Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1875-09-17
Or / gin a l..
VIVIAN AND BRENDA.
BY RUDOLPH WATKINS.

On II beautiful afternoon in the month of
June, Vivian Barton and his cousin, Brenda
Howard, were riding on horseback along the
shady road leading from the country town
of D. TO the ''creek' or landing, below
the brick church. At The time our story opens,
they had reached an emnence above the spot
on which the old church stood, and which
commanded a splendid view OF the scenery,
reaching beyond the river to the mountains,
and crowned by the gorgeous sunset. Their
figures seemed to complete the scene. Brenda,
sitting gracefully upon the back OF hne
sorrel, was habited in green, OF becoming
shade. She was one Of those grand and
magnificent creatures that sometimes cross
our paths and linger in memory but still she
was very lovely, and her person bespoke ele-
gance. You could not have called her de-
cided blonde, for her hair was Of light
shade Of chestnut, falling in rich ringlets
arourd her neck. In her manner she was
sweet and gentle, and when she turned her
soft blue eyes upon Vivian, and her lips
parted in a winning smile, he felt that few
girls could compare with his hoyhood's love-
Vivian himself presented fine, manly APP
pearance; his countenance asintelligent and
expressive, with resoluie mouth, and when
he laughed he revealed splendid set of teeth
He too was AT home in the saddle.
Brenda and Vivian were together again for
the first time in several years, both having
spent the intervening period at school-Vi-
yian at university, and Brenda at different
places, finishing at Troy. Vivian had chosen
the profession Of the law and, having com
pleted his studies had now returned TO the
scenes Of his boyhood.
Brenda was now an accomplished young
lady, beloved by all, and attractive beyond
the promise of her childhood. When the
| linz Irl w "a
gay and laughing disposition, and OF such n
character MS to win the admiration of our
hero 1t was quite observable that these two,
| AS children, were very fond of each other, and
| il did not escape the notice Of Mr.. Howard,
| Brenda's father but children always out
grow early attachments, he argued, and oil
| course these young folks would not prove an
exception to the rule So he gave himself no
concern about the matter.
| few evenings before the ride OF which
have spoken, their first meeting had taken
| place in the dining at 'Glen ALBION
| They soon fell into their former habits OF IN
titDacy, and Vivian began TO regard his gen
| tie cousin as the guardian spirit OF his uncle
household, and u deeper tenderness vibrated
in his heart than had ever been excited by his
earlier affection for her.
in the description introducing my hero and
| heroine 10 the attention of the reader, re-
marked that they were on an eminence which
afforded glorious view Of the landscape and
| the sunset. Vivian touched his cousin s arm
and drew bis own rein, and they drank in the
splendor OF the scene together. Thus absorb-
ed, silence prevailed for some moments; il
was broken at last by Vivian, who, turning
10 his companion, said, in words OF low and
tender music
"Brenda, il distresses me beyond the power
| sc Ian m, 1aap rihp n rpaIiZe that are
no longer children, and to feel that the i'm
preston made upon my heart by your girlish
| charms years ago, seems now TO be increaS-
| ing to a deeper and stronger sense OF your
present loneliness and grace. Pardon me II
| my confession saddens you, but love YOU
| Brenda, with the purest and boliest senti-
ments of ms heart and ! feel that without you
| my life will be a hopeless future o. sadness
and gloom. Had never seen you as ! now
| behold you, time might perhaps have erased
| from memory the tender associations OF the
past with which you are connected but now
| feel that the impression OF your loneliness
can never fade from my mind
| AS he concluded he saw a tear stand on
her eyelash, and in the silence which follow
| ed the sun sank down behind the western
highlands and they turned their horses heads
| mechanically, and began to descend the hill
which led to the church and graveyard.
Sorrow was in the heart Of Brenda; the
saddest moments Of her past life were upon
her. She loved Vivian Barton as dearly as he
loved her Now be had told her in his own
manly terms bow sincerely he loved her, and
how hopeless bis life must be unless he could
feel that one day she might be his wife.
But alas for both With this realization
came nearer view Of the insurmouniableii i'm
pediment to the consummstion Of their early
| dreams. They knew that Mr.. Howard disap-
proved of marriage between cousins. No
| word had escaped either TO indicate that this
common consciousness was uppermost in their
minds, bat each OWNED the others thoughts
so 10 silence they proceeded down the bill.
A lonely whippoorwil called from the distant
| foliage, the dying swell moane1 on the river
shore, and the harvest moon was rising like a
/ conlagration in the east, as the lovers, nnrs-
4 ing their sad reflections. approached the iron
gate Of the old graveyard.
/ The old church was builtof imported brick,
and 10 its time bad Numbered some Of the char
actefs Of the y meriean revolution among It's