Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-06-07

tive warned me that we were ap- |
the station where l was |
to ahght. The brakes grated harsh
ly against the wheels, the speed of /
the train slackened, and we present
ly sid up to the landing that was |
three miles from home. The stark, |
brown trees by the road seemed like |
old friends.
"Glad to see you, Mr.. Charles"
SAID orbes, our coachman, coming |
roFf ard with glad smile. Drought |
the carriage down. Your father |
would have come along. only he |
spralned his ancle yesterday while |
out doors with Mr.. Stephen"
y on don't say he Is in the house:"
"Oh! bless you, sir, he's been
there more than a week, and don't |
think he's likely TO leave soOn," and
the man smiled meaningly.
hat makes you think so,
Forbes?" l asked.
ell, sir, you see he's dead set
after Miss Grace; but l don't Won
der at that; who wouldn't be? You
have no idea, Mr.. Charles, what a
splendid young lady Miss Grace has
grown to be. She's so good, too.
The servants all say she is an angel.
She's been abroad, and was telling
me about place in the old country
where L was raised. She remem-
bers everything, sir"
"Ah" l thought, "if Stephen
Hawks viii keep up that game, he
can remain in welcome Then the
idea shot through my mind that my
father might have take his faithful
old coaehman into his confidence,
-aa y was part of the plot topreach-
up GrstcS u an JIsy
Stephen Hawks was ray. second
COUSIN, and about my own age. l
heartily detested him, though neY-
er could account for the aversion.
don't think he loved me any better
than / did him. We always quar-
relied as boys, and it seemed that we
never could get along amicably.
GLOW did the accident happen to
my father?" l inquired.
"Well, you see, sir" replied the
man, with a laugh, "Mr. Stephen
was out in the field with his uncle,
when he balteTed him to Jump a
fence, and You know your father has
the rheumatism, so it was not TO be
wondered at that when he made the
attempt he fell"
':Bantered my father to Jump
fence" :" l exclaimed in amazement.
"What on earth could my father
have been thinking about, at his
time of life2''
"You mustn't think it strange"
replied Forbes. "They are all in a
Jolly state at the house, sir. | can't
u.ay 10 ~
when there's been so much life there
as now. You ought to hear Miss
Grace's laugh ringing through the
halls. 1t does our hearts good, for
it seems as if old times were come
back again."
Our land skirted the roadside for
nearly three quarters of a mile, and
at the farther extremity of a cattle
field there was a large pond, which
in winter afforded excellent skating.
AT the present time it was frozen.
As we neared the spot, Forbes re-
marked: sThere's Mr.. Stephen now
on the pond with Miss Grace"
Iraised my head and looked in that
direction as he spoke. They had
not observed us, though we were
quite near. Stephen Hawks was
pushing her across the CLASSY sur
face on sled. could distinctly hear
their voices.
Gust then she Strengthened her
self in her seat, and a long purple
plume waved out in the sharp
breeze. The frozen surface on
which they were sporting was not
colder than my blood at that mo-
ment.
care you i'll, Mr.. Charles?" ex-
claimed Forbes, checking his horse
and gazing at me with an alarmed
stare.
"StOp stop!" cried. "I'll Jump
out here and speak to them. Coon,
I'll follow on foout."
Jumping out of the carriage /
sprang over the fence. My blood
was all fire now. Could it be posi-
BILE that my purple feather girl of
New \ 4Ork and Grace Brantley were
identical. There was a certain pose
of the head that made me think so.
AS l approached the pond the dry
twigs cracked under my feet, they
turned their heads.
"Why, it's Charley ~ l heard Ste
phen Hawks exclaim.
Grace stared at me curiOusly for
a moment as l ran toward her.
'Grace, Grace" l cried, sis it
really yourself; and all these long
months Pve been looking for yOu?"
Her surprise was equal to my
own.
Il never should have recognized
you, Charley" she said: chow
changed you are. 1t certainly was
not strange that we did not know
each other when we met on Broad
way. Charley Is it really YOURSELF"
she continued laughing.
"Yes, Grace, it's myself; but Wen
never make such 4 blunder again."
remarked as 1 drew her arm within
my own.
Then l recollected l had not spo-
ken 10 Stephen Hawks.
'How are you, Stephen" | said,
extending my hand.
| lie took the tips of my fingers,
| saying he was well. ''I'm not going
| to the house just yet," he cOntin-
ued, "I'll come along after you by
| and-by."
That was about the only thing l
| ever had occasion to thank Stepnen
Hawks for.
Before we reached home | had
/ told Grace my story of hunting a
| feather. She laughed mcrrily at nv
adventures, but kept turning her
face away to conceal her confusion.
for my manner was very ardent.
''There," l cried, snatching kiss
from her hand.
"And there" she retortcd. giving
me a box on the ear; ''yOu are the
most impudeut fellow l ever be-
held"
/ don't think Mr.. Brantley or my
father doubted my admiration for
my little Grace. My days were one
| delirium of delight - nv nights
were as my DAYS. | began TO think
this happiness could not be real. !
must be more calm, or | would 20
crazy for joy.
| Looking back to that period | can
remember nothing that cost me SC
much pain as TO allow a few davs tC
elapse before declaring my passion
TO Grace Brantley. Nothing but the
fear of refusal prevent my pre-.
maturely telling her the story of my
love. At a later moment when
did so, nv heart stood still Ia catch
/ her reply. u don't think a pulse
thrObbed in my frame, and the cold
sweat started to my brow. Had she
refused me, l know l should have
died there at her feet.
have been married ten years, ant
l love little Grace as wildly to-da,
as l did when she plucked the pur
pie feather from her hat, and plac
ing it my hand, said, take il and it
owner too"