Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-04-18
A MANS FAITH.

-
ing in her own northern wildwood
when first [ saw her in the shy beaut
of her seyenteen-summery youth.
My friend and had decided on +,
manning few weeks at Clovernool
where the fishing was excellent, an
the river breeze especially refreshin
after the heat and dust of New Yorl
but remember your promise, Hal,
said l, rs we entered Mrs. Gray
pretty home.
even unto the end!" he laughingl
replied, and settled himself to smok
on the lounge in the pleasant sout
bedroom. Mrs. Gray was an old frien
of my mother, and had removed t
ClOvernook in Annie's infancy, when
as widow and scarcely twenty, she me
sorrow and reverses with noble hero
ism. She was devoted to this onl,
child, whom she had carefully edu
Gated, and Annie-but / will no
anticipate
81 fear that we shall find countr,
hfe lntolerably stupid, Frank" Hunt
lngton said to me, the second morning
OF our visit; " the fish won't bite. thu
rain will persist in making everything
dlsagreeable without and uninterest
ing within, while I feel bored to des
peration which you certainly fail te
appreciate.
! He twisted his handsome mouth into
/ Il decided yawn, and watched the
NODDED Clouds which, as friars.
would certainly have wea1ied OF tell,
ing SO many beads, even though they
had been dying saints.
| "Come down into the parlor Harry
ventured to suggest
"What ! and talk nonsense To n
crude girl! Thank you. / prefer my
| cigar"
Then he puff;ed at his fragrant Ha-
bana, and l left him. Mrs. Grey was
III the parlOr, and welcomed me with
quiet, lady-hke grace, we found many
mutual friends to speak of, while An
ME sat by the small centre table, read
ing.
know not whether it was the effect
OF the light, or if the simple charm of
her presence spelled me, but this I do
know, that though [ conversed with
the mother, saw only, thought only
OF the girl before me. Light waving
chestnut hair was combed away from
the broad, low brow, aud sober gray
eyes looked down upon a volume of
quaint old English ballads. Her white
dress teli m folds of gosamer around
her slight figure, and the spray Of ar
butus, dropping from the small throat
seemed part OF her individuality.
At length l became painfully consci-
ous OF on-inapprcciation [
should say, ot Mrs. Grey's kindly cf.
fort5., and abruptly turning. said,
- think ! !
apology, Tor my awkward entrance
yesterday sceipe,l unfortunately dis
turbing"
Tlen she, Annie Gray, glanced up
from the yellow page, and the color
rose IN her falrfacewhen she explained
that she was only practising. SO [
asked that the practising might be re-
peated. and moved to open the piano.
She did not decline, nor await the
stereotyped Pressing which the fash
1onable Girs of the period requires,
but, assonting with unaffected grace,
she ran her fingers lightly over the
keys, and she. shy girl, was ct once
transformed. 1t was Il weird German
symphony we listened 10, and with
passionate strength she rendered the
gloomy depth Of the opening theme
Then she wandered away, and recog-
nlzed the exquisite wall of Goldmark' s
''Sacuntala. Entirely absorbed with
the music, her face Was animated with
its inspiration, and at that moment
Harry entered
s'I can only thank you sufficiently Miss
Gray, by wishing yon the after hap
piness of ''Ssaotsntafa."
cit Is a Wild Hindoo legend" she
replied. land though full OF sorrow. I
claim 1t as one OF my favorites."
Was 1t Just punishment for mock
ing her priest ?" and Harry Huntington
gazed earnestly upon hsr with his
blue, dangerous eyes.
81 hardly know, she hesitated, and
then, with rare impulse, spoke almost
rapiIlX, 81 would rather die than lose
those whom L love"
''But she tried his faith and recov-
cred him." Col. Huntington's voice
was motulated - the deep, tender
grave key, 50 irresistible to girl or wo-
man. Even [ could not be insensible
to the strange magnetism of this man.
and a chill made me shudder, when I
saw him draw chair near The open
piano.
Well, 10 l,or think that lie proved
faithfa&i ta either Isaac Walton or
. cigars, but grew quite satisfied with
the oldfashjoned little village indeed,
he informed me that he would wait
my arrival. though he knew that
would be detained two weeks in New
York.
Bat three weeks found me still in
the city, and then l returned to Clo-
vernook. bearing with me II letter to
Col. Huntington, with the Paris post
mark. 1t was twilight when [ walked
up the pretty aveM..e that led to the
cottage, and there, by the stone steps
that led t.. the broad piazza. ! found
him aist1ng beside Annie Gray.
| There is letter, Harry, which !
think will decide your plans, foT the
Alcott's return by the next steamer. ''
4 frown tlarkened his handsome face
and he thrust t, ieBber into his pocket,
without eyaz, breaking the seal Then
| 7 lei. then, and went in to talk with
| Nfrs. Grey. The moon rose, silverine
| the river wavelets, tho summer stars
looked softly down. and the young CIR
| drank in the lnusic- OF old. old story
which her plIrer nature accepted a:
auth
Harry Huntiprtoa, WAS unusuall,
! grave when t.o entered our room tha
night, AJAX lighting his cigar, smoked
fc,3 inngtime without utteringa IL word
AZ hast heard him call me,
- | am sorely troubled, Frank, ane
| wish von to help me.
DO You recall vuetr promise
Harry ::
And ,s - 7ts9 III reference to tina
prnin;sa Ii.at / would now speak ] di
.,Ionljaa not 10 dirt. and [ did not eve
mean to be Interested. Indeed, If
had found one Shadow of guile, l coul
have closed my heart most resolutelJ
. but she is as pure as an angel. Ns'
know thai l have never cared sof Nat
elaine Alcott, and-I love Aer =
''Does she knew III .
, Il h>,v., -, er told her OF my engag
2 ment i.I&t could not help it, Franz
: ald so she Knows how much | care i
, her"
, "Then break your engagement al
/ I -y1-1n Of n