The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-03-14

"Why, Agnes, you have known
me all your life"
"That's Just the trouble, John.
I've known you too long. I feel
toward you ns.I feel toward that old
gray dress of mine. I'm heartily
sick of it. I've become SO horrid
used to it that the very idea of it is
quite shocking"
John stepped back, then placed
his great hand under the girl S chin,
and lifted her flushed face to his
own. ..
His lip quivered, and his voice
trembled, as he said:
els this so, Agnes?',
"Why, John, hardly know my
self, just how it is. I'm so mixed
UP in my own mind about it, But
you see, John, you're good, l know
you are-but you aren't--you
alent-
"Aren't what. Agnes? Don't be
afraid to say it,"
"Well then, John, you aren't
stylish" l
"No, Agnes?'
"And you aren't fashionable"
"No, Agnes?'
"Nor you aren't heTo?"
ga hero, Agnes?"
"No, you never saved any ones
life; you never did any great thing!"
No, Agnes,,' said John with a
sigh, Il can't say that l ever did.
l never had q chance, you know
"That's true, John, but [ do re-
member now Of your whipping Joe
Brown, as biga two of you, because
he called me names. But that was
only fist fight.
"Thank you, Agnes" said John,
simply, "for remembering that.
But is this Dermota a hero?"
"The bravest fellow, John,. l
don't know how many people he
has dragged out Of the river, and as
for rushing into burning houses
there's no end to it,"
Gle told you this. Agnes?'
eyes. to be sure. It's delightful
10 hear him talk; he talks so we'll
That's something, you can't do
either, John. You can't talk; you
can't quote poetry; you don't know
any thing about Shakespeare. Oh,
you cught to hear Mr.. Dermot go
through with Romeo and Juliet >
and Agnes folded her hands in
ecstasy.
John smiled. He knew Shak.
speare quite well. 1t was one ol
the few books he had studied.
"And MIR. Dermot quotes poetry
ooh, 50 delightfully."-. Burns, and
Byron, and Tennyson, and he can
say such exquisite little things.
Now, John, if you were something
like"
"But I never shall be, Agnes"
"No!" !"assented Agnes with sigh.
"And my hands will always be
hard; for | ain q working man, Ag-
nes, and my words will always be
plain; but my heart will be tender,
and true, and loving. Will not
that satisfy, Agnes?" ...E
"Why, John, iNI don't really love
you, | had better find it out now. /
am not quito sure. I'll think it
over, and tomorrow night, maybe
I'll wear a rosebud in my hair and
maybe" a.aa.
you'll wear geranium.'
Agnes gave an approving nod,
then slipped away, laughing, think
ing to herself, "How the great fel-
low does love me, to be sure"
John wandered around desolate
and lonely all of next day. He was
among the,earliest of the guests as
sembled in. the evening atAgnes'
home. How anxiously he waited
her coming into the room.
Her cousin Kitty did the honors,
and was continually lowering near
him, her laughing face covered with
dimples, and a quiet, mischievous
smile hiding in her eyes. Kitty
had just come down from assisting
Agnes to dress.
She had found few fresh rose
buds ina glass on the dressing ta-
BILE: a'bunch of withered geraniums
were thrown carelessly aside.
Dear old John," she had said to
herself, "your flowers once so
dearly cherished are now left to die.
1 met that idiot bringing those
buds, and fastening one in his but
ton-hole. Agnes. | suppose is to
wear the buds, but 1 will change
the programme by tlinging
them aside, and fastening one OF
poor Johns geraniums in among
my lady's braids." And Kitty
chucklsd to herself. y q p r y !
"Ahl" she said with a merry
twinkle in her eye, "My cousin Ag-
nes, you do, indeed, look charming.
Those rosebuds are just the thing"
Sure enough, Dermot was sport
ING rosebud in his button-hole,
and was then talking learnedly to
the elegant Miss Highly OF its EN-
blematical meaning. E
John sat gnasbing his teeth,
biting'his nails, and glowerinS out
from his corner, in q way that was
decidedly tragical, and was really
wonderful Tor an amateur. 4 go
Kitty was delighted, and found
herself in the recess of q window
every now and then, stuffing her
handkerchief into her mouth to
smother the laughter that she had
| LII l., 4 ,,1,tn