The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-07-29

| managed to speak OF my approaching
| marriage. ,
II was almost dark when reached
| tine avenue that Jed up 10 the Mcrldeth
House, A 1.-THE figure stood leaning
toaipst the stone gateway, AZ sannted
| Nv. nv hands full Of MOSES. "G0od
evening" / said, gayly. "WiU you
walk up with meF"
He did not answer, save to step for
| ward, draw my arm within his, and turn
me away from the house. down toward
the lake. ,
owe will go this way" no said and
[ felt the fire Of bis eyes burning nay
cheek tc a fame. We walked 50, m
dreadful silence for a moment, then he
| spoke,
ais this thing true that your mother
tells me ?" he asked.
"What thing - ! almost whispered
"YOu know % he answered, fiercely.
Sc rs il true that YOU are TO be the wife
| NJ u white faced ariBtOcrat next Octo.
ber2 That you are here TO make your
preparatiOnsY
"Yes." The word came reluctantly,
and almost with a gasp. IIo took my
hands in his and looked down upon me,
"YOn shall not you shall not - be
Kissed. 81 love You, you are NINE, now
aud forever"
Before ! could speak or cry oHt, he
had taken me in his arms, and was rhln
ing kisses upon my Iips. was young,
romantic, and impuIsiye. This nan had
aroused n strange feeling in my breast.
that now, IA / lay in his nrms, ] believed
must be love. | could zee the reckless
beauty Of his face aB il bent above me,
md almost uncopsciously ! c'asped my
arms about his neck, sobbng wildly,
and whispering, "Oh, if ] had only
known You sooncr-if it were NOT 700
late !"
"It in not too latc,' 10 cried, pug
%eionntcly, gtraining me to ms hehr''
"YOn nre nine, now and for all tlme'
You must be my wife =
"But ] cannot" I sObbcd, 81 nm
| bound TO another the wedding day
draws near"
81 care nothing for that. You must
wed noe. and no other, | cannot give
you mp"
His imperIous manner, his impas-
stoned earncstncss, aroused my gir!lsh
admiration. He seemed like some
| knight Of Oldcn romance to me, beside
whom Rollin Wcatherbec, with his pm
%trician beauty, was completely over
Swallowed. We walked long in the
gloamirg, be pleading, ! hesitnting,
almost yielding, but leaving him at
length with no definite decision. For
three weeks ] met Rogers clandestinely
each day, mud listened to his words OF
passionate devotion, and let him I'M
print warm kisses upon my lips. Day
after day he urged me 10 fly with hlm !;
but, though I believed | loved him,
better than | had eVer loved RDllin
Weathcrbce, I heaitated 10 make him
any promise, and II strange fear Of him
held me back from flight, Yet each
day my resolution grew weaker, each
dry the mnu's hold upon me, and power
over me-, became stronger. At last
same IN Afternoon late in 3 ptcmbcr.
was 10 meet Breeze TINT evening, and
stood looking ont at the gorgeous sun.
set, with II heart full of ,~Ontending
emotions, whom mnmma came into the
room. Rose" she sad, you remem.
Der Breeze Rogers, who came here no
often some time agO?'
Remember him but | only said,
"Ycs, mother" in II very low vorce.
"WelI. HARDWOOD tolls mo II painful
thing in connection with him, Sha
! says her husband tolls her ID In the
ncighhorhOOd talk now. IL seems there
ia II very lovely yonng girl, II gardeners
daughter, Corn Smith by nnmo, VIII m
Breeze has been very attentive to for
some months. Tho girls fnther says
she is b%ctrothc} to him. At Nil events
he has been Il most ardent lover, for II
year or moro, and now, without n word, |
or any apparent cause, he has deserted
her. Has not been near her for two
months, and the girl liz very ill-calling |
for him constantly, but he does not go
near her. 1t il thought she will die.
She is IA poor, fruil, childish thing, and
never knew what it waa TO suffer before.
1t ia very sad. What IA heartlcss villain
he must he"
WY u'hTt bt'1llt1 VI ult WlIllll me,
A rush Of emotions, shame, anger, grief,
misplaced love, and wounded pride
fought together in my breast. Oh how
mean the man was whom | had placed
above Rollin Wentherbes in my hearts
affection. How | despised him from
that moment. Then | began to think it
might not he so-there might be some
mistake. al will 60 TO him to night"
! Thought, land | shall know"
did 80, when tho shadows of the
cleaning settled down over tho earth.
| found him waiting fer me. He held
out bis arms, but | stood aloof.
200 to Cora Smith" / sail. "Shc
is entitled to your caresses-sbe wants
them-I do not"
[ Leeded no further proof Of his guilt.
His face turned crimson from brow to
chin-and then pale as death. "What
do you know of her" he cried, hoarse.
ly. "Who has been telling You lies?'
No one" | answered. "Your face
is II proof Of the truth of all | have
heard. | will make this our lust meet.
ing. NV eyes are opened in time, thank
God. do not wan to set them upon
yOn again. Do not try to see me, for it
will be useless. | utterly dcspise You.
Go back to the only person who believes
you worthy Of love-who is dying for
you"
| turned and sped back to the hon @,
and for two weeks scarcely stepped
outside its walls. | was i'll in mind and