The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1876-02-17

give only those parts my reader
will be interested in.
"MY DEAR Boy: Congratulat
me-that is, with an IT, She won
name the day, nor positively promis
that she ever will; but it is so we
settled in my own mind, that shal
order the suit as soon as l arrive Il
town, which will be some day mex
week, If T can tear myself away 8
soon.
"How did / do it? Inever dream
ed of such thing till you droppe
that remark you did when 1 gave yo
the sketch of the lady in masquerad
dress, that q wise man is eonten
with what he can get, which fiashel
through my brain the intelligence
you had been rejected, or were salts
fled you would be. Why, I neve
could conceive, for always supposel
you to be the favored one, but
didn't puzzle over that conundrun
very long. From that moment
gave myself up to the task OF winnin
her, and went at it rough-and-tumble
never went into anything before s
recklessly, because never before had
been so seriously in earnest"
Before Fred returned from the coun
try, was upon the Atlantic. L hs'
again behaved in a cowardly manner
and deserted my colors when a vigor
Gus movement on my own part, in
stead of resulting so, would have De
cidedly contrary result.
Then disease came, and the house
suddenly failed, leaving me adrift
and was preparing to return home
when l was offered an advantageOu!
position in a foreign house, a mem.
Der OF which, 1 was cOurteously in.
formed, had observed the mastery
manner in which / had managed the
affairs OF the branch which had beer
intrusted to me-"
So, ofcourse, it transpired that
did not return to my native land that
autumn, nor the next, NORM fac
it was three years from the time l lef
for Europe before returned. land
ed in the middle of August, last sum-
mer, and at once began to hunt up
old crOnies, by aid OF memory and di-
rectories. But had no luck. Fred
1 could get no track Of, only that he
had just returned from his European
trip; but where he might be at any
particular time was uncertain. All
for whom 1 cared in the city were out
of town for the warm weather, or else
where I could readily find them; and
I began to think / had been O fool to
come across the water at so unpropi-
tious a time. My own immediate
family I found, on inquiry, were stop
ping for q few weeks at q remote
place, twenty miles or more beyond
the little valley where Fred and 1 had
summered three years before, and
toward that point turned my face.
Just before sunset the train made q
halt at the little village overlooking
the valley where 1 met my fate, and
where the last time L had seen Fred
he was engaged In making sketch
of the valley, hardly taking his eye
from the canvas to bid me his CHEEKY
good-by. For some reason the train
was delayed few moments, and, as
1 gazed over the valley, the old feel
ing Of three years before was instant
ly surging and swaying in my breast;
and before the train was again in mo-
ton L stood upon the rude coun-
try station platform, unable to
resist the force compelling me there,
thinking I could pursue my journey
next day as well as this.
After the train had departed, and I
observed the curious country-eyes
scanning my singular movements, ]
suddenly realized my awkward posi-
ton, and wondered what to do. Me-
chanIcally strolled toward the spot
Fred had chosen for vantage-ground
to view the valley. Little change
was visible. The sunset colors were
less vivid, and consequently the
shadows over the valley were less
sombre-a much more pleasing pic
ture; and yet could not help feeling
that the sombre shadow was over my
heart instead.
1 aimIessly followed the winding
road into the valley, descending at
every step farther and farther into
the shadow; yet my sole into its own
shadow plunged more recklessly still
the gloom surrounding it seemed
almost sullen in its intensity.
Suddenly it grew lighter. What
did it presage? A large cumulous OF
cloud had drifted into the range of
the suns rays and caught the splen-
dor, sending them down to the heart
in q glow OF reflection. "If my own
soul could drift into such a volume OF
lightw I thought, bitterly, and
walked slowly onward.
What marvellous shapes the clouds
take at times This one and smaller
ones, drifting with and counter to it
suddenly took the shape of huge an
chor, seeming to me, In my shortened
vision, a gleam of mighty irony
glowing with a false glimmer.
So intent was my gaze heavenward
that I did not observe figure i'm
mediately in front of me, emerging
from the valley. It was female fig
ure, and 1 hastily stepped on one side
to allow her to pass, hardly withdraw
ing my gaze from the heavens. The
moment she had passed, in obedience
to sudden impulse, 1 turned my
head, to see hers also turn % observe
me. The light from the cloud of hope
shone full in her face, and 1 started at
the recognition. Was my soul, then,
drifting as yonder cloud had shone ?
Was this thrill that bathed it in
pathos the light, indeed that warns
and glorifies all it shines on-or was
it but mocking irony?
"Miss Perry !" 1 exclaimed, "this
is rare pleasure"
She advanced in the same shy man
ner as of old, and held out her hand in
the old coy style.
"Was it you, then, 1 was to meet al
the station?n she asked.
"Were you expecting some one ~
asked, little bewildered.
"No-yes," was the hesitating re-
ply. "I suppose if 1 tell you, you will
laugh at me. 1 was sitting in the
parlor short time ago, looking now
and then at the old picture you were
pleased to take so much notice of in
those other Jears-the picture has
been very dear to me latterly,n she
parenthetically added, with just per.
ceptible tremor in her voice-"wher
suddenly was impressed with the
idea that wss to meet some one at
the station. The notion occurred to
me at once as 80 ridiculous, that j
laughed outright. But it wouldn't be
laughed down, and l finally started
and-here / am"
Then told her how had Just re.
turned from Europe, and was on my
way to find my mother and sister,
when / was almost impelIed from the
cars.
"And you were going right by with,
out stopping to see Us ?'
hesitated, not knowing the nature
of the ground was treading on, and
not caring to make misstep.
"Fred and would both have beer
30 disappointed il you had.u
"Ah is Fred here? ?" asked, max
ing an effort to appear at ease, though
succeeding badly, am afraid.
"Why, Of course. He is here all tn
time now, except for few months il
the winter"
My heart leaped into my throat il
very agony and for moment 1 dsret
not trust myself to speak. We had il
the mean time been walking SLOWLY
down the valley, and suddenly doc
of house close by the wayside swunI
open and q flood of light rested upor
my companion. All, the cspriees o
fashion! How its edicts drift arounC
in circles, and turn up Unexpectedly
ibid you know of Fred's mar
risge ?" she asked, after an awkwar'
pause in which my mind had been s
busy.
''Not to certainty. 1 conjecture
as much. You are very happy, L sup
pOse-u