The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1873-05-30

clean apron, when we heafu the
sound of wheels on the lawn and
fastened out just as John drove up
to the piazza steps, and assisted .
lady to alight It was Muriel Strath
borne, but so changed | scarcely re
cognized her She was merely q
Girl wheu saw her last. she was 1
4 woman now Scarcely have ever
beheld more queenly one Ger
tainly not strictly beautiful but viii
certain commanding air about her
pair of midnight black eyes thai
seemed unfathomable; face as colo
and impassively cut as that OF
statue heavy MSS OF raven han
wound in graceful coils around a
well shaped, haughtily poised head
"a woman who could win mems
hearts by the score, and then cast
them from her as so many play
things, but a woman, who once hav-
ing loved could love with mighty,
undying passion, yea, even on to the
very death
If | had not liked her much at
first, disliked her still more now.
Why, | could not have told. Some
thing, wondered what, had chang-
ed her greatly since our last meeting
not only in form and features, but in
character also. In her girlhood she
had been wild and rafting, now she
was cold and reserved in manner,
and no smile ever seemed to curl
her lips. We treated her in a quiei
unassuming way, and she seemed to
desire nothing more.
She had been with us scarcely a
week when | began to notice a
change in John : a change that sent
great chill of fear and uneasiness
through me, while something in
mothers looks showed that she too.
observed it. His farm work was
almost wholly neglected nearly ali
the day being spent at home, while
his books, 10 which he had usually
devoted so many hours, we're now
thrown aside, and all for the compa
ny of Muriel Strathborne as we
knew. Indeed he was fast becom-
ing her very shadow. Night after
night when we were all gathered in
the sitting room, thinking himself
unobserved, he would sit and gaze al
her for hours at time. We knew
now what the change meant. This
passive, icily cold woman with hen
raven hair and mid night eyes, hac
won the great, true, loving heart tina
/ heretofore seemed solely ours.
And yet she never appeared con-
scious of it. She accepted his at
tentions as if they were her right
| could not understand her, try as
hard as might. Her actions per.
picked me. Though outwardly cold
to chiliness, yet sometimes ! caught
glimpses of her inward soul, which
made me tremble for the passion
and voIcano-like fires | saw slum-
bering there. Once | had seen her
gaze for few moments AT Johns
averted face with look could not
fathom. The great midnight black
eyes if possible seemed to grow
darker than ever, the haughtily
curved lips contracted, as if with
sudden pain while a weary, half
drawn sigh escaped them, which
only my quick, ever ready ear de
tected. What could it mean 7
One night, suffering with Sc
we're headache, | had retired carly,
leaving mother and John to entertain
Muriel. The night was a clear, star
lit one of late summer not breeze
stirring. The heat was oppressive
| could not sleep. Throwing light
wrapper over my night dress !
stole softly down the stairs, and out
into the garden towards small
summer house John had recently
built there.
A light still burned in the sitting
room, and through the open window
| could see the group sitting there
| reached the retreat, and throwing
myself on one of the seats soon fell
into drowsy slumber.
How long slept | do not know.
| was suddenly aroused by voices
near me. Instantly recognized
them 90 Johns and Muriel STRAIT
borne's although | could not see the
speakers, uho were outside on the
other side Of the summer house. i
did not move. | lay there and lis
tened as ! thought it my right to do,
''Muriel, my darling" John said
and | trembled at the weight Of pas
sion there was 10 the voice, E'you
must know how much love you
You must have seen how daily you
were growing dearer and dearer To
me, until nav you seem part Of
my very life. Oh Muriel, speak
to me ! Tell me | have not dared
hope in vainp
There was few moments Of 81
lencc. A sound broke upon my ca
as if Of woman weeping Ther
Muriel's voice spoke, and what
world Of utter hopelessness and des
pair there was 10 it
nOhl John John! what bav'
you done 2 You do not know how
impossible this is to bep
"Then you do not love me, Muri-
ELI"
SONY God and know bo"
aag