Middletown transcript., 1876-04-08


Is my nephew, Paul st. Ledger"
Maud extended her hand to st.
Ledger, he bowed his head over it
there Was low whispering that wal
only heard by the two, and sent the
crimson blood bounding through bel
veins. dyeing her beautiful face with
bushes.
As be upclasped her hand. dainty
lace handkerchief slipped to the floor
picking it up instantly, Paul restored
it to this fair hand Of the owner; for
the third time their eyes met. and both
knew that it was not the first time their
hands had clasped. but when and where.
they could not tell.
why. Maudie. / believe rambling
agrees with you. your cheeks are az
pink as the rosebuds you wear; by the
by, there is boquet in the library for
you. one Of the little girls up at the
Seminary brought it."
The evening soon glided away. but
before it had quite passed, Paul had
secured Maud's promise to take ride
the next day.
Every moment be fingered beside
her. the fascination became deeper and
deeper; and SO the days heightened
into weeks, the weeks into months
Every day she would ramble in the
beautiful woods, or beside Tanglewood
brook, or go out boating or riding. In
these, Paul was her only companion;
the children no longer listened to her
beautiful fairy stories. and they soon
learned whenever Paul came to leave
the two together.
Dear reader do not think that she
had forgotten the poor; far from it.
she still spent portion Of each day
with them secretly, not because she was
ashamed to be seen among them, for
there was no false pride about her.
One day. in the early part Of Sep
tember. they had taken much shorter
stroll than usual.
Coming to the old willow, their ia
vorite spot, they spent most of their
time there, seated on its bended trunk
10 pleasant converse.
1t was somewhat later than usual
that evening when they returned.
Maud entered. but Paul fingered in
the grounds to take his evening smoke
and listen to Mauds's melodious voice.
She was playing and singing Mrs.
A. v. Pendleton's "Wild Ash Deer
Paul paused 10 bis walk up and down
in front OF the window. through which
Maud was visible. Pushing his bat
back. and giving bis head shake, then
taking another puff at his segar, be
said "This won't do. Longfsllow was
right when he said:
.As unto the bow, the cord is,
So is man unto woman;
Though she bends him, she obeys him,
Though she leads him, yet she follows
Just then the voice and music
changed. and Paul caught himself re-
peating after Maud:
ssAnd for bonnie Annie Laurie,
I'd lay me down and die.
s.By .Jovs!" said Paul, as be saw
Maud leave the piano and come to the
window nearest him:
Il have looked all my life for. an
heiress that would suit NE to please
uncle. and here | am. almost in love With
this bswitching little music teacher.
Uncle thinks | amt too poor to marry
any one else; Eve hundred a year iu-
come. besides my practice that ought
TO support wife if she has any econ
omy, aud not too fond Of opera. balls,
diuners and all of that. Well, l shah
venture, if Maud will be mine; ! will
try and know my fate before another
sun shall set.
The little hand trembled in mine.
when | held it to-day he soliloquised,
land how the blood mounted to her
cheeks, as fastened those buds in her
hair, and asked her to wear them for
me. Ithiuk that air and laugh was
all put on, when she jumped up aud
began to bum that waltz. hop. or what
ever else it was, instead of answering
my question"
Then he came up to the window and
said ''Miss Burlsigh come out and
view The spangled heavens. > shining
frame !"
Just as Maud arose, Mrs. Goodrich
said: '.Maud, my child, it is not it for
you to 60 out, the dew is very heavy. /"
So she sank back again in her chair.
and opened volume Of poems which
was lying on the window sill beside her,
and began. or tried. to read.
Paul approached lightly to the win
dow, and looking over her shoulder st
the book, saw she was reading
",Twere better to have loved and lost,
Than not 10 have loved at all.''
/. Maud glanced up. and seeing Paul
looking SO iDtently on the book. quickly
turned over some leaves to prevent him
FROM reading the poem but. alb what
vas before her now? It was one Of
Miss Langdon's poems:
s.To lore as loue thee to feel the world
The bright, the beautiful, joy-giving world,
A blank without thee.
t have no hope that does not dream for thee !;
have no joy that is not shared by thee;
have no fear that does not dread for thee /;
All that once took pleasure in-my lutte
Is only sweet when it repeats thy name;
Ny flowers, only gather them for thee;
The brook drops listless down. cannot read,
Unless it is to thee.
And the thought came from this
poem he bad been quoting to her all
day. So she closed the book and pushed
it from her /; a. she did SO, Paul caught
the little hand. saying in whisper !:
"Good night. little one. good night. :"
then pressing it to bis lips. be was gone.
Maud, arose Immediately. bade them
good night. and retired to her room. to
think Of all that had tranepired that
day. She no longer wondered who be
was; well had she remembered the
youth she met 10 the sunny cline of