The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-09-12

| passive in the dear arms that cncir-
cIad me, til hearing the footsteps Of
the porter and Mrs, Townsend, |
was compelled to rise.
" am not hurt, dNrhng,' ! said;
| was only stunned for moment
Flank God y she cried, with n
long, eager look. Then she started
back, I've color dcluGing her face,
her hands went up to hide it, and
she burst into tears,
Nv arms were around her immc-
datoly, in spite of tho spectators,
"Iou know me-" | cried "you re-
turn my loye--oh! merciIul father
what happiness"
She looked ut me timidIy.
" Yes, knew YOU" she replied
softly. 81 have seen you watching
my widow somo nights. | wanted
to warn you against the Prince, but
never had Il chance. | knew your
life was in danger" and she
broke down again.
The next morning found mo an
carly visitor Mt the Pala2zH Goldonn,
for, as tho reader may suppose, |
did not leave Rome by tho midnight
train. My mistress met me, all
smiles and bushes.
" In love with Prince Borgja," she
cried Indignantly, when | confessed
my jealousy. 81 am too thoroughly
uu American ever to have married
any foreigner, least of all Prince
Borgia. For weeks have done every
thing short Of rudeness to get rid Of
him. His mother, before he came
to Rome, was very kind to me, and
] could not, for her sake, treat him
as | otherwise should. Ever since
that day on the Campagna, or rath-
or the day after, when | saw his
manner toward you, have dreaded
some such attempt as this, for |
know his jealous, yindiciye nature.
1T was just that anxiety | m!sn-
tcrproted,' | cried, 1t made me sure
that YOU loved him. | thought it
was for him YOU were anxious
She laughed lightly, "You ought
to have II better opinion Of yourself,
she added suddenly starting from
my side 81 do believe it WAS | that
proposed, after all. Fio ON you!"
"Flint heart never won fair lady,
sir"
But | drew her again to me, and
kissed her, and she nestled on my
! bosom, blushiuG and happy, and for
give me- At last she glanced up,
shyly.
"But | have a confession to make,
she said. You won't be angry ?'
Certainly not, How could | ?'
"Promisc."
al promise"
~ is something you ought to
! know before | become your wife.
pcrhlps-pcrhaps perhaps - per-
laps it may mako you change your
mind.
She hid her face in my bosom
again.
" Nothing can make mo change
my mind.
Not if ! tell YOU and she spoke
in q voice 50 low that | could hardly
hear her, "that | was in loyc--be.
ipre -
| started. Her hesitation, her
whole manner sent sudden chill
through me. Was it but the ashes
of heart, then, that | had won :
You promised" she said hur-
rirdly, "not to be angry. And it
may make a difference if | tell you it
was a long time ago.
"AhH i cried, forcing II smile,
but no words can describe the tor
ture
But-but-" she resumed, 81
kept on loving him, Nay. don't
start-forgive me. 1t was sort OF
youthful dream, you SEQ. lo was
my ideal of everything great and no.
blo-my Bayard, my Sidney, my Sil
Lancelot."
| WINGED more and more, What
was the rack to this ?
"But, darIing," (,hc had never
stopped, but went on, hurrcdIy)
at is YOU | love now--rcmcmbcl
that, OnIy | must tell you all
| worahippcd my youthful fancy ill
till the day on the Campagua
And now have something to re
turn to him-not exactly Il love
token, but what | have kept as ;
mOmCntO-
"And you wish me to write hin
and send this-this momento :"
interrupted curtIy, and quite with
drawing from Ecr. | camo very
near saying "novcr. "
"ll you please, she answered de-
murcly, rising and courtcsying. As
she spoke She drew from her peck
ct Il small faded bit Of paper, that
had apparently been torn from Il
memorandum book, and Il thin,
worn, gold pencil case
For an instant | was dumb with
amazemcnt. 1 looked at the pencil
case, and then at the merry face,
which was now ripping all over
with fun. Like flash every thing
came back to me ; the wild, wooded
hills; the stone farmhouse; the
lush grasses; the watcr-cresSes;
saw the shy, bashiul child, with he
milk-pitcher. | recognized the fac
500, ut last, in the one before me
GLOW could | fail to recognize
bcrorcy" | said to myself, angrily
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