Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-03-21

LILY AND ROSE.

navor than that of duty and work. he
had come out from town in the late train,
as usual, and was now walking quickly.
in the cold. fresh air of the early spring
evening, toward the gray. old country
house in the midst of its embosoming elms
and willows. His mother met him, as she
always did, at the door, that she might
the sooner give him her welcoming kiss,
and admire anew his slender height, and
the manly strength of his young face. As
the woman turned and drew him into the
hall, the lampight fell full on her face.
1t was quiet, subdued, pale and somewhat
worn, but with patience and hope, un-
conquerable by any circumstances. shin
ing out of her steady dark eye, and a
serenity of faith about her lips that made
her mouth lovely. --...s s.e
They We're everything to each other.
many that John scarcely remembered him,
his father had died. He was clergyman
in country town, gentle, conscientious,
oyerworked, and poorly paid, and go no
wonder if he soon became too weary to
fight the battle of life, and rested in his
youth from all struggle forever more.
His wife was stronger. She came to live
in this peaceful old house that had been her
fathers, and was indeed her sole inheri-
tance, and sewed, taught, raised and sold
fiowers, anything to win bread for herself
ana child. She never faltered, her cour-
age and perseverance were wonderful.
Now her son, with fiial gratitude, took
upon himself the burden of their maintain
ance, and let her rest little. He had
clerkship with a Boston firm; it did not
yield too abundant income, but it sup
ported them in modest comfort, and it was
not their way to complain. He had found
time for culture and means to indulge in
some elegant tastes. The sitting-room in
to which he followed his mother had some
really valuable pictures on the walls.
There was piano, with flowers, books,
and the little graceful appointments that
make room seem like home. There was
a small table at the back Of the room
spread for tea with the whitest linen, the
daintiest china, and delicate viands to
tempt the appetite. The mother poured
tea. aud helped her son with quiet solici.
tude and subdued pleasure pretty to see.
John Norman's face, after the first
brightness of pleasure at returning home
had left it, was rather thin and pale for
one so young. He looked tired and hard
worked. His mouth was thin-lipped, and
rather stern, his hair close-cut, the fore.
head high and white-in short he looked
like any trim, respectable clerk When
he raised his eyes, however. large, dark,
beautiful, full Of poetry and imagina-
ton, passionate heart, that found no
other expression, seemed revealed.
You are tired. John ?" said his moth
er.
Not more than usual, mother; make
4 long day, you know. A little will rest
me by-and-by." said he, cheerfnlly.
"Dd you notice as you came along,
that the Ashley house was open?n ~a
Nor he said, laughing. II always
hurry home as quickly as possible. with
no thought but OF you and SUPPER
''The family are coming to live here
for time. Mr.. Ashley. and one .daugh-
ter. beauty and belle, have been
told, are all that are now left. You must
call on them with me, John, we are such
near neighbors, and Mr.. Ashley has been
kind to MS in various ways, you know"
IL should think, mother mine" said
John, lightly, THAT man of wealth and
position, and Il lady, who is q beauty and
belle, were rather out OF our way, but if
you wish me to help you thank Mr.. Ash
ley for any ser vice he has done us, will
do SO with pleasure"
furnishing of the old Ashley house was
completed, and Mr.. Ashley came with
his daughter He was not well, he said, he
was tired and needed rest. Where could
he find it better than in the home OF his
boyhood? To his daughter it would be q
totally new experience, this spring in the
country.
Helen Ashley was twenty, but thought
herself a mature woman, who had weigh
ed in the balance and found wanting most
of the things of this world. She was very
beautiful, in certain statuesque way-a
Grecian profile, an almost transparent pal
lor of complexion, large clear gray eyes,
and an abundance of bright golden hair,
drawn severely back from her temples.
and wound in coils about her head. Her
mind, cultured and refined, lit her clear
cut face like lamp, but it was as if
statue were about to speak.
She received Mrs. Norman and her SOU
with an easy grace, and finding refined
woman, and well-bred, intelligent Young
man. was disposed to like them and at
once to feel pleasure that they were TO be
near neighbors. Neither her father nor
herself had any vulgar pride of wealth,
and forgot, or easily ignored the want Of
ii in their guest. s-,,,a4
Quite little intimacy sprang up be-
tween the families. Miss Ashley was one
of those wise natures that extract all the
sweetness possible from the present. that
take the gifts the gods send. without look
ing too far into the future. With perfect
health, sweet temper, youth and beauty.
this was not difficult. Every new aspect
of nature, every new person with whom
she became acquainted interested her like
new book. She was singularly free
from selfconsciousness, and conversed in
graceful. unaffected way that always
charmed her listeners. .,r
To John Norman this beautiful girl was
like revelation. 1t was only polite. he
thought, as her father was i'll, for him tc
take her to walk and to drive, that shs
might see and enjoy the waking beauty o
the little country town, that was 20 Lowell,
in summer. When Miss Ashley came tn,
elm and the maple-that tree which keep
the warmth of its passionate heart through
the long sleep of winter. and bursts int
scarlet flower on the first return 9th
tCoETNUED ON IoURru PA0H.1k