The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-02-24
MY PROM ISE.

i
turned within the drapery of the heavy
curtain.
The first cold of autumn had chilled
the lingering summer, and in the dim
twilight we gathered around the library
fire.
"Ruthp' l called, but no answer.
"Ruthw
81 am here, auntie," came low whis-
per; and then rose, and gently putting
the hand aside, drew the bowed head to
my shoulder, and heard the quiet sob,
the suppressed sorrow, telling so much
more than mere words. l only stroked
back the soft, brown hair, and tenderly
caressed the slender form, sOrrowing
with woman!s great grief.
81 am so tired, auntie-so wearyW
l could say nothing, urge naught, but
drew her to a low cushion in front Of the
fire. and sitting at my feet, with her
sweet face on my lap, | tried to soothe
her, and whispered, "Let me tell you a
story, darling, only as true as your
own"
81 was just seventeen, when, in the
cold dawn of December morning,
was summoned to mothers death-bed.
My own mother had left me few hours
| after my birth, and my father had given
the care of bis orphan to his dearest
friend-and right nobly did she prove his
trust. She was sweet, gentle mother
to me, and | loved her dearly, SO when
the nurses frightened whisper reused
me from my short rest, | went heart
broken to the silent chamber. 'Katie,'
and the kind face turned in earnest love
towards me. katie, | want to leave you
my most precious legacy'-and she
pointed to the small bed near her own,
upon which slept her only child, my lit
tie fairy sister of twelve summers. She
held out the weak, cold hand to me- and
l pressed it passionately my lips.
'''I will guard her with my life,' 1 said,
while the sobs choked all utterance. |
threw myself upon my knees beside her
bed, and ON my breast she fell asleep,
and passed away in purity to her God.
"Years went by, and Olive Ansted ma
tured from childhood to her fair girlhood
"a sweet, frail type-with sunny hair
and violet eyes-pure as lily Hover
timid and graceful as a young faWn. She
was born to be caressed, made to be
loved.
1--WE were living with bachelor uncle
my iathers only brother-and fate had
given us large share of the worlds
goods. My uncle's house was pleasant
home, and his friends were always very
kind to his nieces. He entertained ele-
| v.
| the circle more recherche and complete.
Men of cultivation, omen of wit, gay
cavaliers, and beautiful maidens made
our rooms brilliant through all the sea-
sons. l will show you my picture as l
was then;" and she rose, and from the
ebony escrtore took q small casket,
which she placed in the young girPs hand.
A packet of letters lay on the miniature.
bound with q scarlet ribbon, and in a
woman's delicate but firm hand, was
written, "Because l loved him."
What a proud, passionate face looked
up from the miniature, what glorious
eyes, what exquisite lips-and with what
careless grace the solt. brown hair fel
from the naughty brow! All! there was
strength and passion in the lines of the
beautiful face, and her life had bitterly
proven these lineaments.
"Well," she continued, 81 entertained
my uncle's guests, and certainly did re
fuse many offers of marriage; but, my
darling, | did not care to change, for life
was very pleasant to mel enjoyed my
untrammeled condition, and did not fee
disposed to rellnqulsh it. Men said
was heartless, but my uncle smiled al
these stories; he did not urge me to ac
cept my opportunities, but shrugged his
broad shoulders as he patted my head
and said, Katie, l fear when you do love
you will break your heart.'
"I shall never die, Uncle Ralph
"sNo, Kate, because you have the ole
Ansted pride; but, shade by shade
pulse by pulse, your heart willard ye
you will live on
1--WE had left the city, and were at oul
lovely summer place among the High
lands, and there our guests made the
season most delightful. Our stables were
well supplied, and we enjoyed the beau
tiful roads over the country.
81 LED party of a dozen, one summer
afternoon, and rode of to visit some ole
colonial ruin near.
s.rhe sky was tlecked with small sum
+ mer clouds, but we scarcely needed the
low ramblings which seemed very dis
tant, and so went gaily on. l was can
tering very spirited horse, for was
then reckless and daring, and we loiter
ed long among the ruins, talking of the
old legion, and the ghost of il broken pro
mise which haunted the spot. The peo
pie around declared and believe that
woman's cry Of despair always sounded
above the fiercest gale.
"sI am quite sure that such O ghos
will never trouble your conscience, Mis-
. Austed.' l looked round, and saw Haw
kins Ascot pacing at my side:
"The ghost Of forfeited honor coul'
never rest on u woman's conscience
emphasized woman, and he turned an,
smiled.
''He did not continue the badinage, TO
he was not brilliant, and ior tn
moment he seemed nonplussed. He wa
not even strikingly handsome, and
can not reason about it n0w-but | wa
idly careless. and l looked up into hi
blue eyes, dehantly smiling.
ga sudden flash blinded me. My .hors
started, and down the decliyity, before
could rein up, he rushed in a wild run
tried to steady myself, but, with tn
r rising gale, he increased his speed; th
! party had gone on, and l soon LETT MI
. Ascot far behind me.
"'For Gods sake, keep your saddle
, were the last words l heard. The gal
tore of my cap, and my hair streamed i
, the wind. l heard the rapid clatter q
f hoofs behind me; but this maddened m
: own horse. With frantic strength
( strove to pull him in, for a fearful prec
, pIce ended the turn Of the road toward
which l was Fastening.
, "'God of Heaven, help meP cried.
: knew no more, but walked to find myse
, in Hawkins Ascotps arms, riding wit
+ the speed of lightning.
' "'My darlingl was all heard, and b
held me close, while the lightning wa
lhlInding with its horrid glare. Barely