The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-02-02

A hand stretched out aud a smile awaited
This ktnsman OF theirs so long belated.
But amid this lavish peighborly cheer
He missed face he had once held dear.
any Cousin Frances: where doth she hide"
He questioned at last "She watches beside
sick mans bed-a good nurse, should say,
To keep the blue devil bailiffs away"
That night John Wentworth knocked at the
or his cousins house. A foot on the floor,
A whisper of silk and there she stood.
In that moment John Wentworths cousinly
Melted away like frost at the fre.
He thought he had killed the old desire;
He thought that love and hate both lay
Slain by the past at that long late day;
He thought-but what matters IL now
The thought that had been, when on cheek and
brow
Flames the signal torch from his Weakened hearth
What matters 1t now the cousinly part
He had fancied YVES his, when on his pulses beat,
With that swift, wild throb, as their glances
meet?
But he curbed the Wentworth temper awhile,
AS he bent in greeting, and hoped, with smile
Other good mans health, he could not wait
edoss e hsd 70 e19yey e
But the town was eloquent OF her care,
Which had certainly left her no less fair
Turned, and with a purpose fell,
IN sneering, passionate tone, "Ah. WELL
Women. we know, have potent charm
To ward themselves from trouble and harm
She caught the sneer, and stayed him there,
With passionate cry; how did he dare
Who had played so falsely these seven long
To ding at her feet his idle sneers9
al false!" He laughed. MADAM, where went
Those fine love letters foolishly sent
Across the seas in those old, old days?
i waited long-tis a pretty amaze
You feigu. my cousin-I waited long
For word or sign, for my faith was strong
In that old, sweet time; but the months went by,
And never a line came back, and L
Still chung to my faith, till morning in May
There came to me news of wedding day
Here in Portsmouth town, and the bride
Was the girl who had stood at my side
And sworn to be mine six months before
You shtver, my cousin; the wind nom the shore
Bio VS. harshly tonight" A gesture here
And hoarse voice cried, "John Wentworth
Ere you dover me with the dover of hate.
No letter OF yours from over the sea
Day after day the months went by
Day after day, and what was
The months went by; when heard them say
That John Wentworth staid
To WOO and win an English maid. gr1
Ny spirit rose like our swift shore tide
Twas the Wentworth temper, the wentworth
And-your cousin and mine had wooed me long;
His love was sure and my hate was strong
Quick. passionate hate for the sutton fine.
The false. false gallant who over his wine
Could pledge new loves while the old love
waited.
Faithful and fond. this lover belated."
"Sweethearty' Back she started in swift alright
At this fond, bold cry, and the red turned white
In her oval cheek. A moment more,
And swiftly striding across the floor,
This lover belated, who missed his bride
Seven years ago, is at ner side;
And the fond, bold voice on her listening ear,
On her listening heart, over every fear,
Like rising river, gains and gains,
While unreckOned, unheeded, the swift night
Till the clock strikes twelve on the landing
stair:
TheI John Wentworth turns with gallant air,
And embraces his cousin as kinsman may,
Though all the gossips be looking that way.
Yet bis parting words, whispered low in her ear,
Were never meant for gossip to hear
But long before the spring had come
10 Portsmouth shores, in many home
were KIN ,P Poi9 S,or told
Which, ran through the town like breath of
Was this-that John Wentworth never came
To his cousin s house but by signal or sign,
A silken scarf or a kerchief fine
Flung out of the easement, or at night
In the western window a candies light.
And the gossips, observant, would smile. and
say,
$50! the sick man sleeps at this hour of the
day"
Or at evening, wien the candle flares
In the western window, dame Frances cares
Are over early, 1t seems, tonight"
II Dame FRANCES caught this bale and blight
OF the gossips' tongues, little she rocked;
No Wentworth yet was ever checked
BY gossip's tongue, however bold.
But there comes day when the kerchiefs fold
Is missed at the easement, and that night
No candle flares its signal light.
When another morning dawns again
The tolling Portsmouth bells explain
The missing candle, the kerchief fine.
Dame Frances now OF signal or sign
Has little need; in the chamber there,
Where q sick man yesterday claimed her care,