The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-03-26
THE AGATE CROSS.

The late June twilight is loath to
leave the family starred, dini-bluo
heaven. Watts Of delicious fragrance
float along the garden paths from the
dewy heliotrope clusters and the vague
iungles of mignonettc. Low above the
ragged line of distant forest hangs the
young golden crescent.
The lovers stand at tho garden gate.
The woman face is fresh and fair you
can see indistnctly the lustrous rich
ness of her hazel eyes as the soft moon.
light strikes them. Tho man is hand
ror,e too ! tell, well-shapel, with a
face of delicate, slightly oval contour.
To is Elsie Warmers voice that breaks
the stiffness
"And 80, Paul, you really mean that
you will never forget me ?"
4" How is that possible, Elsie q He
holds her hands between both his own,
whilst murmuring the words; and now
he stoops to kiss her white forehead,
glittering purely in the moonlight.
"But New Orleans is such great,
thickly-populated place." the girl says,
giving little mrthless laugh. "Per-
haps--who knows-you may see some
one there whom you could love bet
ter"
Hush, darling ~ and he stops her
mouth very lovingly with his uplifted
hand. 81 won't let you talk so ridicu
lousy. am going to New Orleans, it
is true but shall write yon from there
every other day, at least, during the six
months OF my absence and you should
not feel sorry that l am to be away.
Remember that have some pride about
taking rich mans daughter without o
penny of my own to save me from be-
ing what people can term an out-and-
ont fortune hunter. Your father has
obtained for me (kind man that he isl a
situation of the most valuable character
In few months | am to return and
marry you meanwhile | am to reap
all the advantages possible from your
fathers benevolence. Surely there is
nothing in this prospect to make you
feel at all gloomy"
Elsie sighs, though almost inaudibly.
" know it, Paul. | suppose | am hor-
ribly foolish. But do you know that a
sort of a strange sadness comes over
me whenever think at all of the fu-
ture"
Nonsense. He kissed her again
not on tho forehead this time. Then
he fumbles for moment or two ut his
watch-chain, presently saying:
" Here, Elsie, is little cross that ]
want You to take and keep. Always
wear it whist | am away ; and when
ever the least shadow of doubt in my
perfect constancy, darling, visits YOU
soul, look at it and say to yourself
Paul loves me.
She answered him with short, low
passionate cry, eagerly receiving thu
souvenir he offers. 81 shall, Paul. l
il sweet idea, and l am so glad yor
thought of it,"
A little while afterward Elsie Warne
walks mp through the vaguc-lit gardei
towards the handsome-fronted hous,
that looms beyond, telling herself a
she does so that she is dissatistie,
borrower of trouble, and does not de
serve to have half so devoted lover q
"dear Paul"
Meanwhile "dear Paul strolls home
ward through the placid June dusk
What are his thoughts as he does so
Far different are they from E!sie's. II
is telling himself that fate has cast hi
lines in rather pleasant places: that h
hls the only child of very rich an
prosperous parent to love him to di
traction that one day, when old J,
seph Warner dies IAN event which mu.
be looked forward to as not particular
distant he will occupy most enviab
position as that gentleman's son.il
law; briefly, that he is in luck.
And whilst thinking these though
he whistles nonchalantlv, and fgnr
lively pats himself on his own shou
der, as much as to say, "Paul Balistea
You are clever fellow, and deuced 70
tunate." But does he remember II
agate cross? =? Does he remember q
sweet, appealing eyes that dwelt so te
derby upon him not long ago? |
remembers neither.
"Tom is so awkward" pouts Ma,
Enninger with something between