Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-04-05


oh when is the wedding-day to be :" she
sang, and Josephine, radiant and blush
Ing, answered, turning 10 me, 81 am so .
auntle. Hamilton says must |
be ready in October. He is coming for |
me thea, aud papa and mamma will walt |
in Naples for US p and she eolored at the |
words. Fanny hugged and cried over
her as though she was to go the next |
day, aud called Hamilton "wicked," and |
Tom and the boys gave three cheers for
the "bride elect" felt something like
tears in my throat, for | could not speak
for moment then putting my arms
round her, said, "God bless you, my
child -
[ heard the vines pushed hurTiedy
aside, and Wayne stepped in among Us.
He was pale as death. Coming straight
10 Josephine, he said IN an unnatural
tone-it sounded away, far oil, like one
In dream -"Do you love him Josey p
She looked up amazed, but seeing the
earnestnees in his face, answered him as
earnesty-and she looked like an angel
-"Wlth my whole heart, Wayne"
"Amen % he said, ringing out the word
rs though pFonouncing u benedlclion,
and walked away.
Fanny and the boys and Josephine all
looked pained; then | heard Tom say,
''Over to the pavilion" In Wayne's UNI
steady voice, aud / saw they believed him
what he often had been. Only knew
his secret, and rejolced in my ncart then
thnt only a few more weeks would my
boy be tortured by the sound Of the "Uae
voice he lovedn and could new possess,
ana | made up my mind that, hard as it
would br. | still would hurry the prepar-
ations for Josrphine's departure. knew
she never suspected the secret, aud it
should be kept from her for ever If
possible.
The days following were busy ones.
From morn till eve the rattle Of the sew
/ ing machine kept time to mtrry voires as
| they laughed and sang "marrage bells"
and "bridal choruses," and all were
save Wayne and me happy enough over
| the making OF Jo-ephme's hurried trous
seau. As the coming winter had, before
this peremptory summons came, been
settled upon "a the time to give up our
pirl. We had necessarily to ''stitch, stitch,
stitch" in order to be ready so much
,arlier. Wayne seldom came into the
room where we were so busily sewing,
but sometimes he would wheel the lounge
mn TO the window aud lie smoking lazly
without, watching our uinhle fingers.
One day he said suddenly, 'Josey, is
this all YOUR aim in life - and she an
swertd, laughing, 81 I'LL purpose, don't
In Will not mine be higher liie,' that
of an honored wife p
lie turned away, and heard him NUT
ter something from "Locksley Hail." q
poem he was fond of quotlng-"I had
loved thee more than wife was ever
loved" But Josephine and Fanny, who
were whispering and laughing together
over the matronly title, did not heal
him.
And so the long summer days went on
and longed for October and Hamilton
TO come. As the time drew near fol
, Hamilton's return, watched Wayn'
closely. lie grew more restless, and slep
little. Half the time | would find his BET
untouched, aud i could hear him on TN
piazza under my window, pacing llk
, some wild animal all night. At last thl
, steamer was expected in, and Josephine
, all neryonsly anxious to hear of IL, tele
rraphed below, for we were all TO 20 dow
to the city to meet Hamilton upon hi
D.. arrival.
. When the telegram came telling u
= that the Russia would be in the next day
: WAYNE brought ii to her saying, "Rea
+ The death-warraut. " Oh Wayne =
4 she exclaimed, turning pale, but h
Q laughed, and said, 81 didn't say your
b Joey"
{ The next morning dawned bright an
i beautiful. A soft mist hung over IN
II river, aud clingiug to the trees and iainl
}, ly outlined ba lks, II made them seei
shadowy ghosts which had forgotten
It vanish with the night. We were a
1t down to an early breakfast. Wayr
came In last in his hunting-dress, his gu
l. slunp over his shoulder. Tom whistle
II an air from Fra DiavOla," and WayI
z seowled, and explained, "You'll all
il gone, SO I'll off for days sport in Il
3, woods. I'll aim high, Josey, aud may
ID bring you home feather Tor your car
VIII you piize il among all your giitte
IN ing gewgaws -
* T'More than all if you accomplish yo
Ig purpose, Wayne" she said, with an e
preston he understood.
Iy lie looked SO pallid that came to hit
Al and said IN a low tone, Il don't belle
YOU are well enough TO 20 on such
I'd tramp, Wayne. You had better stay
I'd home and meet us Tonight az the cars
en- "Pshaw, aun lie % he said, irritabl
Ii, "who ever heard of me being slcki !
en- things by wholes. III live or die
IA ! khllMNN nAAAAgA AtA NV N'l
Il, ne laughed a nervous, short laugh.
OH We all hurried through breakfast
order to be IN time for the early train,
lat we were to 20 down with brother IA
he the boys that morning.
ily As Josephine left the table, Wayne T
nus lowed her to the hall, and pansing at
NY paror door, said, "Come, Jo-ey, pl
'my piecg' once more. won't e.
ID. have you again so.n
he s And why not I" she asked, siopp
,us and looking half angry. Hamilton
at not a selfish lover. He is perfect, an
i've won't low even au inference to
be aWeil," he sighed, "won't you
ds, what ask you this last time -
the Then she went in, and pulled of
gloves, half impetuou-ly ia her haste
ed, be'gope. and the soft morning light
de, on her fair girlish figure as she sat tn
Ter, and played the exquisite "a'legro."
her WAYNE stood over her, leaning on
ing gun, still as some carved statue. III
ade as the strain died away, he sighed,
ise, said in a low tone, us if to himself,
of is a requiem Like my life, 1t is in
lied minor key, and ended" Then bend
and down, he locked into her eyes, say
ing "Kiss me good bye, Josey." -,.,
nny But she turned away, excaim
el's "Why, Wayne, I'm not going away
inc. ever !" Then wheeling around agal'
the the stool, "Here, then; goodbye T.
.iful putting up her pure lips, she kissed
far "a soft, tender, cliHging kiss, ilk
lost baby's-and he was gouc.
and We saw him from the car win
siug trumping over tue meadows, his
,wn. over his shoulder, his handsome
.er's figure a pleasant picture on the br
lher background OF blue sky, cleaning
I in and dark wood.
dow The steamer cane in on time, but
for before she landed her passengers, d
the phine discovered Hamiton's bronze b
z so and dark eyes over the vessels side,
lose te .egra phed her welcome to him. v
onth at last he came down the plank, she
Into his arms Ike bird to its nest, Q
le, a was glad Wayne did not come.
le he We dined at the hotel In town, and
.oing out home In the early evening I
aths. Wayue was not at the cars TO met
/ vet and felt an indefnab.e pain VIII
But could not discover him among the CT
the The servants said he had not been
Il he since breakfast, SO we waited tei
ssthe him. and still he did not come. ty
gait anxious dread of something-l kne'
d his what all the long evening, and tri
IN he laugh off my superstitious fears
Since girls were happy enough singing
more plaviug, aud with merry laughter
b an hearsing the eel lemony," Tor JOSEF
itely, was 10 be married and sail the folle
prea- week. No ono missed my poor boy
cd TO When at last one Of the farm-l
time called me to the door, ! trembled "
tudy- nraronition Of something dreadful