The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-09-14

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feel terribly sad and cheerless--a sad
ness which all things around me tend |
| to deepen; the rustic of dead |
ileaves or the garden patns,' the meanings |
| of the wind in the leafless branches, the |
cold gray aspect of the sky. Is there |
nothing l should like to do? think, as l
wander listlessly between the garden |
and the house. Ahl yes, there is one
| thing have always intended to do, Hnd |
why not to-day? I gather nosegay of
late autumn flowers out Of our own gar
den, knowing that, II living. that would |
have pleased him most, and set out on |
my sad pilgrimage. They have laid my |
| lover to rest at Norwood, In the dim |
| vaults away under the church. AS | |
walk up between the long rows of tombs |
chill rain begins falling, beating in my |
face; but i do not feel irlghsened or
1 lonely in this capital of the dead, nor do |
| shrink as, lit by a family glimmering |
taper, follow down the winding STAIR
case into the sad, populous region be-
i low, though l shiver at the dank
air, in which death seems to be-
come almost palpable. My guide, look
ing carefully at the names, taper in
hand, stops before one. signify to him
4 that would be alone tor few minutes,
and he retires. l bend down and read
the inscription: ''Wm. Hamilton, born
/
yiyeth His beloved Sleep" Is it indeed
Sleep for him, and unmarred by any
dreams? think of how he loved me-
that love which / held SO lightly-and
1.-THE plenteoJs tears come. But here rs a
step. The custodian of the place COM
ling back, l suppose. raise my lace
lnurriedly, and Colonel Gordon enters;
lbut they have in them a milder, sWeeter
look than / have ever seen there before.
| tpnu hnnHa in his and l0I1Q
them, looking long and lovingly at the
inscription on the coffin. We do not
speak q word, but we leave the place to-
rether and come out into the gray windy
light of the fading day. He draws my
arm in his, still holding my hand, and
we walk little way in silence. At
: length he saws, very kindly, "Thahk
you for this, RhOda; did not know you
loved him SO much"
"Stop," | say; "I am very sorry for
him, and l feel so grateful that he
, should have cared for me; but in the
: way you mean never loved him. All
YOU said to me that night was right and
: true, and l have been the better for it,"
0 mo harm has been d6ne," he rejoins !;
s'and If he died thinking you loved HIM,
: he died happier. But you are not look
Y ing well. LIS anything troubling yoaT
II mo; am not happy; and now he mas
gone, Hdf0 Nv VhO "no 'AHN AN'siAJ
loves me-"
It sYou are mistaken there" he replies
" quietly. Don't you know that L love
" youW And then more to himself than
e TO me, "as my life, rs my soul loved
Il YOU, Rhoda, from the first day saw you;
fbut then he loved you TOO, and he was sc
n unable TO buffet the waves of this world,
e if you could have loved him and made
!, his life happy-weu, dear, you under
Il stand. I have SAID more than | mean
e to say; consider some of IL uhsaiu; only
l. rem enfber if ever you want friend, you
will know where to come; and" ne adds
e with rather u sad smile, 81 will not ever
e in lest ask you to become my wife"
'Because you consider me so worth
II lessY ..,.,.. .,....
+ "Because will not give you the pair
:. of saying no." ..l ... e.. ..... p.
n because you will not give me the joy
q of saying yes" .... .,.. .......
;. "That could not be-" he replies, will
p almost childish incredulity in his voice
l. you"
h "And if it were twice that, it would b.
D nothing," reply, warmly. "But mus
IS YOU beat all the pride out OF meW
Is lie turns round now and faces me
i laying his hands upon my shoulders
= While gaze into his eyes SO frank anC
b fearless. "RememDer," he says, IN 6
s. solemn voice, "the place from Which We
i have just come, remember all that is a
stake, aud then tell me if you can say
+ from the bottom of your heart-I love
y YOU"
q My heart does not falter as 1 echo his
g last words, and | know now that he will
q never ask me that question agaih-a
II least for Ghe want oil confirmation. HI
l. folds me IN his arms; and, bending down
= kisses my lips long and passionately
y II came in here" he says, zone of the
e w6ariest men in all Gods earth," anC
e now L am surely the most blessed'
e We 60 back to Lohaoh, both happy
It both 5upremely happy; and as we drive
u home through the shrieking Londor
n streets, shudder to think how nearly
~ had missed the greab peace and happi
~ ness of my life.
p' He had kept his secret manfully; bu
N thank God! it had been known at last
s. land not too late.