The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-08-15

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Alsager, partly by a nalnelcss i'm
pulse, she went to the old house
She stood for a moment at the lit
tie side gate so familiar to her, thcr
opened it and went in.
1t was a beautiful evening in early
summer and the grass and the gar.
den looked friendly and winning tC
the eyes of poor lonely Isabel
Their very friendlincss overpower-
ed her, and she had to stop for :
moment to get the tcar-drops out o,
her eyes. AS she stood she saw two
figures seated on bench under 9
tree, a Young man and young wo.
man. She knew Alice's fair hail
and graceful figure, although the
girls face was turned away, and hei
heart beat with a cruel pang as she
saw the dark curls Of the young
man. His face too she could not
see; but nobody could fail to per
ceivc at glance that these two were
a young married pair. Isabel de-
tcrmincd to crush u weakness that
seemed shameful and selfish to her.
She would go up and frankly offer
her congratulations. But sudden y
the young man raised his head; she
saw his face, it was not the face OF
Frank Rowan. 1t was like him
that is, somewhat likc--but it was not
he! Alice now was ncstling in his
arms. Surely this must be her hus-
band, yet os surely this was not
Frank Rowan!
Isabel felt the blood mount to her
forehead, and her eyes grew dim
and the tears seemed to flicker and
become envcloped in a mist. She
had not been seen by the young
married pair, and she avoided them
and FASTENED to the house. The
door stood open, and, unseen by any
one, she entered the old familiar
room where the piano used to stand
A piano was there still, and the
folding doors were nearly closed
Isabel was about to ring the bell in
order to make her presence known,
when she heard two voices in the
adjoining room; and she could not
move from where she stood; the
sounds and word, had a fascination
for her. She seemed to have ne
choice left, she could only stano
and listen.
"My poor Frank" said the voice
of Mrs. Alsagcr, " | am so gricvec
about you and about her Bu
you foolish boy, why didn't yor
speak out in timc?"
" | don't know hadn't the
courage; and even if ! had, wha
would have been the use. She
never could have loved me; | know
itw
II was the voice Of Frank Rowan
which spoke this.
"IIow would your brother have
got his wife if he hadn't at lcas
given Alice a chance for accepting
him? Do you think she could have
proposed for him."
"Eustace is better fellow than
am every way; and then Alice wa
always ncar--and you were so kind
But it was different with us.
). mean with mc--and now | hav
lost her forever"
"Frank," said Mrs. AIsagcr
; speaking in a very grave tone, " d
you know that I always supccte'
that in her heart Isabel Gcrmaln
loved you?"
"Oh, Mrs. Alsager, don't tortur
, me for nothing. 1t cannot be. |
, it were so, why should she hav
gone away in such manner; left II
|, without a word to let tus know whcr
even friendly line might rcac
t hcr?"
"That very thing is one of m
reasons. | can't tell why, but
have thought we were not clea
enough in explaining about Alice
, marriage. | took it for grante'
that your father had explained ev
, erything, he took it for granted tina
| had explained, and we neither
! us did, and | fear we made a sa
blunder of it,"
But what could that have to d
with her sudden disappearance"
"Don't you understand? Can
you guess!
! "I don't understand; | can
guess"
"Supposc she thought it was yo'
, and not Eustace, that was to MARI
ALICE"
There was a sudden sound as
: Frank had sprung to his feet, an
q he exclaimed:
e ooh, Mrs. Alsager, if | could or
a ly believe in that, [ would scare
t the world for her until | found he
E And | would bring her back or ki
c myself before her eyes! What
e life to Inc within herr"