The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-02-19

mat came
The delays of the train I was in caused
me much anxiety, as it was to connect
with the last one, that evening, to b.
The Conductor repeatedly assured me
that 1t was call right, but 1 found it
al wrong by the space of three minutes
when alIghted at the station, and
there was nothing to DO but to put up
at the hotel for the night. It was a
hotel much frequented bysummer visit
ors on account of It's vicinity TO many
at ractive PLACES, easily reached by par
ties of pleasure, to which emf the roads
were sown with mile stones and sign
posts, which were an ageravation to be-
hold, especially the one setting forth
that it was 40 miles to B.. Perhaps I
could get horse to take me there. 1
insinuated as much to the keeper of the
hotel, but he informed me that there
wasn't horse left in the village, as
large party had taken advantage OF the
fuu moon to visit and keep within sound
of a remarkable waterfall.
The piazza and cigar proved no
consolation in my. restless frame OF
mind. l took my newspaper into the
patlor to read it by the usual kerosene
lamp, which stood on the usual worsted
mat and handicapped table. The
Identical cheap engravings common to
all country inns of my native land stared
Familiarity at ms from the white walls,
the hOrse-hair sofa stood uncomfort-
ably in the corner, and certain ferro-
types and photographs OF people with
an undue proportion of hands adorned
the mantel-piece.
Tne paper had nothing in it. I took
out the note. The words had ceased to
have any meaning to me. [ went to
the window that looked out upon the
piazza, attracted by heavy footsteps.
They were those of an old lady who
traInped in the moonlight wearily, drag
ging her shadow behind her with a
comic expression of futile hurry. Now
she turned and retraced her steps, seem
ing to chase the unfortunate shadow
with conscientious, ponderous haste,
as if she was anxious lest in her un.
wieldiness it should get there before
her. With that puerile interest that
small things have for us in moments of
excitement, stood watching her till
she turned the corner of the piazza and
left my exterior world unpeopled.
was Pondering on the effect little
things have upon US, how undoubtedly
that old lady had set some seed in her
mind to telr ftuit of some kind, some
day, VIII n we both had forgotten this
day and hour, when two other people
came into my World-a lady and gentle
man.
They had seated themselves before I
noticed them. TIE lady, whose back
was turned to me, threw off ths black
lace shawl that she had worn over her
charming head, and famed herself with
a quaint fan made of black ostrich
feathers. Her dresSwas Of guazy black,
with many well-adjusted ruf1es. /
thought she sc emed weary. Her CON-
papion wore a restless, excited air. He
had a boy ish, slender figure, a mouth
at once coarse and sensitive, not con-
cealed by his full, light mustaohe. He
might have been any age from 20 to 40,
for his boyishness seemed rather mat
ter of constitution than years and his
fair, S ky hair, tossed ard blown, might
have belonged to a young child, and
the marks about his heavy-lidded blue
eyes one could as easily attribute to
dissipation as to maturity. Hekneeled
with ons knee in the seat of a chair,
laying his exquisite delicate hands over
the back OF 1t, and, always seeming
about to speak, said nothing. but drew
his breath quickly through his parted
lips.
You promised ne never to say any
thing more to me on the subject, and
you have broken your promise" said
the lady. Her voice, which was strange
L. sweet. seemed to qualify the severity
of her words. The man seemed to an
swer the voice:
"You couldn't expect NE TO keep it.
1 didn't expect 10 meet you"
"No, couldn't expect you to keep
it, and didn't mean to meet you. 1
shouldn't have come here had known"
What made you Gomez"
With little, low, half sad laugh the
lady said 3: 81 was afraid of a ghost.
1 should think you might, perhaps,
be afraid of ghost. You seem afraid
of nothing real. You might, perhaps,
like ghost better than a flesh and
blood man"
She laughed again half embarrassed.
L could fancy in the shadow that she
blushed. "Perhsps might"
You grow morbid shut up with
books in a sick ROOM"
Was this the explanation Of the slen-
der white hand and wrist, the forehead
and cheek, 50 pale in the hall light,
c0ntFasted with the dark hair and dress
She was an invalid. Yet her step, 1
remembered, was full of springing
grace.
mo, l only learned some new
things"
"And found that I didn't satisfy you.
Before, on half fancied that l should,
and the change seemed TO come on the
Friday that l found you writing letters
by the window, when [ brought you
your ring I had found in the lily pond.
You never explained it to me-"
TIE LADY turned gravely and said
How can one explain ones own de-
velopment? That day I saw myself
en- you. You but fancy yourself On
happy. That you cannot gam me serves
you instead of other excitement, and
the moment you had won me wonld be
the moment in which you would be
again adrift. II IS not myself that you
love. Forgive me for trying to make
you see your own mistake"
As if to change the subject, che
Yointsd with her FAINT humming- bird,
at this moment posing above a cluster
Of honeysuckles, aud rising from her
chair, stretched her nrm up the dark
vine and plucled the blossom.
She was q mere bodkia of a woman,
with slender throat and little waist
Her motion was exquisite, depending
on a certain poise and balance. She
drew my heart with every step. Her
company seemed half stupefed as he
watched her. She stopped near him,
fastening the boneysuckle in her dress.
Now that saw her face it haunted me
with a resemblance TO I knew not
whom. Somewhere I had seen it-yet
surely not this face. 1t might have
teen that of an enthusiastic nun.
There was a holy fire in the eyes, aud
the impetuous mouth was strangely
sad.
"You don't know what you ask;
what you would ignorantly take on your
shoulders. Marriage would be to you
galhag tie-an impossible RESPONSE.
billy. If 1 loved yOu I would not
marry you. 1t is well that 1 do not. 1t
would be harder for us both. There
Il. l., - -