Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1874-02-28

write TO you. because ne knew you
! loved him, and liked to hear about him.
His letters were himself-his best, ten
derest, noblest self. 1t was bright
day whenever the postman brought one
| to the door.
He told me a good deal about the peo-
pie who were staying at Ockhan1--very
pleasant company, as it seemed. Among
| the rest--of two lovely little girls, NAM
ed Rossiter, with whom he was greatly
| charmed. In his young mans time he
had been particularly fond of children.
These tiny playmates, of from four to
| six, were apparently great favorites of
| his.
| They had mamma who, he said,
| was an agreeable and lady-like wo-
| man.
In the three following letters, which
came on three several days when I had
vainly expected him, he having fixed to
return home, he did not mention the
Rossiters. His tone of mind seemed diff
ferent from what it had been in the ear
| ly part of his visit--restless, perplexed.
with slight touch of sadness.
L had begun to be uneasy, when sud-
denly, without giving me notice, he
came back. He had been absent full
month.
Though it was late, we sat down to
talk over the fire. He seemed i'm high
| spirits--very communicative about eve
| ry body and everything, with one eXcep-
| ton.
| sAlwyn, you have forgotten to tell
me anything about the Rossiters.''
He turned toward the fire. ooh, they
are very charming little girls
| And their mother, | suppose the same
adjective may apply to her?'
Certainly
Are they her only children?'
| sYes.'
SIS she middle-aged person?'
| About my age, or little younger
And who is Mr.. Rossiter?'
Really, did not tell you? Mrs.Ros-
| sitter is widow
An agreeable widow of thirty, with
| two Charming and lovable' little girls
If the subject had one that allowed lest
jesting,I might have taken this excellent
opportunity for little harmless joke at
his expense. AS it was, only laid my
hand upon his arm, and looked at him,
smiling. His color rose, thought.
what are you staring at me for, Char
lotte? p spoken all but angrily.
drew back, and sat gazing into the
fire for long time. Thoughts, many
and fast--possibilities which had long
believed sibilities--traversed my
brain. with dull, steady tramp, like a
| regiment going to battle. Finally they
fought the battle out--other and softer
thoughts took their place.
looked sideways at my brother. He
| was the last of our race. Youth, ener-
gy. hope, were still strong within him.
| Life is often begun at two and thirty
and man can not live for ever upon a
dream or memory, as a woman can.
Still the idea which had entered nv
| mind was painful. I was rather glad
| not to know tho whole truth at present.
Brother, it is growing late.'
'Stay-just ten minutes-I want to
| talk to you.'
We sat down. 1t struck me forcibly,
almost with chill of pain, how exactly
we were sitting as we sat one winter
night In my cottage, before he married
Marjory.
He dashed into the matter with a des-
perate plunge
Mrs. Rossiter is very agreeable wo-
| man,
$50 you said.'
You. would like her very much, Char
lotte. She wishes-in tact, wish-that
you should visit her.
Does she live in London?'
in the season; otherwise at her join
ture-house, Manor Place, in Shropshire.
Cuc HAS properly, CQen.
"A good deal.'
And you think shall like her. Do
you like her?'
very much indeed
'Alwyn, l am going to put you a
plain question; answer it or not, as you
WILL
60 on
You know what / think OF second
marriagesS at least for men; that they
| are natural, justifiable, often even advi-
sable. Inever should object to-I mean
regret-your making a worthy second
choice. VIII it be Mrs. Rossiter?'
Not yet; oh! Cherlotte, not yet.
Don't talk of my marrying, yet.' And
with one wild, mournful glance at the
| chair-we had never moved it-he drop
| ped his face between his hands.
Have you any hesitation of telling
me how the matters stand between you
the engagement
Good heavens! there is none. How
| could l form one without telling you
| Only she loves me, Charlotte-loves me.
| l found it out quite by chance
And you (the word love stuck in
| my throat), you return her feelings?'
Il admire her. have thought some-
times l could be happy with her, if
| could only make her happy. Something
in me cries out fAtone! Atone!' Char
lotte, remember she loves me. can not,
l dare not. break another loving heart.
Break the heart of a handsome widow
of thirty, rich, with two charming chill
dren? ?-I could have smiled at the no.
ton; but it was sore point, made sorer
by the never-ceasing stings of con-
science. Either he truly believed what
he said, or he deceived himself, led
away unconsciously by his long DOR
mant and now suddenly aroused craving
after the refined and the beautiful; his
perpetual necessity of being loved.