Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-06-14
AELEEN'S LOVE.
By FRANCIS HENsHAw BADEN.

r. Ralph Livingston was one of toltune's
most favored children; young, in good
health, handsome, and Veiy rich. r.
Ralph was the only child of a widowed
mother, and the last representative Cf al
old and proud race. He was universal
favorite. af 7u .a
Mrs. Livingston knew the time was com.
ing when her son would marry, and so sLe
thought to anticipate his choice by sci ct.
ing wife for him; fearing his heart might
settle on one not agreeable to her. She
felt jealous Of every pretty girl in town
and feared them-Save one right at home
But then Aileen was not beautiful. and, OF
course, she had no idea of the GIRL who
was friendless, a dependent on her bounty
as one to connect, even i'll thought, viii
her son.
No, Aileen, poor child. was not to be
feared. She waited on Ralph read to him
learned difficult songs, that lac mighteasily
catch the air, and sing them to other girls
listened to his euloges on the beauty
grace and sweetness of Lilly, Rose, or Y 10.
| let, which ever he Glanced To be the best
| pleased with at the time. 8sa1l aF
Before Aileen knew Ralph'S nature sc
Well, she would steal away to her room
and weep as if her little heart would break
| why, she would never aclIno wledge even
to herself-when he would talk TO her OF
the girl he admired SO much. But after q
time Aileen could listen and smile, for she
felt his heart knew not the mighty power
| Ada Whiting, the daughter of her dear
est friend, was the choice pt Mrs. ] living
ston, and SO she SCI herself about TO have il
as she wished. Fortune favored her lust
| then. Mrs. WhjtingS heath being very
feeble, her physicians advised winter
South. Ada was much avcrSe to going
and so it was an easy task for Mrs. Living
ston to persuade Mr.. and Mrs. Whiting t.
leave their daughter to her love and care
And so the beautiful Ada became one OF
Mrs. LivingStOn's family.
Ada was beautiful, truly perfect in form
and features, with Il shower f golden
ringlets a complexion fair, and as deli
cately tinted as The pearly sea she'll; eyes
as blue as the summer sky-and langIish-
ing eyes, that ever elOWcd with the same
soft, sweet light.
Never were two women more diSsimilal
than Ada Whiting and Aiioen Wild. And
when Mrs. Livingston saw them standing
together, she thought how much Ada'S
| beauty was enhanced by the contrast; fo1
Aileen was a pale, sallowlittle thing, whom
no one had ever thought pretty, and beside
the fair beauty that Mrs. Livingston had
determined should be her daughter, the
poor protege appeared very plain looking.
But Aileen had eyes that would have
won for any woman that had a little tact
and with the aid of art, the reputation OF
a beauty-eyes so large and dark, with d
world OF love and passion glowing away
down in their depths. .
Mrs. Livingston was well satisfied with
the prosret of affairs. She had but little
doubt of the final success of her plan.
There was one thing, however, that Mrs
Livingston did not like, and felt the neces-
sty of warning Ralph against it. 1t was
this, that when he would intend to read fOr
the entertainment of Ada and his mother,
he would invariably ask, ''N here is
Aileen?" and wait until She Was sent tor
and came.
"Why do you do so, Ralph? >" Mrs.
Livingstone asked. '' Ada will think YOU
rather more attentive to Aileen than is
necessary, under the circumstances. In
fact, il locks as if you read more particu-
Iarly foT Aileen's benefit. And last night
l noticed and SO must Ada, that yoll COM
menced your reading with only one audi
tor, and that neither your mother nOr hen
guest"
" Did ? Wei, mother, really [ was
very remiss; but. Well, the truth is
Aileen not only appreciates the subject, but
shows it. Ada alters all sentiments, 40
matter how varied, with the same sweet
expression Of eye and tongue. Why,
mother, the most glowing descriptions, pas
siOnate and pathetic appeals that ever
flowed from inspired poets brain, fail 10
draw forth from her an exclamation other
than, "It's pretty, is it not:' while Aliens
dark face lights up, her glorious eyes
sparkle and glow wlLh inspiration caught
from the poem, and she expresses her ap-
probation in words that " Oud satisfy tie
ambition OF the most eXactin9 author
That is why love to read TO her. She ab-
solutely throws offthe little plain face and
grows really beautiful at such times an
swered Ralph, while his mother gazed, re-
ally amazed at his WORDS and manner. At
length, after moments pause, she said
One who did not understand you,
Ralph, would be IN doubt which Of the two
You were IN love with. Let me advise YOU
my son, to be careful. Ailaen might be
foolish enough to misinteIpret your feel
ings and actions, and Ada might withdraw
her favor
Ralph was about to answer, when a sigh,
rustic of dress caught his car, and start
ing up, he said
Do not worry mother, III do what is
right
He walked out of the conservatory and
looked around, but no one was visible
His mother had started a train Of thought
that had never been touched before, and
he wandered off from the house, aud threw
himself down or a shady mound TO com
mune with his CTn heart. t.
Yes, he must know LilAseit..z Did he
love Ada? And Aileen what Of her .
Never for a moment had he thought other,
except as she was his friend, his cOnlidant,
she would not misunderstood his kindness.
His mothers counsel was needless. Ada
loved him, he felt sure and although lie
had never told her so, he had certainly
given her reason to believe he loved her,
Yes, he must do what was liglt-WlIat
Ada, his mother, and the world expected.
Absorbed in thought, he continued.
With. this determination he sought Ada,
told his love, and won her promise to be
his. He believed himself happy, bnt one
thing marring his pleasure. Could she love
as another might? What if poverty, or
danger of any kind threatened, would she
brave all for him?
All! the trial came soon enough. Il
dreaded disease came upon him. Servants
fed; friends came not; and when he called
for Ada to come and cool his fevcred brow,
the good doctor tried to sOothe him, and
hide the shameful truth. She too had fled
the first.
Oh, how he suffered! No gentle hand
to soothe, no loving voice to whisper words
of comfort! Dying alone. and then his
heart knew but one wish Of caIth-to see
Aieen. Yet he breathed it not. She must
not come near to him to breathe the fatal
air. Lying thinking of her lac felt soft
little hand pressed gently on lis brow. She
was with him, kneeling by Lis side. "a.
"Aileen! Aileen! darling, away away ~
he cried. "Do you know Ills death here ~
''No, Ralph. IT'S life 10 be with you,'
she answered, pressing her lips to his aid
inhaling his death-bearing breath.