The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1876-09-08

WnOie presence u sunSninc, anu net
merry laugh ripplcd like music OF
dancing waters in the pebbly brooklct.
The student Of human nature who
heard that laugh would unhesitatingly
declare that only a heart of native pu'
rity and gcntleness could underlie II.
At first Della Grayson, when she
saw that Paul Renford was weak and
detected, sought 10 cheer and enter
tain him. She had heard the story Of
his great loss and she pitied him. She
played for him upon the harp and
upon the piano, and she sung to him
and talked with him. But by and by
when he had grown strong and vigor'
Gus, and when his innate manhood had
manifested itself, she grew shy and
taciturn, and finally sought to avoid
him.
And then, for the first time IN his
life, Paul knew what true love was.
For the first time he experienced that
sense Of devotion which leads the
heart to offer itself upon the altar Of
faith in the woman loved. He asked
Mr.. Grayson If he might seek his
daughters love. The overseer did
not object.
And Dclial Had Paul been as well
versed in reading the human heart in
its native truth as he had been in
translating the sirens song of fattery,
he might have known that the love of
the beautiful girl was all his own.
SO when Paul Renford had been a
year at Wildwood, Della became his
wife, and he was happy-happier far
than he had ever been. And he was
in the mills from a clerk
ship to a responsible agency; and thus
he had frequent occasion to visit the
city; but there was nothing in its din
and glare, attractive to him, and he
always cam, home with deeper and
more abiding love for his own fond
at Wildwood.
During the first year of Paul's mar
rage, branch railroad was opened to
Wildwood, and thus they were within
an hour of the city; and the mill
was greatly enhanced in
value.
"Ah,' said the young man one day
as he stood upon the piazza of the cot
tage, and looked of upon the rolling
landscape of hill and dale that stretch
ed away beyond the river, eff only
owned that sweep of landl"
at is certainly pleasant pros
pect,' said his uncle Betterman, who
had come to pay him visit.
aye" added Paul, "and how it
must increase in value now that the
road has opened this way
AT this juncture, Della came out
and called them to tea. She took I'M
,le Arson by the arm and told him he
was her prisoner. And he bent over
and kissed her, and said it would be a
most blessed imprisonment.
Don't you find it so, Paul.:
at is heaven where she isl" was
PauPs answer.
And upon that she left uncle An
son, and threw her arms about her
husbands neck.
Dear Paul, you are a blessing to
me-"
Shortly afterwards, the old mer-
chant said to his nephew:
Paul, do you ever find yourself
longing for the old life in the city,"
docs the saved mariner lock back
with longing upon the fearful death he
has escaped, and willingly return to
storm and wreck?'
81 think not, my boy"
"And can a man in his full senses
long for the dazzle and glare of the
empty life that brings only pain and
unrest, when a bright spirit like this
holds watch and ward for him over an
earthly heavcn?'
He held his wife by the hand as he
spoke, and his eye was radiant with a
light supernal.
1t was on the following day-a bea1-
liful day in early autumn-that Paul
and Della walked out upon the gentle
bill that sloped up from the cottage
And again he looked off upon the
grand spread of landscape beyond the
river.
"Ah," he said, "if | owned that
and ] would do great work, Della. +"
"What would you doy' asked a
voice behind him.
Paul turned and beheld his uncle.
'If you owned that land what would
vou do with itY"
IL would make it bloom with life!"
replied the youth, elOquently. "Think,
row that the rail is laid, how near it
5 to the city. Think of the toilers
here who might find light and comfort
n these healthful shades. III owned
hat land, / would invite capital to
pen it to the life that ought to occu-