The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1875-04-23
LOVE OR PRIDE.


hayfe'ds the distant landscape was be.
coming indistinct, and the moon was
slowly rising In the heavens.
After while the twilight deepened
into as much of darkness as there would
be in the summer night, and silence fell
upon the earth. Then girl stole noise
lessly across a small garden, and stood
beside gate that led into the adjoining
churchyard. A yew-tree spread its dark
branches wide over her, but the silver
tints that were slanting down upon the
tall gravestones, and bringing out the
delicate lines of the old church spire,
touched also her white face, making it
whittier than usual. She did not start as
a tall figure approached from the further
side of the churchyard. She had evil
IDENTIFY been expecting some one, and
when she heard the words
"You are out late, Miss Jervis"-
She quietly answered.
i was waiting for you; wanted to
say good-by to you before you went
away"
al thought you had done that al
ready" replied the young man with
some bitterness.
"Not quite" returned the girl wear
lily; "you were too angry for me to say
it as ] wished"
Had | not the right to be so ?" he
asked. Ever since have been at Shell
ford you have been deceiving me. / be-
lieved you to be as earnest as myself,
and now" He paused.
"And nowT'
Her voice had sharp ring in il as she
repeated his words, as though she would
give denial to what he had said; but her
face looked like stone in the moonlight,
white and immovable, as she contin-
ued--
81 did not understand that you could
be in earnest, otherwise ! might have
told you before what have told you to-
day."
"You do not believe in me-you
looked upon me as heartless-as a de-
ceiver. You do not believe in me now"
al do"
"What do you believe ?" he asked i'm
petuously; "nothing good, or you would
not give me the answer you have given
me-"
Everything good, except the knowing
what is good for yourself want you
new to say good-sy TO me without any
anger in your heart. The day will come
when you will perhaps bless me for what
have had courage to do to-day" And
she held out her hand.
The young man hesitated. els there
no hopeT
"None."
Her voice rang low and clear through
the summer air. Again he hesitated,
then suddenly taking both her hands in
his, he bent down and kissed her for the
first time.
She gave faint cry, and disengaged
herself.
"We part in peace"
And with these words she turned and
fled, not looking back, or perhaps she
might have repented her decision.
Once in the house she sat down in the
empty sitting room, made AS light as day
by the moonbeams. The old dog rose as
she came in, and when she threw herself
into chair he laid his head in her lap.
Then there came sound Of Gathering
of plates in the kitchen on the opposite
side Of the narrow passage, and her moth
ers voice sounded sharply, giving her
directions about supper.
Presently she entered.
where have you been, Ally? How
i'll you look and you're all shivering |
Come into the kitchen, child; Anne's |
gone of TO bed, and there's bit of fire
in the crate. II might be winter instead
of midsummer, TO feel your hands"
Alice rose mechanically She walked
dresmily into the kitchen, where her
mother drew chair 10 the FIRE for her.
Presently a ruddy, good-humored.
looking youth entered, saying
Let me have my supper here, mother.
The fire looks pleasant, though ii is sum.
mer time"
Mrs. Jeryis opened the oven door and
took out a covered dish that had been
kept warm there, Alice watching her
as she placed ii ON the table and laid a
knife and fork beside il, instinctively
reused herself, aud taking a jug from the ,
lresser went 10 the cellar 10 draw some
beer for her brother.
il was a relief 10 her 10 perform this