The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-09-21

quickly around was almost betrayed
into a like exclamation. lIulda was
standing in the full light Of the moon,
dressed in some kind Of light, airy fabric
with her long hair falling around her
shoulders in tho greatest protusion. If
she was not beautiful she was very near
1t. We both FASTENED to offer seat, and
cast away our cigars. She was calm and
self-possessed as any high-born lady in
the land, and took the profered seat with
as much grace and dignity as though she
was just from the drawing room instead
OF the kitchen and dairy.
John was u little nonplussed, but soon
launched out into another of his fine talks.
But thought | noticed that she was rest
less and slightly inattentive tonight. a
hall startled, half expectant air had pos
session Of her AT last the gate clicked,
and some one came slowly up the gray
elled path toward where we were sitting
lie came up, and iiulda, rising, intro
duced him i'll that quiet way Of hers. as
David Love"
II needed no second thought to tell us
that this man was her lover, He quietly
assumed Il seat near, and John proceeded
with his story. AlterWard John attempt
ed TO draw him out. but succeeded only
ndltlerently. At length he proposed to
Hplda a walk in the moonlight and, she
rising "sked to be excused, ani they
went down the gravel path anl! disap-
peared.
John gave vent to n long, low whistle
alter they We're we'll off
For shame,7 said. ''thev will hear
you"
mo they WON'T" said he; but some
one else is engaged in 'cultivating' the
girl as we'll as myself
" gu are utterly ilcorrigible," an
swercd, rising to leave him
| was sitting by my window look ing
ont upon the flooding moonlight, an hour
later, when the lovers came back She
dismissed him ut the gate, and came up
the path alone, But before he went, they
conversed in low and earnest tones for Il
long time over the low gate. lie was u
nly-looking fellow. as he stood there
in the white moonlight, leaning upon the
little gate and looking down upon her
! could lot understand what they were
say ing, but from the earnest and increas-
ING tones. it was evidently some subject
upon which they did not agree. At last,
however, he reached down over the gate,
and. after holding her hand for Il mo-
mcnt, was gone, Once he stopped and
looked back, as if with the thought Of re-
turning, but Il moment later went on and
was lost to sight. She came slowly up
the path swinging her hat and looking
down at the ground. had forgotten my
companion, and was almost as much star
tied as she when | heard him address her
don't 90 in yet" heard him say :;
"the night il too fine to be wasted in duh
Sleep
bat it is late, and must get up early
in the morning, Of the men will have no
breakfast"
Nevertheless he carried his point, and
going off to bed, was lulled to rest by
the sound Of Lanes voice. for he gave
her little opportunity to talk
The next evening David Love came
back. and the moonlight walk was re-
peated, likewise the talk upon the old
porch after the lover had gone The
same occurred the next evening, and the
next, and 50 on for week The discus
sions ut the gate were prolonged later
and later each evening
One afternoon, about Il week later,
was out in the old orchard, back of the
house, with iayorite book, when | was
interrupted by some one coming over the
stile and down the orchard path. 1t was
Nulda-and her lover. They stopped at
q large tree quite near me, and heard
him say
Its no use to 90 further, llulda; iii
stop here and let you give me an answer
for good and all
Aud she answered: mo- David, it's
no use; will not do you the wrong of
marrying you can never 90 on in this
way year in and year out for lifetime
! would 90 crazy, wild, distracted.
hope You'll not think hard. David, but its
not my fault; can't help it. | know
ought to be happy here with the cows
and pigs and sheep, but | cannot, David,
cannot"
But, IIulda, YOU didn't think this way
once; you thought once You could be
happy with me
'.les, David, | did bat was mistak
en-, and it is better to 90 back now than
to wait until il IS too late
"Mell, EIulda" and there was . world
OF sadness in his voice, Il won't beg for
Your love, / don't think myself you are
happy, and God knows | hold your hap
pintss above mine. | would ~ tried SO
hard to be Il good husband to You, but
suppose it $ not to be. Anyway, we won't
quarrel, lIulda. Good-hy -"
..Gond-hy, David" and She held out
her hand to him, which he took and held
tor 4 moment, and then went away over
the path they had come
Perhaps | ought not TO have lain there
and overheard this conversation not in
tended for me, but ! could nou we'll avoid
it; and beside, | was really beginning TO
feel AN interest in the girl | could not
help blaming my friend for the way mat
tiers had turned out | thought that he
must have led her to believe that bis at
tentiens meant something, or she would
not thus have sent her lover a,lriit with
out word Of hope.
David Love came NJ more to the farm
house during our visit After this it was
John Lane who asked her to walk in the
liuht of the harvest moon, after her even
ing work was done.
You have no right to 90 on So" said
to him one day. when we were alone.
"What have 9onc?" he demanded, in
that hasty fashion Of his
don't you know that y on have driven
off that girls lover with your moonlight
talks and walks?n
"Of course not. How should | p
''IIe has not been near the place for II
week"
~ hat does that signify? He may be
gone somewhcren
Then related to him what had heard
in the orchard Lane did not say another
word, but sat for some time, apparently
lost in thought After this, matters went
on much as they had been going, until
our Visit was drawing to an end. | WAS
as far from understanding llulda Hill as
was on the very first day | saw her
She and John Lane were together almost
every evening, either walking in the
moonlight, taking a ride upon the river,
or seated upon the old porch, she listen
ing to his wonderful stories OF travel and