the last one-EteTHity!
He remembered how, standiI
there, he leaned dowu to her, an
putting away the cluster of eur
under her bonnet, said, 81 shall N
be here again, till the hOllows are
full of snow as they are of moo
light. May God take care of n