The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1876-09-29
WINFIELD'S SWEET
HEART.
BY NJ. r. C.

| By NJ. r. c.
The solemn hush of midnight was over
the softly-swaying trees and fair, luxuri-
ant park of Winfield Hall; and Ronald
Winfield, grave, quiet, handsome, with
a splendid physical beauty that was in
perfect accord with his keen, fine incl
lect, and his pure, manly principles OF
right and honor, and religion and duty,
stood in one of the great bay windows Of
his library.
''To think my darling has condescend-
ed to love mel To think that, month
ago, never knew such Il lovely girl ex-
listed. Madge, my queen, my love, my
darling. If you knew half how love
you"
His ardent, passionate thoughts came
in torrents of unspoken words, as he
stood on the threshold of the night; and
the glad happiness and perfect content Of
his soul was mirrored plainly on his
faultless face-a face women had loved
time and again-a face that had time
and again bowed lewly over fair hands
and smiled in courteous pleasantly in
bright eyes, but that never, for the sake
of the grand chivalrous soul that gov
erned him-that had never lighted with
the warmth of love-words whose truth
did not feel, until Madge Ernest had
come and bowed this splendid man 'at
her feet at almost the first glance.
1t had been quick, ardent, passionate
Ronald Winfeld's wo,ing and Madge
Ernest's conquest-both were rapturous-
ly congratulating themselves.
And while Ronald Winfield stood in
che starry silence, with uer kisses vet
warm on his lips, and his heart exuItiBs
IL the crowning glory of his life, lLadge
Ernest was standing before the mirror in
her dressing-room, the wide sleeves Of
her azure cashmere wrapper falling away
from the perfect, ivory-like arm, as she
slowly removed the hair-pin from her
hair, leaving it fall in tress after tress of
vivid, golden splendor over her Pret' Y
shoulders and swelling bosom and down
past her round, fine waist.
am so sick and tired of it all a
month in the country is enough to drive
one wild with ennui and believe, If 1
wasn't going back to London tomorrow,
where there is excitement and gayety,
would die :"
She was brushing her hair slowly, and
the light from the shaded lamp cleaned
on her engagement rings magnificent
solitaire, with thousand gorgeous lights
imprisoned in its cold breast. Her blue
eyes lighted momentarily.
alt has been a success after ala
glorious success, that even my dignifed
hostess and sister dared hardly hope
when she invited me for a month pur-
posely to meet her invulnerable Prince
Charming, wonder what Ronald would
think if he knew l had come down for
the sole, simple object of having him fall
in love with me ?'
A curious little smile accompanied her
reflections.
cat all events, it is settled now, and
shall be mistress of Winfield Hall before
the roses blow as Roland SAID so rO-
mantically. But l know I am wicked,
1 would exchange it all this
minute for just one word, just one kiss,
from Theobald. Theo, my love, my |
lover'
1t came in wall of unspoken agony, |
and the lips grew palIid and the eyes
took in them yearning of unspeakable
woe.
81 believe am mad-of course am
to think of such a thing wnen
Ronald Winfield had such grand, good
things to give mel Pll marry him be-
fore the roses blow, if he wishes, and
enjoy my two weeks absence from
him-my reprieve of fortnight, and
then"
She compressed her lips a second, then
turned down the light and drowned her
heart-uneasiness in the sleep that came
to her white, dropping lids.
Two handsomer men seldom sat down
to tete-a-tete dinner than Ronald Win
field and Theobald Garland, and sun
nier sky never shone over London street
than shone that lovely April day, and
hat smiled into the dining room of the
lotel where these two gentlemen ate
through their menu leisurely, and
the throngs passing just out
ide the plate-glassed flower patterned
e 1t seems almost too good to be true,
Winfield, that you have run down from
he Hall, if only for day or so. You
ave been making perfect recluse of
ourself, these last two or three years.
don't think London society has
aught glimpse of you in all that, has
y"
/ don't think it has, as you say, al
hough Pm not positive but that it's loss
as been my gain. Garland-in conf
ence, old fellow--my fate has come to
le-at home, too, among my books
ONE like an angel, and led me straight
nto paradise"
You never mean you havesuccumbed
t last Winfield, Ireally thought better
hings of you, who knew the world so