Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1874-01-31

tenderer ally-why, that was sincere
too. When 4 saw 1t, it only made me
smile or sigh. We women ought not to
be hard upon one another.
1t was noon before she came. I took
on her bonnet and her wet shoes; she
had very dainty little feet. made her
put them on my lap to warm them,
which she long resisted, but finally re-
ceived the perhaps unwonted fondling
with blushing, beaming smile, and
sat chatting merrily until some sound in
the house made her start and slip into a
formal attitude.
You need not move. Alwyn is away.
He was obliged to go out on business
for the whole day. He hopes you will
excuse him.
'Oh, yes
sHe left this book as a New Years |
gift. He would have liked to have
given it to you himself. but thought l
| should do it as WELL
'Oh, yes
HE hopes you will read 1t sometimes,
| and not forget what good friends you
| and he have been all this old year.
oh, no.
Her fingers could not unite the
string; she was trembling.
| Suppose, my dear, we put the parcel
| by till you go home
| She obeyed. not unwillinglr; but
many, many times saw her innocent
eyes turn, with glad light in them, to
| the shelf where it lay. Somehow l
wished he had not given it to her. But
it was his habit. Half the poetry books
in the neighborhood owed their distri-
button to Mr.. Alwyn Reid. However,
| Marjory did not know this.
| We spent quiet morning. She
looked SO happy that could not tell her
| anything. l wished Alwyn had not
chosen me to communicate the nnpleaS-
ant fact of his departure for Germany
too unpleasant for him to do it himself.
Yet, perhaps, considering all things, it
was best | was a woman. and-once-
| l had been young.
The early cleaning came; and all the
winter Marjory was forbidden to be out
after dusk. 1 wrapped her delicate
chest we'll, and myself put on her little
shoes. The executi0ner like feeling was
upon me stronger than ever. l post
Iponed my melancholy duty till the last
minute, when-a poor substitute foi AL
wyu-I slipped her arm under mine,
and saw her home.
| 1t was along a field-path; on every
side, in smooth white waves, the deep
snow lay. There was little bridged
brook we had to cross, where she stood
ard looked down.
How merrily the water gurgles on
between the two shelves of ice! This
stream never wholly freezes, your
brother told me. He talked SO beauti-
fully about it. one day lately"
did hep
Il wanted him to write a poem on the
subject, and he said he would. He
promised me faithfully to finish his
book, and come over and read it to us
regularly every evening this spring.
4 !, hi nj
She looked up quickly, very tenderly,
in my face. 'Is anything amiss with
you, Miss Reide'
'Amiss, my dcar?' [ was putting her
of, when something whispered me that
now was the best-the onlv time to do
what had promised. And it must be
done. Yes, l fear / am rather dreary.
Is it about She stopped. coloring
intensely.
about my school falling Off Well,
partly partly about-about Alwyn. He
is too clever fellow to rust here in a
country village. wish he were away.
She started. then reassumed her usu-
al monosyllabie answer, ooh, yes.'
4 think-ir is possible-nay, very
pro5able-that he will go away
No answer. She was leaning on the
rail of the bridge, She held it very
firm and tight.
felt must be firm, too. No palter-
ing, for present pity or fear OF present
the truth. No unsteady holding Of the
kuife-its stroke must be sharp, swift
and keen. 1t was safest so.
He has no ties here-none he says.
He wishes to go out into the world, and
make his way there for himself.
think any friend of Alwyn's must be
glad that he should go. His sister is,
though it will cost her much-much.'
The little hand made slight motion
toward mine. but stopped half way.
She said, In a low, carefully guarded
tone.
'It is very hard for you. Will he be
absent loug?'
sIndefnitely. He is gone to-day to
complete his plans. He thinks Of pro-
ceeding at once to Germany
oh, to Germany! 1t is IA fine
country, Germany. Shall we walk on,
Miss Reid?'
'If you please, my DEAR
She did not take my arm, but MOVED
on alone, with slow bat unfaltering
step,
/ was very thankful the disclosure
was so we'll over. 1 would not trust
myself to any more speech on the sub
lject, but went on pointing out the red
frosty sky, the white tracery OF the
trees, and everything that could make 8
conversation.
She answered-just answered, and ne
more.
Take care, Miss Blair; the road is all
iice-you will fall
sShall I?'
i IsI sm me sc aelP ae15 yo"' Y0" shiver.'
| With one slight moan, she slipped
from my hold and dropped into snow
drift in the ditch bank, as white as the
snow that buried her.
| l carried her in my arms across the
field home. She came to herself just al
we reached the farm gate, and insisted
upon walking.
Don't tell anybody. 1t was only the
cold.'
And then she lost consciousness
again. Hours passed before she spok.
another word.
| The doctor said 1t was the shock o.
the tall in the snow acting upon hel
| nervous system, sensitive In the highes
degree. She must be kept very quie
indie ed, or he would not answer for tn,
consequences.
went home to Alwyn with heavy
conscience. felt as if between us tive
were conspiring the death of that poo
child. Even I-how wrong it was o
me to let her come, to let him 60 to anC
fro, when might, perhaps, have fount
excuses to keep them asunderi Or VIII,
did not give some hints-surely it wa
in the power of a woman and sister 81
to do--to save her, poor innocent, from
building her love palace upon such shift
ing sands? For such, alas felt sur
they were.
Still, thought would sound Alwyn
>, He was so full of his German plans tina
it was not till tea was over that h.
Thought Of asking about Miss Blair.
Did she like her present?'
VERY much, believe
'Did you tell her OF my going away
How did she receive the news?'
Very quietly
He looked rather disappointed. All
poor human nature. Alwyn loved SO t
~ have people liking hin-harinlessly lik
= ~ ing him, as he liked them-especiall
o. women. He had very few male Friends
ie But surely she said something-som
&c little hint of regret. What passed bt
ut tween yOu2 Tell mo word for word