The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-05-24

little laugh she began playing the ac.
compartment.
AS her voice died away so sweetly OF
the "auld lang syne," she trilled few
notes and then sang those exquisite
words:
"Ihaye been dreaming strange wild dreams toe
sweet dreams OF earth, but passionless and
vain
have been singing DER the self-same song
TIL my heart beats an echo 10 the strain
The dreams, the sOng-there's none can paint
Or tell
The strange sweet thoughts that in my bosom
dwell"
''There, will that do?"
'sThank you, said Clarence, as Sonora
finished, and arising, he took the guitar
from his companion and laid it upon
the piano. Then, taking a seat beside
her, he said: ''Those words express what
I would say. Do not frown upon me,
Miss Hewitt, at least till ] have finished.
But listen-from the first ;time l saw
you / have loved you-not with love
that will wear of with the next new
object, but with a love that nothing can
ever Obliterate, nothing, not even
death, for God is love, and / know l
shall be permitted to love you still in
that Heaven to which / look forward.
Do you love me? Can you love me ?
Only answer me and let me know my
fate, be it good or bad-only let me hear
it from the lips Of her love alone and
shall be content;" and kneeling before
her, he took the little trembling hand
within his own as he continued, az loved
you ere l scarcely knew it myself, but
when | saw you the ministering angel
lowering around my pillow; when your
gentle hand bathed my heated brow :;
when your low sweet voice read to me
the sacred word of God, but above all
when heard your prayers ascend to the
Father on high for my recovery, when
you thought / slept, then, all then, /
loved you! could have clasped you to
my heart and bid farewell to earth and
earthly things. Can you, do you blame
me? Love me, only love me, not n
fancy, not in fear, but love me as if life
doubled in you when 1 was near
Speak! dear Sonora, speak! and let me
know the worst" and without moving
he still knelt before her.
For few moments there was a dead
silence; then, rising, he again took the
seat beside her, still holding her hand /
AT last Sonora broke the stiffness.
"Clarence, dear Clarencer' was all
that she could utter, and bursting into
tears she hid her face upon his bosom.
Pushing back her curls, he imprinted
his first kiss upon her pure brow, as he
murmured, "God bless you for this
much, dear girl" and clasping her still
tighter TO his manly breast he added:
'SOnOra, L have opened my heart to you
and laid bare its inmost feelings, but by
so doing let me not influence you, nor
cause you TO yield your love in return
for the sake perhaps OF saving moments
of anguish to the heart of the strange
youth who has sued for your first, pure
love. Let your own feelings, exactly
as they are, prompt your answer, be it
what it may, for know you will speak
the words kindly, even though they
should be the means of breaking my
heart for this earth can no pleasure or
/ happiness give; if l cannot live with
/ thee, / ask not to live | am a poor
young man. L am studying for the
ministry, and have yet another year to
remain at college. At the expiration
of that time expect, should God spare
my life, to take charge Of the Episcopal
church at D., Georgia, which is my
native place. Left an orphan at an early
age, I was brought up and educated by
wealthy uncle, whose home L still call
my own. Should prove successful in
my expectations and become settled, at
the close of two years, providing our
lives are spared, may /, at least, hope to
call you mine ~
Sonora raised her head, while her
hand still remained in its former rest
ing-plaee, as she replied:
perhaps you are already aware of
mammals prejudices to poor person,
for any one with less penetrating eyes
than you could see this; I, therefore,
cannot promise you my hand, though
you have my heart already; but, dear
Clarence-for so love to call you-can
you obtain the consent of my parents?
am yours-yes, will promise before
God never to yield my heart to anothers
keeping" and raising her eyes to his.
she added, "FrOm the first time I saw
you l loved you, so you see our love
must have been congenial, ;" and smiling
sweetly, she arose as she said, ''Yours and
no others"
Clarence, rising, placed his arm around
her waist as he said, ''Remember your
promise"
Then, walking towards the door, the
lovers parted, Sonora to her room, to
think over the golden era of her exist
ence, and Clarence TO find Harry and
relate to him his happiness, for he was
cognizant of affairs since his friends
convaleseenee, and was perfectly de-
lighted at the idea of Clarence for a
brother.
Meeting her daughter in the hall, Mrs.
Hewitt said laughingly, isis, you
should have been with us this morn
ing"
"Why so?r questioned Sonora.
''Oh, such an adyentureI Come into
: my room and will tell you about it,'
and opening the door, they entered, Mrs.