The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-04-29

III hnVtiui DouupJ, tiiO bSiio Va th' ''"h
and all the pretter, she seemed to me,
because OF the simplicity and purity of
her attire. For many morning ] saw
her pass and repass my window or, with
in range thereof, her plump little arms
richly broDzed by the sun, laden with
fragrant and beautiful flowers, the re-
suit of her morning walk; and finally
come 70 my window to look for her
alone. The freshness that seemed even
to eushroud her was, to me, my morn.
ing bouquet, aud to have been deprived
OF its fragrance would have made the
day of my deprivation desolate.
finally became acquainted with the
parsons daughter, and when our ac-
quaintance was of sufficiently long dura-
tion to render my visits to her father s
house quite proper, we learned to like
each other very much in contemplating
the grandeur of the scenery, the lovely
points of which she seemed to apprecl-
ate with au artists eye. Her language
was the language of the flowers, and her
voice rs silvery as the waters OF the
golden brook that flowed gracefully at
the foot of the mountain. Her eyes
were soft, yet searching at times, and
when I looked into their rich depths,
concluded some glowing tribute to na-
ture, | must confess / felt startled at
the severity with which they were re-
garding me. So suddenly, however,
would they melt again, and half OBJ
scure themselves behind their satin lids,
that | half believed | was mistaken
when I imagined them capable OF
harshness. At length became deeply
attached to my pretty little companion:
| felt that | dearly loved her, and would
have told her SO, were it not for the
stony, freezing stare, with which she
checked all allusion to the tender pas
sion. had partially resolved to leave
the matter of our union to the agency
of time, when circumstance occurred
that admonished me of the dangers OF
delay. One bright morning, some ten
or twelve weeks after my arrival, the
social atmosphere of NJ, for which
| had long since ceased to furnish the
fragrance, was alive with rumors of the
return of Roland Powers, the bankers $
son, whose long absence from the town
had been occasioncd by his European
tour. Roland, Of course, had seen the
great wonders of the old world, had
lived in the capitals of Europe, and was
an ,tot in whatever appertalned to
Pariaian life. He was a tall, well-bullt,
handsome fellow, just the kind of man
to catch the eye aud entrap the hoaIt OF
romantic maiden. His face bore the
lines of dissipation, too, and Tor all the
world, he looked the beau ideal OF a
man--the personihcati0n OF genteel
recklessness. ! Wits jealous of the at
tentions he received Mt first, but, finally,
when | discovered What a jolly, good
fellow be was how entertaining, intel.
ligent, devil-may-ca-e and nnseltish, i
learned to like him very much, indeed,
and finally ceased to think of the lion s
share of attention, which he invariably
received at the hands Of the ladies'.
He was dexterous at cards, and many
game we played together in my apart
ments till the gray dawn was upon us.
Our acquaintance soon ripened into
friendship.
The summer Ind fled, and golden
autumn was about exchanging It's
loveliness for the bleakness OF winter,
when, one evening, Roland and | saun-
tered laziy from the town for short
tramp in the open country. He had
been exceedingly gloomy for several
DAYS, and on this occasion, was partlc-
ularly 80. His step seemed to have
been forsaken by its accustomed elias
ticity, his voice had lost its rich sweet
ness, aud deadly pallsr overcome his
face.
care you ill?" | asked, rs | sud
denly noticed his singular appearance
AMI demeanor.
81 never felt better in my life, old
boy-that is to say, physically. a
man has to think now and then, though
and thoughts, you know, are not alway'
pleasant companions.
There was an eanestness IN M
strange words that startled me, and
could not refrain from beseeching hin
to explain himself. We had grown 81
yery intimate that ] felt authorized Il
make the request.
"Well, as you wish it, | will" h'
said.
We sat down on the stump OF fallel
oak, by the side of the road, and for
moment Roland buried his face in hi
hands, rs though in deep thought
Then he looked up, and turned HI
ewes upon me with an earnestness tina
had never seen him betray.
Philip" he began, his voice trem
bling with some emotion which | coulC
not divine, "you do not know me.
am no more the man you believe me t.
be than | am worthy Of your esteem.
"Proceed," said involuntarlly,
strange sensation overcoming me tina
made me dread, / knew not why, t.
hear his revelation. -,
"Do not hurry me-" he replied
"you will know all soon enough. lo'
have told me that you were about to b
married, and have asked me TO be you
proomsnan. What would you thin
Of me if / were to forbid this mar
riage?" ,, , os uo,
5That you had taken leave OF you
SENSES" / replied, annoyed by the as
perity of his tone. l., .on,;,
ned, springing to his feet and scowiinl
mon me like demon, "that | do for
Lid it Sooner than you should MARI
that pirl I'd" the words seemed +
choke him, and his face was distorte
and livid, with wild, and, to me, una'
countable rage.
The insult that he had offered MI
howev yer, was too palpable for me
overlook, and l rose from my seat d
termined to quit his presence and SO,
the satisfaction TO which, as n gentl
man, believed myself entitled. T
sought to detain me, but with streng
to which had long been stranger,
shook him from me and hurried back
} the town. / proceeded at once to Il
room in the hotel, overcome by the
IL. 4. n InIN u